The present invention provides an isolated fungal cell that is capable of producing one or more biomass-degrading enzymes and that exhibits increased or decreased expression or copy number of a polynucleotide encoding a PtaB-like protein. Also provided is a fermentation processes for producing one or more biomass-degrading enzymes comprising a fungal cells exhibiting increased or decreased expression or copy number of a polynucleotide encoding a PtaB-like protein. The biomass-degrading enzymes produced by the isolate fungal cell and fermentation processes of the present invention may be used in a process to produce soluble sugars from biomass.

The disclosure discloses an Aspergillus niger engineered strain for reducing byproduct succinic acid in a fermentation process of L-malic acid. The Aspergillus niger engineered strain is an Aspergillus niger engineered strain in which fumaric acid reductase frdA and fumaric acid reductase flavoprotein subunit frdB are simultaneously knocked out. The disclosure provides an frdA and frdB gene double-knockout Aspergillus niger strain, and a method for greatly reducing byproduct succinic acid in a fermentation process of L-malic acid. By the disclosure, the byproduct succinic acid accumulated in a production process of malic acid through fermentation of Aspergillus niger is significantly reduced, a cost in a downstream separation and purification process of malic acid is decreased, and good strains are provided for producing malic acid via industrial fermentation.

The disclosure discloses an Aspergillus niger engineered strain for reducing byproduct succinic acid in a fermentation process of L-malic acid. The Aspergillus niger engineered strain is an Aspergillus niger engineered strain in which fumaric acid reductase frdA and fumaric acid reductase flavoprotein subunit frdB are simultaneously knocked out. The disclosure provides an frdA and frdB gene double-knockout Aspergillus niger strain, and a method for greatly reducing byproduct succinic acid in a fermentation process of L-malic acid. By the disclosure, the byproduct succinic acid accumulated in a production process of malic acid through fermentation of Aspergillus niger is significantly reduced, a cost in a downstream separation and purification process of malic acid is decreased, and good strains are provided for producing malic acid via industrial fermentation.

The present disclosure provides a composition comprising, (i) protein at a protein content of at least about 16% by dry weight, wherein at least about 50% by dry weight of the protein has an amino acid sequence encoded by one or more fungal genomes, and (ii) one or more materials selected from the group consisting of a flour, an oil, a flavoring agent, and a nutritional supplement, wherein the composition has a water content that is less than or equal to about 30% water by weight.

The present disclosure provides a composition comprising, (i) protein at a protein content of at least about 16% by dry weight, wherein at least about 50% by dry weight of the protein has an amino acid sequence encoded by one or more fungal genomes, and (ii) one or more materials selected from the group consisting of a flour, an oil, a flavoring agent, and a nutritional supplement, wherein the composition has a water content that is less than or equal to about 30% water by weight.

Methods for enhancing phytase thermal stability by fusing binding elements to target phytases are provided. Engineered phytases that include binding elements fused to target phytases to cause cyclization of the engineered phytases and enhance thermal stability of the target phytases are described. Engineered nucleic acids encoding engineered phytases and hosts engineered to express engineered nucleic acids are also provided. Methods for incorporating engineered phytases in animal feed and animal feed including the same are described.

Methods for enhancing phytase thermal stability by fusing binding elements to target phytases are provided. Engineered phytases that include binding elements fused to target phytases to cause cyclization of the engineered phytases and enhance thermal stability of the target phytases are described. Engineered nucleic acids encoding engineered phytases and hosts engineered to express engineered nucleic acids are also provided. Methods for incorporating engineered phytases in animal feed and animal feed including the same are described.

The present invention relates to the field of genetic engineering, particularly to a recombinant expression vector for rapidly screening the high expression strains and a method for rapidly screening high expression strains. In the invention, an exogenous red fluorescent protein and Aspergillus fumigatus cell surface protein localization signal are fused and expressed, and the fusion gene (DsRed-AfMP1) is integrated into the genome of Trichoderma reesei, so as to construct a strain displaying red fluorescent protein on the surface of Trichoderma reesei. By sorting Trichoderma reesei strains with red fluorescent protein on the surface by flow cytometry, genes beneficial to the improvement of cellulase activity can be quickly isolated.

The present invention relates to the field of genetic engineering, particularly to a recombinant expression vector for rapidly screening the high expression strains and a method for rapidly screening high expression strains. In the invention, an exogenous red fluorescent protein and Aspergillus fumigatus cell surface protein localization signal are fused and expressed, and the fusion gene (DsRed-AfMP1) is integrated into the genome of Trichoderma reesei, so as to construct a strain displaying red fluorescent protein on the surface of Trichoderma reesei. By sorting Trichoderma reesei strains with red fluorescent protein on the surface by flow cytometry, genes beneficial to the improvement of cellulase activity can be quickly isolated.

Provided herein are methods of making microorganisms modified for increased xylose consumption as compared to unmodified microorganisms. The methods include providing xylose-consuming microorganisms comprising two or more copies of a nucleic acid sequence encoding xylose isomerase and two or more copies of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a xylose kinase, culturing the microorganisms in medium containing xylose and harvesting a portion of the microorganisms. These steps are repeated multiple times. The microorganisms are then isolated. The isolated microorganisms have increased xylose consumption rates compared to control xylose-consuming microorganisms. Also provided are a population of microorganisms made by the provided methods. Methods of culturing the population of microorganisms and methods of reducing xylitol production in cultures comprising the population of microorganisms are provided.