Provided are biosynthetic processes for producing sterol derivatives, and to non-naturally occurring organisms capable of producing sterol derivatives. More specifically, genetically modified non-naturally occurring organisms for producing KCEA, KCDA, and related compounds, from cholesterol, ?-sitosterol, campesterol and their analogs, are provided.

A device for selectively capturing mycobacteria comprises a substrate and a capture polymer layer of poly-diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride, wherein the capture polymer layer is covalently linked onto the substrate via a UV-initiated polymerization reaction of a solution comprising diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride and a photoinitiator in water purged of dissolved oxygen, and wherein the UV exposure time is 30 seconds to 4 minutes at a power density of about 20 to about 25 mW/cm.sup.2. A kit can comprise the device. A microfluidic chip comprises at least a portion of at least one channel sidewall coated with a capture polymer layer of poly-diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride. A method for manufacturing the device includes plasma treating a substrate, providing a solution comprising diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride and a photoinitiator in water purged of dissolved oxygen, and coating the plasma-treated substrate via a UV-initiated polymerization reaction.

The present invention discloses a microcapsule material capable of reducing pollution containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and a preparation method and application thereof. The preparation method comprises the following steps: (1) culturing mycobacterium gilvum CP 13 in a bacteria culture liquid to obtain a bacterial broth, wherein the mycobacterium gilvum CP 13 was deposited in China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (CGMCC) on Jul. 22, 2013 with a CGMCC number of CGMCC No. 7963; and (2) applying a calcium alginate and chitosan to encapsulate the bacterial broth in a microcapsule through layer-by-layer self-assembly to produce a microcapsule material capable of reducing pollution containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The present invention produces a microcapsule material with the microorganic activity through layer-by-layer self-assembly, which has superior adaptability to the environment and good ability to reduce pollution containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The microcapsule material of the present invention can be used in bioremediation of industrial wastewater containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and contaminated soil containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

The present invention provides tools and methods for degrading MTBE, TBA and/or HCHO using abacterial consortium comprising one or more strains selected from Methylibium LD3, Hydrogenophaga LD1 and/or Mycobacterium LD6.

Disclosed herein are method of detecting the presence of living cells in a sample by detecting the death of those cells. Because cell death can occur more rapidly than cell growth, which is often the parameter used to detect living cells, detection by death can reduce the time to detect certain organisms. Further, the present methods can distinguish between the presence of dead cells which may leave traces of, for example, detectable genetic material, and living cells that are of concern in situations such as diagnosing an infection.

The present invention relates to a genetically-engineered Mycobacterium strain and a use thereof in the preparation of steroidal compounds. The genetically-engineered Mycobacterium strain is a Mycobacteria which lacks of acyl-CoA dehydrogenase genes fadE31, fadE32 and fadE33, wherein acyl-CoA dehydrogenase genes fadE31, fadE32 and fadE33 respectively encode proteins as follows: having amino acid sequences according to SEQ ID NOs 4, 6 and 8; derived by substituting, deleting or inserting one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence defined by preceding protein and having the same function as that of the preceding protein. The present invention constructs a genetically-engineered Mycobacterium strain and applies it in preparing steroidal compounds, thereby enriching the types of valuable intermediates, improving the production efficiency and product quality of steroid drugs, reducing energy consumption in the steroid drugs production, simplifying production steps, and reducing production costs.

To provide an effective 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria culture method. Provided is a 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria culture method in which 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria are propagated using a medium containing diethylene glycol.

The present invention provides a hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase gene, an acyl-coenzyme A thiolase gene, genetically engineered strains and a use thereof. The hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase gene encodes a protein (i) or (ii) as follows: (i) having an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO 2; (ii) derived by substituting, deleting or inserting one or more amino acids in the amino acid sequence defined by (i) and having the same function as that of the protein of (i). The present invention constructs genetically engineered Mycobacterium strains lacking of a hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase gene or an acyl-coenzyme A thiolase gene, which are used in the preparation of steroidal compounds, such as 1,4-BNA, 4-BNA, 9-OH-BNA, etc. Further, the invention improves the production efficiency and product quality of steroidal drug, improves the utilization of drug precursors, reduces the production costs, and provides the advantages of mild reaction conditions, environmentally friendly, and high economic and social benefits.

Disclosed herein are methods of inhibiting the growth, reducing the population, or killing of at least one species of Gram-negative bacteria comprising contacting the bacteria with a composition comprising an effective amount of a Chp peptide, lysin, or lysin-AMP construct or active fragments or variants thereof for a period of time sufficient to inhibit said growth, reduce said population, or kill said at least one species of Gram-negative bacteria. Also disclosed herein are methods of inhibiting a Gram-negative bacteria present in sputum; methods of preventing, disrupting or eradicating a Gram-negative bacterial biofilm; and methods of treating a bacterial infection caused by a Gram-negative bacteria.

This invention teaches systems and methods for identifying, targeting and destroying cancer cells. As cells progress from a normal to a cancerous state their accelerated metabolic rates and adapted pathways generate a higher heat signature that serves as a targeting beacon for a specialized cell killing vector. Suitable vectors include modified or adapted viruses, modified or adapted intracellular bacteria and/or engineered liposomes. Especially preferred is the bacterial vector because of its ease of production. The bacterial vector is selectively targeted to recognize cells whose temperature is slightly elevated and ambient pH suppressed due to cancer related alterations to metabolism. An additional targeting feature, such as recognition of the MCT4 transmembrane protein exaggeratively expressed on the cancer cell outer membrane, may provide additional targeting specificity. Embodiments featuring facultative extracellular and intracellular growth capable bacteria have the preferred feature that culture conditions for producing the vector can be optimized solely for the one organism and need not be compromised to support or optimize host cell maintenance.