The present invention relates to a method of producing a coherent growth substrate product formed of man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF), comprising the steps of (vi) providing MMVF; (vii) providing an uncured binder composition; (viii) providing a superabsorbent polymer; (ix) forming a mixture of the MMVF, the uncured binder composition and the superabsorbent polymer; (x) curing the uncured binder composition in the mixture to form the coherent growth substrate product; wherein the uncured binder composition comprises at least one hydrocolloid.

Described herein are methods and compositions relating to methods of inhibiting neutrophils, e.g., inhibiting NET release or NETosis, by means of a DEspR inhibitor, e.g., an anti-DEspR antibody reagent. In some embodiments, the methods can relate to the treatment of a disease, e.g., cancer or a disease wherein neutrophils; NETs; or NETosing or NETting neutrophils contribute to pathogenesis, chronicity, or worsening of disease. In some embodiments, the DEspR inhibitor can be a bi-specific reagent or an antibody-drug conjugate.

The present invention provides use of a manganese peroxidase in the detoxification of mycotoxins, and specifically, the present invention provides five manganese peroxidases (MnP-1, MnP-2, MnP-4, MnP-5, and MnP-6), genes thereof, and uses thereof. The present invention provides five manganese peroxidases (MnP-1, MnP-2, MnP-4, MnP-5, and MnP-6) derived from lignocellulose degradation bacteria, the amino acid sequences thereof being as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 10, and SEQ ID NO: 13.

A composition comprised of a peroxidase, a catalase, and a peroxide that, in combination, is suitable for degradation of pollen wall sporopollenin, and coatings comprising sporopollenin in a matrix that can be selectively degraded through application of a peroxidase, a catalase, and a peroxide to the sporopollenin matrix.

Methods using plasma-driven generation of H.sub.2O.sub.2 in an aqueous liquid may provide a substrate to enzymes, which are then capable to oxidize or hydroxylate organic compounds. A plasma device may produce an aqueous liquid comprising H.sub.2O.sub.2 for use in an enzymatic reaction.

The present invention relates to biotechnological methods for the production of saturated as well as unsaturated aldehydes, and mixtures thereof using at least one alpha-dioxygenase and at least one aldehyde dehydrogenase. The method may be carried out either fermentatively or enzymatically. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a vector system, as well as sequences and recombinant microorganisms encoding the enzymes that can be used to produce the aldehydes and mixtures according to the invention. Further, the present invention relates to compositions obtained by the methods according to the present invention.

A hierarchical catalyst composition comprising a continuous or particulate macroporous scaffold in which is incorporated mesoporous aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles, wherein an enzyme is embedded in mesopores of the mesoporous aggregates of magnetic nanoparticles. Methods for synthesizing the hierarchical catalyst composition are also described. Also described are processes that use the recoverable hierarchical catalyst composition for depolymerizing lignin, remediation of water contaminated with aromatic substances, polymerizing monomers by a free-radical mechanism, epoxidation of alkenes, halogenation of phenols, inhibiting growth and function of microorganisms in a solution, and carbon dioxide conversion to methanol. Further described are methods for increasing the space time yield and/or total turnover number of a liquid-phase chemical reaction that includes magnetic particles to facilitate the chemical reaction, the method comprising subjecting the chemical reaction to a plurality of magnetic fields of selected magnetic strength, relative position in the chemical reaction, and relative motion.

A cleaning agent comprising a supporting substrate with an oxidoreductase enzyme immobilized thereon wherein the oxidoreductase enzyme is selected from oxidoreductase enzymes having an enzyme classification number selected from the group consisting of E.C. 1.1-1.10 and E.C. 1.12-1.99.

The invention relates to methods, compositions and kits for determining the cleanness of a surface. Described herein is a kit for determining the cleanness of a surface comprising an enzymatic solution comprising catalase; and a developer solution comprising hydrogen peroxide. Described also is a method for determining the cleanness of a surface comprising: applying on a zone of a surface to be cleaned an enzymatic solution comprising catalase and letting it dry; after cleaning said surface, applying on said zone a developer solution comprising hydrogen peroxide; and detecting a catalytic reaction between remaining catalase and hydrogen peroxide, wherein presence of a catalytic reaction is indicative of a surface not properly cleaned. Also provided are specific enzymatic solutions and developer solutions for the kits and methods.

A composition comprised of a perodixase, a catalase and a peroxide that, in combination, is suitable for degradation of pollen wall sporopollenin, and coatings comprising sporopollenin in a matrix that can be selectively degraded through application of a peroxidase, a catalase and a peroxide to the sporopollenin matrix.