In one aspect, there is provided a mutant, non-naturally occurring or transgenic plant cell comprising: (i) a polynucleotide comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of a sequence encoding a member of the CLC family of chloride channels and having at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4 or SEQ ID NO:10 or SEQ ID NO:11; (ii) a polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide set forth in (i); (iii) a polypeptide comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of a sequence encoding a member of the CLC family of chloride channels and having at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:5 or SEQ ID NO:6 or SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO:12 or SEQ ID NO:13 or SEQ ID NO:14; or (iv) a construct, vector or expression vector comprising the isolated polynucleotide set forth in (i); and wherein the expression or activity of the polynucleotide or the polypeptide is modulated as compared to a control plant and wherein the nitrate levels in the mutant, non-naturally occurring or transgenic plant containing the mutant, non-naturally occurring or transgenic plant cell are modulated as compared to the control plant containing the control plant cell.

Bacteriophage against Geobacillus are provided, and methods of making and using the bacteriophage also are provided.

Immobilized diluents in a smoking article are provided, wherein diluents can be immobilized through absorption and/or adsorption of the diluents into immobilizing materials, such as sorbents like silica gels. By immobilizing diluents, the diluents can be available for vaporization, while still being protected from migration and/or loss of the diluents in a smoking article.

The present disclosure provides approaches for reducing tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in tobacco. Some of these approaches include genetically engineering tobacco plants to increase one or more antioxidants, increase oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), increase phenylalanine, or reduce nitrite. Also provided are methods and compositions for producing modified tobacco plants and tobacco products therefrom comprising reduced TSNAs.

Methods of modifying the tobacco-specific nitrosamine content of a tobacco material are described herein. One exemplary method comprises contacting a tobacco material with a composition comprising salt, sugar, enzyme, lactic acid bacteria, yeast, or a combination thereof to reduce the total bacterial content; curing the tobacco material; and fermenting the tobacco material in the presence of one or more microorganisms. The method can provide a fermented tobacco material having a tobacco-specific nitrosamine content that is reduced relative to a fermented tobacco material that has not been subjected to the disclosed method steps. In certain embodiments, the tobacco-specific nitrosamine content of the fermented tobacco material is no more than that of the cured tobacco material. Tobacco-containing products including such treated tobacco materials are also provided.

Methods of curing tobacco that reduce the levels of TSNAs and/or improve leaf quality are described herein.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to electrochemical reduction of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). According to certain methods described herein, a tobacco composition containing one or more TSNAs and nicotine is contacted with a solvent to form a tobacco mixture. In some embodiments, the tobacco mixture is introduced into an electrochemical device comprising an anode and a cathode. The tobacco mixture may, in some cases, form at least part of an initial electrolyte mixture that is in physical contact with at least a portion of the anode and at least a portion of the cathode. In some instances, an electrical potential is applied between the anode and the cathode, thereby reducing one or more TSNAs in the initial electrolyte mixture and producing a reduced electrolyte mixture. In certain cases, application of the electrical potential between the anode and the cathode does not cause non-TSNA components of the tobacco mixture (e.g., nicotine) to undergo electrochemical reduction or any other chemical reaction.

Bacteriophage against Geobacillus are provided, and methods of making and using the bacteriophage also are provided.

Provided herein are bacterial strains that are capable of degrading nitrite and/or TSNAs. Also provided herein are methods of using such bacterial strains to degrade nitrite and/or TSNAs.

The present invention provides a method for increasing nitrogen-use efficiency and/or nitrogen-utilisation efficiency in a plant comprising modifying the plant by increasing the activity or expression of an ethylene-dependent gravitropism-deficient and yellow green protein (EGY) in said plant.