The present invention provides recombinant gram-negative host cells that do not degrade protease-sensitive recombinant proteins yet grow to high cell density, methods for the use of these host cells to produce high-quality recombinant proteins, including antibodies and antibody fragments, at high yield, as well as compositions and methods relating to periplasmic expression of recombinant proteins or polypeptides of interest in host cells.

The invention relates to genetically engineered microorganisms, such as bacteria, modified to increase production of cellulose and methods of producing said genetically engineered microorganisms. The invention also relates to the use of these genetically engineered microorganisms in agriculture.

The invention relates to genetically engineered microorganisms, such as bacteria, modified to increase production of cellulose and methods of producing said genetically engineered microorganisms. The invention also relates to the use of these genetically engineered microorganisms in agriculture.

The present invention comprises a novel method to engineer soil bacteria to produce powerful chlorinated auxins. While chlorinated auxins were only found in few plant species, this technology will allow the construction of soil bacterial strains capable of producing chlorinated derivatives of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). A select halogenase can be expressed in soil bacteria by inserting it into the genome or through an expression vector. The engineered strains can then be applied to any plants to promote growth, thus having promising applications in agriculture.

Methods for improving the ability of a population of biological agents to compete and survive in a field setting are provided. By improving the population of biological agents, the modified population of agents is able to grow, compete with other microbial strains and fungi, and provide protection for plants from pathogens. In particular, modified biological agents and modified populations of such agents that are herbicide tolerant or resistant are selected or engineered. In this manner, the protection from disease-causing agents is enhanced. Such modified populations of biological agents can be added to soils to prevent fungal pathogens and the diseases they cause promoting plant growth. Therefore, the present invention is useful for enhancing the competitiveness of modified biological agents particularly over other microbial agents which are not herbicide resistant. Compositions of the invention include selected or engineered herbicide resistant biological agents and modified populations of biocontrol agents. These modified biological agents can be used as an inoculant or as a seed coating for plants and seeds.

Methods for improving the ability of a population of biological agents to compete and survive in a field setting are provided. By improving the population of biological agents, the modified population of agents is able to grow, compete with other microbial strains and fungi, and provide protection for plants from pathogens. In particular, modified biological agents and modified populations of such agents that are herbicide tolerant or resistant are selected or engineered. In this manner, the protection from disease-causing agents is enhanced. Such modified populations of biological agents can be added to soils to prevent fungal pathogens and the diseases they cause promoting plant growth. Therefore, the present invention is useful for enhancing the competitiveness of modified biological agents particularly over other microbial agents which are not herbicide resistant. Compositions of the invention include selected or engineered herbicide resistant biological agents and modified populations of biocontrol agents. These modified biological agents can be used as an inoculant or as a seed coating for plants and seeds.

The present invention comprises a novel method to engineer microbes to efficiently produce the plant auxin indole-3-acetic acid. While some microorganisms including soil bacteria are known to produce indole-3-acetic acid, the yields are often very low. This technology allows the engineering of selected microbes for a strong ability to produce indole-3-acetic acid. Specifically, indole-3-acetic acid biosynthetic genes and a tryptophan transporter are expressed in a microbial host to efficiently convert tryptophan into indole-3-acetic acid. The engineered strains can be used in industry to produce this plant auxin or directly applied in agriculture to promote plant growth.

The present invention comprises a novel method to engineer microbes to efficiently produce the plant auxin indole-3-acetic acid. While some microorganisms including soil bacteria are known to produce indole-3-acetic acid, the yields are often very low. This technology allows the engineering of selected microbes for a strong ability to produce indole-3-acetic acid. Specifically, indole-3-acetic acid biosynthetic genes and a tryptophan transporter are expressed in a microbial host to efficiently convert tryptophan into indole-3-acetic acid. The engineered strains can be used in industry to produce this plant auxin or directly applied in agriculture to promote plant growth.

Provided is a method for producing 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) by culturing a microorganism that produces PDC. The present invention provides a method of producing PDC by culturing a microorganism that produces 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDC), wherein the method comprises: dissolving the starting substance for production of PDC in a buffer solution that contains no alkali metals, and adjusting the pH of a culture solution with a buffer solution that contains no alkali metals.

The invention relates to cells which make rhamnolipids and are genetically modified such that they have a decreased activity, compared to the wild type thereof, of a glucose dehydrogenase and to a method for producing rhamnolipids using the cells according to the invention.