Endophytic microbial strains as biocatalysts isolated from fresh plant samples, their compositions, and methods of use thereof to enhance the growth and/or yield of a plant in the presence of reduced (synthetic or otherwise) nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers are provided. The selected endophytic microbial strains serve as biocatalysts to solubilize organic (proteinaceous) nitrogen otherwise unavailable to plants for their nutritional needs. In addition, selected endophytic microbial strains serve as biocatalysts to solubilize mineral-P and mineralize organic-P otherwise unavailable to plants for their nutritional phosphate needs. Thus defined, biocatalysts will serve to replace or reduce the requirement of (synthetic or otherwise) nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. Also provided are materials and methods for inoculating plants with these biocatalysts at carefully selected inoculum densities to reliably reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers by 30-50% thus accomplishing optimal yields in a cost-effective manner.

The present invention provides a nitrilase mutant and application thereof in the synthesis of 1-cyanocyclohexyl acetic acid, the nitrilase mutant is obtained by mutating one or two of the amino acids at position 180 and 205 of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 2. In the present invention, by semi-rational design and protein molecular modification, the specific enzyme activity of the nitrilase double mutant AcN-G180D/A205C was increased by up to 1.6 folds, and the conversion rate>99%. And the reaction time was shortened to a quarter of the original using the recombinant Escherichia coli containing the nitrilase mutant to hydrolyze 1-cyanocyclohexylacetonitrile at high temperature (50° C.). Therefore, the mutants obtained by the present invention have a good application prospect in efficiently catalyzing 1-cyanocyclohexylacetonitrile to synthesize gabapentin intermediate, 1-cyanocyclohexyl acetic acid.

The present invention provides a fusion polypeptide comprising a target polypeptide moiety and a self-aggregating peptide moiety, and a method of producing and purifying a target polypeptide by expressing the fusion polypeptide.

Disclosed is a mutant strain having improved aromatic amino acid production capability as a result of the inactivation or weakening of activity of asparaginase which is expressed by ansB gene.

Provided are methods, prokaryotic host cells, expression vectors, and kits for the production of psilocybin or an intermediate or a side product thereof. Also provided are methods, prokaryotic host cells, expression vectors, and kits for the production of norbaeocystin. In certain embodiments, the prokaryotic host cell is selected from the group consisting of Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium glutamicum, Vibrio natriegens, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Escherichia coli Nissle 1917, Clostridium acetobutlyicum, Streptomyces coelicolor, Lactococcus lactis, Pseudomonas putida, Streptomyces clavuligerus, and Streptomyces venezuelae.

Modified bacterial strains are provided. The strains can generate a desired product such as pyruvate and products derived from pyruvate. Methods of generating pyruvate and products derived from pyruvate are also provided. The modified bacterial strains have at least one mutation in a gene coding for proteins in a pyruvate dehydrogenase complex such that the mutation allows a cell to accumulate pyruvate and/or products derived from pyruvate.

Among the various aspects of the present disclosure is the provision of molecular sensors, microbial sensors, constructs, systems, and methods for selectively detecting aromatic compounds.

A method for directed exaptation includes dividing an original microorganism monoculture into subcultures that are subjected to different exaptation agents to obtain diversified substrains. At least one of the exaptation agents is selected to favor survival of sub strains exhibiting desired traits. The steps of dividing and subjecting may be iterated using at least some of the diversified substrains. Performance of diversified substrains is assessed and those that meet performance criteria for at least one desired trait are selected. Exaptation agents may include mutagenesis agents, training, horizontal gene transfer opportunities, and stressors. Substrains may be co-incubated with other living or dead microorganisms known to be preferentially adapted to have the desired trait. Diversified substrains may be combined into a multiculture microorganism population, to which microorganisms from the original monoculture may be added. The method may be used to create a treatment for a Multiple-Antibiotic Resistant Infection, preferably including a kill switch.

Genetically engineered bacteria, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of modulating and treating diseases associated with hyperphenylalaninemia are disclosed.

Disclosed herein are gastrointestinal tract (G1) bacteria and methods for treating or preventing an irradiation-induced intestinal damage in a subject, the methods comprising administering a G1 bacterium to the subject, wherein the G1 bacterium comprises a vector that comprises a polynucleotide encoding IL-22 and/or IFN-P, or a functional fragment thereof.