Provided herein are screening methods and animal models related to intraocular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), for example, for identifying candidate therapeutics for treating or preventing eye diseases, such as AMD. Also provided herein are compounds/compositions that are useful for killing or inhibiting the growth of a microorganism, such as Bacillus megaterium. Further provided herein are methods of using the compounds/compositions for treating infections with a microorganism, such as Bacillus megaterium and for treating or preventing diseases or disorders associated with such infections, such as AMD.

The present invention relates to methods for the preparation of high molecular weight polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) by culturing Bacillus megaterium strains in a mixture of agri-food wastes, PHB obtained or obtainable by the methods as well as to its use in the preparation of articles such as, for example, soles and/or heels for shoes.

Provided herein a re composition and process for using an electrochemica 1 device for the reduction of the oxidized state of phosphorylated or non-phosphorylated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide to the reduced state in which unwanted products of the electrochemical reduction are recovered as the oxidized state of the phosphorylated or non-phosphorylated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and returned to the electrochemical device for reduction.

A method for controlling self-propelled particles includes providing the particles to a liquid crystalline medium having predesigned local ordering. The method may control at least one of: a local concentration, trajectory, and net flow of self-propelled particles.

A method of producing Bacillus spores comprising a step of culturing the Bacillus bacterium using a liquid medium having a C/N ratio (weight ratio of carbon content to nitrogen content) of greater than 4 and less than 9.5.

The present invention relates to microorganism compositions and fertilisers comprising them, which reduce soil nitrate accumulation and their use for avoiding nitrogen leaching.

A method for improving a plant trait, comprising steps of: a. obtaining a plant; and b. inoculating said plant with at least one bacterium having at least one of sequences SEQ ID NO:1-SEQ ID NO: 17, as disclosed in the sequence listing of said application, germinating the seed and growing the plant A bacterial formulation useful for the method is disclosed comprising at least one bacterium having at least one of sequences SEQ ID NO:1-SEQ ID NO: 17, as disclosed in the sequence listing of said application.

The present invention relates to biomaterials, in particular bacterial cellulose and provides means to prepare pigmented cellulose at acidic pH 5.8, wherein cellulose pellicles comprising tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1) are melanated using a development solution at pH 6 to 8.5 and comprises tyrosine, cysteine and/or cystine. Further, the invention relates to means of preparing spatially restricted pigmented cellulose using an optogenetic expression system wherein two polymerase or transcription factor domains are split and each linked to a light-inducible dimerization domain. The invention provides corresponding methods and components.

The present invention relates to a strain selected from the group consisting of Saccharomyces cerevisiae KCTC14779BP, Saccharomyces cerevisiae KCTC14780BP, Lactobacillus fructivorans KCTC14776BP, Bacillus paramycoides KCTC14777BP, and Bacillus megaterium KCTC14778BP; and a cosmetic composition, a quasi-drug composition, or a food composition comprising any one or more selected from the group consisting of the strain, a culture of the strain, a fermented product of the strain, and a fraction of the culture or fermented product.

Since the Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Lactobacillus fructivorans, Bacillus paramycoides or Bacillus megaterium strain, a culture of the strain, a fermented product of the strain, or a fraction of the culture or fermented product has excellent effects of improving skin and soothing sensitive skin, it can be widely used as cosmetic compositions, quasi-drug compositions, and food compositions for skin improvement. Accordingly, various industrial applications such as cosmetics, quasi-drugs, and foods can be expected.

Provided herein are screening methods and animal models related to intraocular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), for example, for identifying candidate therapeutics for treating or preventing eye diseases, such as AMD. Also provided herein are compounds/compositions that are useful for killing or inhibiting the growth of a microorganism, such as Bacillus megaterium. Further provided herein are methods of using the compounds/compositions for treating infections with a microorganism, such as Bacillus megaterium and for treating or preventing diseases or disorders associated with such infections, such as AMD.