Disclosed herein are methods of increasing nitrogen fixation in a non-leguminous plant. The methods can comprise exposing the plant to a plurality of bacteria. Each member of the plurality comprises one or more genetic variations introduced into one or more genes or non-coding polynucleotides of the bacteria's nitrogen fixation or assimilation genetic regulatory network, such that the bacteria are capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen in the presence of exogenous nitrogen. The bacteria are not intergeneric microorganisms. Additionally, the bacteria, in planta, produce 1% or more of the fixed nitrogen in the plant.

Disclosed herein are methods of increasing nitrogen fixation in a non-leguminous plant. The methods can comprise exposing the plant to a plurality of bacteria. Each member of the plurality comprises one or more genetic variations introduced into one or more genes or non-coding polynucleotides of the bacteria's nitrogen fixation or assimilation genetic regulatory network, such that the bacteria are capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen in the presence of exogenous nitrogen. The bacteria are not intergeneric microorganisms. Additionally, the bacteria, in planta, produce 1% or more of the fixed nitrogen in the plant.

Disclosed herein are polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding, cells and organisms comprising novel DNA-binding domains, including TALE DNA-binding domains. Also disclosed are methods of using these novel DNA-binding domains for modulation of gene expression and/or genomic editing of endogenous cellular sequences.

Disclosed herein are polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding, cells and organisms comprising novel DNA-binding domains, including TALE DNA-binding domains. Also disclosed are methods of using these novel DNA-binding domains for modulation of gene expression and/or genomic editing of endogenous cellular sequences.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising a biologically pure culture of a fungicidal Paenibacillus sp. strain comprising a variant fusaricidin synthetase lacking a functional adenylation domain in the third module. The present invention also provides a composition comprising a biologically pure culture of a fungicidal Paenibacillus sp. strain or a cell-free extract thereof comprising at least one Paeniserine and at least one Paeniprolixin. Also provided are isolated compounds and methods of treating a plant to control a plant disease with the disclosed compositions and compounds.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising a biologically pure culture of a fungicidal Paenibacillus sp. strain comprising a variant fusaricidin synthetase lacking a functional adenylation domain in the third module. The present invention also provides a composition comprising a biologically pure culture of a fungicidal Paenibacillus sp. strain or a cell-free extract thereof comprising at least one Paeniserine and at least one Paeniprolixin. Also provided are isolated compounds and methods of treating a plant to control a plant disease with the disclosed compositions and compounds.

The present invention relates to new improved peptide or dimeric peptides exhibiting betagalactosidase enzyme activity as well as improved methods for reducing the lactose content in compositions, such as dairy products.

Methods, kits and compositions, in some embodiments, may include a thermostable DNA guided Argonaute protein for example TtAgo, a thermostable single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) for example, extreme thermostable single-stranded DNA binding protein (ET SSB), and, optionally, a strand-displacing polymerase. A SSB may allow (a) Argonaute/guide DNA complexes to substantially enhance cleavage efficiency of single- and double-stranded DNA substrates; (b) the use of longer guide DNAs (e.g., guide DNAs that are at least 24 nucleotides in length) and/or (c) increases in the sequence specificity of Argonaute-mediated binding and cleavage reactions.

Methods, kits and compositions, in some embodiments, may include a thermostable DNA guided Argonaute protein for example TtAgo, a thermostable single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) for example, extreme thermostable single-stranded DNA binding protein (ET SSB), and, optionally, a strand-displacing polymerase. A SSB may allow (a) Argonaute/guide DNA complexes to substantially enhance cleavage efficiency of single- and double-stranded DNA substrates; (b) the use of longer guide DNAs (e.g., guide DNAs that are at least 24 nucleotides in length) and/or (c) increases in the sequence specificity of Argonaute-mediated binding and cleavage reactions.

A genetically modified phototrophic cell for in-vivo production of hydrogen. The phototrophic cell has been genetically modified to the effect that a) at least one of the native photosystem I components has been deleted, b) the native hydrogenase has been deleted, and c) at least one fusion protein is expressed, comprising i. a hydrogenase or hydrogenase component and ii. at least one PSI component, with the proviso that the PSI is complemented by expression of the at least one fusion protein, and the hydrogenase component itself, or together with at least one further hydrogenase component expressibly introduced into the cell, has hydrogenase activity.