The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having beta-glucanase activity, catalytic domains, carbohydrate binding modules and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains or carbohydrate binding modules. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides, catalytic domains or carbohydrate binding modules. The present invention further relates to processes for producing fermentation products from starch-containing or cellulosic-containing material, as well as an enzyme blend or composition, or a recombinant host cell or fermenting organism suitable for use in processes of the invention.

Embodiments provide a modified microbe capable of growing in or fermenting a solution, or lignocellulosic hydrolysate, comprising ferulic acid and/or coniferyl aldehyde. The microbe has one or more modifications to provide: (a) a decrease in copy number or expression of a BNA7 gene; (b) an increase in copy number or expression of one or more pentose phosphate pathway genes; and/or (c) localization of one or more products of the pentose phosphate pathway genes to the mitochondria or endoplasmic reticulum. Also provided is a microbe having modified expression or copy number of BNA7 and/or one or more of the pentose phosphate pathway genes. The pentose phosphate pathway genes may in certain embodiments be selected from at least one of ZWF1, TKL1, RPE1 and GND1. Also provided is a method for fermenting a substrate comprising ferulic acid and/or coniferyl aldehyde to produce a fermentation product.

Embodiments provide a modified microbe capable of growing in or fermenting a solution, or lignocellulosic hydrolysate, comprising ferulic acid and/or coniferyl aldehyde. The microbe has one or more modifications to provide: (a) a decrease in copy number or expression of a BNA7 gene; (b) an increase in copy number or expression of one or more pentose phosphate pathway genes; and/or (c) localization of one or more products of the pentose phosphate pathway genes to the mitochondria or endoplasmic reticulum. Also provided is a microbe having modified expression or copy number of BNA7 and/or one or more of the pentose phosphate pathway genes. The pentose phosphate pathway genes may in certain embodiments be selected from at least one of ZWF1, TKL1, RPE1 and GND1. Also provided is a method for fermenting a substrate comprising ferulic acid and/or coniferyl aldehyde to produce a fermentation product.

The present relates to a yeast strain and use thereof and a preparation method of ergothioneine. The present invention relates to the field of biotechnology. The yeast strain is obtained through traditional mutagenesis and screening, and its deposit number is CCTCC M 20211505. The present invention provides a preparation method of ergothioneine. The preparation method of ergothioneine comprises: mixing the aforementioned yeast strain with a fermentation medium and an optional substrate, fermenting, and then homogenizing cells and separating to obtain ergothioneine. The aforementioned yeast strain can be used for the preparation of ergothioneine, and the ergothioneine prepared by the yeast strain has the advantages of high yield, low cost and fast preparation speed. The preparation method has the advantages of low cost, environmental protection, high product quality, high yield, less impurities, less drug residues, short fermentation period and the like.

Disclosed is the production by fermentation of poly D-lactic acid (PDLA) and poly L-lactic acid (PLLA). In particular, there is provided engineered (prokaryotic or eukaryotic) cells for the direct synthesis of PLLA polymers and engineered eukaryotic cells for the direct synthesis of PDLA polymers starting from a carbon source, including residual biomasses of the different production chains.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a soluble carbohydrate containing fraction (10), in which lignocellulose material (3) formed by treating plant based raw material (1) is conducted into a separation stage (4). The method comprises at least one solid-liquid separation stage (4) for separating a soluble carbohydrate containing fraction (10) and/or a washing filtrate (12) from lignocellulose material (3), and at least a part of the soluble carbohydrate containing fraction (10) and/or the washing filtrate (12) is recirculated to the lignocellulose material (3) for increasing concentration of the soluble carbohydrate containing fraction, and solids (11) and at least a part of the soluble carbohydrate containing fraction (10) are supplied out from the separation stage. Further, the invention relates to the soluble carbohydrate containing fraction and the solid fraction, and their uses.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a soluble carbohydrate containing fraction (10), in which lignocellulose material (3) formed by treating plant based raw material (1) is conducted into a separation stage (4). The method comprises at least one solid-liquid separation stage (4) for separating a soluble carbohydrate containing fraction (10) and/or a washing filtrate (12) from lignocellulose material (3), and at least a part of the soluble carbohydrate containing fraction (10) and/or the washing filtrate (12) is recirculated to the lignocellulose material (3) for increasing concentration of the soluble carbohydrate containing fraction, and solids (11) and at least a part of the soluble carbohydrate containing fraction (10) are supplied out from the separation stage. Further, the invention relates to the soluble carbohydrate containing fraction and the solid fraction, and their uses.

Described herein are devices and methods for increasing the production of steviol glycosides, which have industrial and economic value. The steviol glycosides produced by the devices and methods disclosed herein do not require the ultra purification that is common in conventional or commercial methods and do not have a bitter aftertaste, making them better suited as flavor-enhancing additives to food, pharmaceutical, and nutritional supplement products.

A fermentation method includes steps of forming a broth having yeast, water and sugar; and contacting a foam control agent with the broth, a foam formed on the broth or both, wherein the foam control agent has structure (I) wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl group containing from 4 to 18 carbon atoms, m is from 1 to 10, n is from 9 to 15, o is from 15 to 25, and o/n is from 1.00 to 2.00.

A fermentation method includes steps of forming a broth having yeast, water and sugar; and contacting a foam control agent with the broth, a foam formed on the broth or both, wherein the foam control agent has structure (I) wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl group containing from 4 to 18 carbon atoms, m is from 1 to 10, n is from 9 to 15, o is from 15 to 25, and o/n is from 1.00 to 2.00.