Disclosed is a liquid cleaning agent for hard surfaces, in particular for washing dishes by hand, containing an a amylase which is at least 89%, with increasing preference at least 90%, 90.5%, 91%, 91.5%, 92%, 92.5%, 93%, 93.5%, 94%, 94.5%, 95%, 95.5%, 96%, 96.5%, 97%, 97.5%, 98%, 98.5%, 99%, 99.5% and up to 100% identical to the sequence indicated in SEQ ID NO: 1 along the entire length thereof and which has deletions in one or more of positions 180, 181, 182, 183 and 184 as numbered according to SEQ ID NO: 1.

The invention provides methods for identifying biomarkers in a patient's microbiota to predict a patient's response to a predetermined diet to promote weight loss and methods of promoting weight loss or treating obesity in the patient by optimizing the patient's diet in accordance with the biomarkers identified in the patient's gut microbiota. The methods of the invention can also be used to manage or maintain weight, i.e., prevent or inhibit weight gain, in a patient who is of normal weight or is overweight or obese.

Described herein are recombinant host organisms expressing a fusion protein with a foreign signal linked to the N-terminus of a mature polypeptide, such as an alpha-amylase, protease, beta-glucosidase or glucoamylase. Also described are processes for producing a fermentation product, such as ethanol, from starch or cellulosic-containing material with the recombinant host organisms.

Disclosed is a genetically recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae useful for degrading and utilizing kitchen wastes. Genes encoding α-amylase(AMY), glucoamylase (GA) and acid protease (AP) were introduced into the genetically recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a saccharomyces cerevisiae multi-gene co-expression vector and successfully expressed and secreted. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae so obtained are capable of secreting amylases and protease to degrade the starch and proteins in kitchen wastes to produce carbon and nitrogen sources such as glucose, polypeptides and amino acids, allowing fermentation into ethanol.

In a microbial fermentation, the aim is to increase the product yield of protein. This is achieved by a method in which an expression construct is introduced into a microorganism of the species Bacillus pumilus which comprises a promoter and a nucleic acid coding for the protein, and the protein is expressed in said expression construct.

Genetically engineered enzymes having amylase enzyme activity, compositions comprising the enzymes, and methods of making and using the enzymes. The genetically engineered amylase enzymes are useful in many different applications such as laundry detergents, dish washing detergents, and cleaning products for homes, industry, vehicle care, baking, animal feed, pulp and paper processing, starch processing, brewing, and ethanol production.

The present invention relates to polypeptides comprising a carbohydrate-binding module amino acid sequence and an alpha-amylase amino acid sequence as well as to the application of such polypeptides.

The present invention relates to alpha-amylase variants having an improved stability as compared to the parent alpha-amylase. The invention further relates to use of the variants, compositions comprising the variants, and methods of producing the variants.

The present disclosure relates to isolated polypeptides having alpha-amylase activity, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing the polypeptides, and method of using polypeptides, including in ethanol production processes.

The technical field of enzyme immobilization, and particularly, an organic-inorganic hybrid nanoflower and a preparation method thereof. The organic-inorganic hybrid nanoflower is a flower-like immobilized enzyme formed by self-assembly of a layered rare earth compound as an inorganic carrier and a biological enzyme as an organic component. The layered rare earth compound is Ln.sub.2(OH).sub.5NO.sub.3.nH.sub.2O, where Ln is one or more of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, or Y, and n=1.1-2.5. The biological enzyme is one or more of α-amylase, horseradish peroxidase, or laccase. A layered rare earth compound is used as the inorganic carrier for the organic biological enzyme to form the flower-like immobilized enzyme. The immobilized enzyme has better stability and higher catalytic performance when compared with a free enzyme.