Disclosed are a Penicillium oxalicum SDF-25 strain and applications thereof, which relate to the technical field of environmental microorganisms. The Penicillium oxalicum SDF-25 strain has a strain preservation number of CGMCC No. 19272. The Penicillium oxalicum SDF-25 strain can be applied to straw degradation. The Penicillium oxalicum SDF-25 strain provided in the present solution can grow normally at 6 to 37° C. The Penicillium oxalicum SDF-25 strain can secrete a large amount of carboxymethyl cellulase at 10 to 16° C., and still produce enzyme at 6° C. The highest enzymatic activity can reach 993.3 U/mL.

The present invention relates to the novel strain Pholiota adiposa SKU714, a method for producing cellulase from the strain and a method for saccharifying cellulose using the produced cellulase. Since the cellulase produced by the novel strain according to the present invention exhibits better saccharification yield than the existing saccharification enzymes, it can be used in various applications, including bioenergy production, textile industry, papermaking industry, detergent industry, feed industry, food industry, production of low-calorie foods, fermentation of food wastes, or the like.

Novel strains of the insect-pathogenic fungus, Metarhizium var. anisopliae fungal strain BNL 101 deposited in the CABI UK Centre, United Kingdom, having ICI CC Number 506833; or BNL 102 deposited in the CABI UK Centre, United Kingdom, having ICI CC Number 506834; or a culture having the identifying characteristics thereof, are disclosed. The present invention also discloses methods of using the fungal strains, and spores obtained therefrom, to control insects, and provides a natural pest control preparation. The preparations and compositions comprise several unique and desirable features, such as a wide host range or alternatively a selective host range, and a consistent pathogenicity. The preparations and compositions have a high virulence (insecticidal activity), that is 2 times to 3 times, or greater, mor virulent (insecticidal) than compositions or preparations that do not contain the preparation or composition, and especially that do not contain the BNL 101 or BNL 102 fungal strain, or spores therefrom. The fungal strains also provide for a high spore yield in production, and possess a high stability in the field.

Planting corn in one or more consecutive growing seasons in the same fields causes a yield reduction (“corn-on-corn yield penalty”). We developed methods and inoculants comprising Penicillium bilaii, to reduce corn-on-corn yield penalty. The disclosure covers the inoculants and methods for reducing corn-on-corn yield penalty.

The present invention discloses a method for direct transformation of exogenous DNA into resting spores of Penicillium amagasakiense. The method includes three steps of culture of Penicillium amagasakiense and collection of spores, pretreatment of Penicillium amagasakiense spores, and electroporation of Penicillium amagasakiense spores by using HDEN method, to obtain Penicillium amagasakiense spores with introduction of plasmids to be transformed. In the present invention, non-germinated spores are used as a starting material for introduction of an exogenous molecule, and exogenous DNA is introduced into the resting spores of Penicillium amagasakiense by employing the HDEN electrotransformation technique, whereby the complex step of spore germination is omitted, and steps of protoplast preparation or Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in conventional methods etc. are omitted. Moreover, the transformation efficiency is high, and at least an effect of no less than 6000 positive transformants per transformation reaction system can be achieved.

The present invention relates to a novel monascuspurpurone compound of formula (I): ##STR00001##
or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof as described in the specification, the process for preparation of the same, and the composition comprising the same. The uses of a monascuspurpurone compound for promoting adipocyte differentiation, for increasing the activity of PPARγ and/or C/EBPα, for lowering blood glucose, for preventing and/or treating a disease or disorder related to insulin resistance, and for preventing and/or treating metabolic syndrome or its complications are also provided.

Entomopathogenic fungal strains, compositions, and methods and compositions of producing and using the strains for reducing overall insect damage.

Disclosed are an antiviral composition, a composition for controlling plant viruses, and a method for controlling plant viruses using the composition. Trichodermin or Trichoderminol which is a tricothecene-based compound and is isolated from Trichoderma albolutescenes strain has antiviral activities against various plant viruses and is thus suitable for controlling plant viruses. This description can facilitate mass production of an active component derived from natural products, provide environment-friendly antifungal agents, which do not harm plants, using safe materials, and be variously utilized in agricultural fields, for example, such as production of high-value crops.

Provided is a Schizochytrium limacinum strain, a building method therefor and an application thereof. The strain disclosed is classified and named as Schizochytrium sp. HX-RS, and the preservation number is CCTCC NO: M2017046. An acyltransferase functional domain originating from Shewanella PKS enzyme is adopted instead of an acyltransferase functional domain originating from Schizochytrium sp. PKS enzyme, and the strain is obtained by performing flat panel screening and acclimation screening with a high rotation seed and a low temperature.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an organism having an ergothioneine productivity that is capable of easily producing ergothioneine within a short period of time at a high yield, as compared with a conventional technology, and, therefore, enables ergothioneine production on an industrial scale. This purpose can be achieved by a transformed fungus into which a gene encoding enzyme (1) or genes encoding enzymes (1) and (2) have been inserted and in which the inserted gene(s) are overexpressed. (1) an enzyme catalyzing a reaction of synthesizing hercynyl cysteine sulfoxide from histidine and cysteine in the presence of S-adenosyl methionine, iron (II) and oxygen. (2) An enzyme catalyzing a reaction of synthesizing ergothioneine from hercynyl cysteine sulfoxide using pyridoxal 5′-phosphate as a coenzyme.