The present invention provides a process for the microbiological production of hydrogen from a hydrocarbon-rich deposit, said process comprising the step of modifying the composition of the deposit by the introduction into the deposit of at least one non-native hydrogen producing microorganism selected positively to diversify the microbiological abundance of hydrogen-producing microorganisms in the deposit and for the preferential production of hydrogen over methane.

The invention relates to treatment of waste with one or more microorganisms for the purposes of, including but not limited to, degrading waste, bioremediation of waste, enhancing waste stabilization, reducing contaminants in waste, reducing odor in waste, reducing organics in waste, and combinations thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to isolated Bacillus strains, and strains having all of the identifying characteristics of these strains, and combinations thereof, for uses comprising the above-mentioned uses.

The invention relates to acetylcholine-producing microorganisms for use in the prevention and/or treatment of intestinal diseases, and/or reduction of risks of intestinal diseases, and/or improvement of intestinal health as well as promoting healthy gut flora. The acetylcholine-producing microorganisms may be provided as a pharmaceutical dosage form or as additive to functional food or food supplemental products. Also encompassed is a method for the production of acetylcholine by use of Lactobacilli. Further the invention refers to microbially produced acetylcholine for use in the treatment and/or prevention of intestinal diseases.

The invention relates to acetylcholine-producing microorganisms for use in the prevention and/or treatment of intestinal diseases, and/or reduction of risks of intestinal diseases, and/or improvement of intestinal health as well as promoting healthy gut flora. The acetylcholine-producing microorganisms may be provided as a pharmaceutical dosage form or as additive to functional food or food supplemental products. Also encompassed is a method for the production of acetylcholine by use of Lactobacilli. Further the invention refers to microbially produced acetylcholine for use in the treatment and/or prevention of intestinal diseases.

A method is used for making an artificial micro-gland by taxis. A monodisperse multiple emulsion is produced with a first fluid; a second fluid confined within the first fluid; a third fluid within the second fluid. Interfaces between the fluids permit living cells dispersed in the one of the fluids to migrate towards an adjacent fluid having a different concentration of an agent affecting the metabolic activity of the living cells. Waiting, usually about 30 minutes, allows the living cells to migrate to the interface, forming the continuous membrane. Once formed, the artificial micro-gland is removed from the remains of the emulsion. The artificial micro-gland may also be given a second layer of different cells when the emission of the cells of the artificial micro-gland is used as the agent to attract the different cells. The method may also be used to produce an artificial micro-gland within an artificial micro-gland.

A method is used for making an artificial micro-gland by taxis. A monodisperse multiple emulsion is produced with a first fluid; a second fluid confined within the first fluid; a third fluid within the second fluid. Interfaces between the fluids permit living cells dispersed in the one of the fluids to migrate towards an adjacent fluid having a different concentration of an agent affecting the metabolic activity of the living cells. Waiting, usually about 30 minutes, allows the living cells to migrate to the interface, forming the continuous membrane. Once formed, the artificial micro-gland is removed from the remains of the emulsion. The artificial micro-gland may also be given a second layer of different cells when the emission of the cells of the artificial micro-gland is used as the agent to attract the different cells. The method may also be used to produce an artificial micro-gland within an artificial micro-gland.

Methods of stimulating biogenic production of a metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content are described. The methods may include accessing a consortium of microorganisms in a geologic formation that includes a carbonaceous material. They may also include providing hydrogen and one or more phosphorous compounds to the microorganisms. The combination of the hydrogen and phosphorous compounds stimulates the consortium to metabolize the carbonaceous material into the metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content. Also, methods of stimulating biogenic production of a metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content by providing a carboxylate compound, such as acetate, to a consortium of microorganisms is described. The carboxylate compound stimulates the consortium to metabolize carbonaceous material in the formation into the metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content.

Described here is a method for increasing the transfer of a gas substrate in microbial fermentation, comprising incubating an emulsion comprising an oil phase and an aqueous phase droplet dispersed in the oil phase, and supplying the gas substrate to the oil phase, wherein the aqueous phase droplet comprises a microorganism, and wherein the emulsion is stabilized by a surfactant or an amphiphilic particle that is adsorbed to an interface of the oil phase and the aqueous phase. Also described is an emulsion for microbial fermentation, comprises an oil phase and an aqueous phase droplet dispersed in the oil phase, wherein the aqueous phase droplet comprises a microorganism, wherein the emulsion comprises a gas substrate externally-supplied to the oil phase, and wherein the emulsion is stabilized by a surfactant or an amphiphilic particle that is adsorbed to an interface of the oil phase and the aqueous phase.

Techniques of decontaminating environments polluted with petroleum-related materials through the use of microbes have problems associated with difficulty in construction that requires high-pressure injection deep in the ground, due to low pressure resistance of any of the conventional microbes. In many cases, the survival of the microbes is influenced by temperatures, etc. of the environments and disadvantageously requires extreme caution in conditions of preservation or the environments (temperature, pressure, pH, etc.) for use. A microbe having resistance to even high temperatures or high pressures while having excellent ability to degrade petroleum-related materials has been obtained. As a result, the present invention provides a bioremediation technique, particularly, a bioaugmentation technique, which employs an organism resistant to environmental loads such as temperature, pH, and pressure, is highly useful, and utilizes the excellent ability to degrade petroleum-related materials.

Techniques of decontaminating environments polluted with petroleum-related materials through the use of microbes have problems associated with difficulty in construction that requires high-pressure injection deep in the ground, due to low pressure resistance of any of the conventional microbes. In many cases, the survival of the microbes is influenced by temperatures, etc. of the environments and disadvantageously requires extreme caution in conditions of preservation or the environments (temperature, pressure, pH, etc.) for use. A microbe having resistance to even high temperatures or high pressures while having excellent ability to degrade petroleum-related materials has been obtained. As a result, the present invention provides a bioremediation technique, particularly, a bioaugmentation technique, which employs an organism resistant to environmental loads such as temperature, pH, and pressure, is highly useful, and utilizes the excellent ability to degrade petroleum-related materials.