The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having dextranaseactivity, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Methods for improving transgene in chloroplasts are disclosed along with improved transgenes so produced and methods of use thereof for the treatment of disease. Specifically, the methods comprising analyzing the native sequence of a nucleic acid encoding a protein of interest and replacing codons in said sequence with those preferentially used in psbA genes in chloroplasts in higher plants.

Current methods for detection of microbial contaminants on surfaces use swabbing/wiping to extract microbes for analysis. This removes easily transferable microbes but fails to extract microbes living in biofilms, which reduces sensitivity and may mask the true degree of contamination. The current disclosure provides an enzyme cocktail that disrupts the biofilm and improves the extraction of live microbes for analysis. Applicant's enzyme system is particularly useful for the application to a variety of surfaces, but particularly on a variety of food processing surfaces. Utilization of Applicant's enzyme cocktail makes possible the extraction of a representative sample of live microorganisms present on a surface, including film forming microorganisms, without affecting non-film forming microorganisms also present on a surface.

Systems and methods for eradicating biofilms by killing bacteria within a biofilm, degrading the matrix and removing biofilm debris are disclosed herein. The disclosed subject matter provides techniques for administering a suspension of H.sub.2O.sub.2 and iron oxide nanoparticles to substantially eradicate bacteria within a biofilm matrix and degrade the bio film matrix, actuating the iron oxide nanoparticles for assembly into biohybrid robots suitable for removal of biofilm debris, and moving the biohybrid robots to remove the bio film debris from accessible or enclosed surfaces. In some embodiments, the disclosed subject matter can include embedding iron oxide nanoparticles in a hydrogel to form a soft robotic structure, administering the soft robotic structure to a biofilm-covered location, and magnetizing the soft robot structure to substantially eradicate bacteria within a biofilm matrix, degrade the biofilm matrix, and remove biofilm debris from enclosed surfaces.

A production method of low molecular weight ?-glucan includes: inoculating an activated Leuconostoc mesenteroides in a 5 L fermentor at a 10% inoculum. Fermentation broth is placed in the fermentor at an initial pH of 6.8-7.0, temperature of 25? C. to 28? C., stirring speed at 120 r/min, and fermented for 20-40 hours. Dextranase is added after 5-30 hours of fermentation at a dosage of 1/10,000 to 5/10,000 by volume. The molecular weight of ?-glucan is controlled within 10000D by the amount of enzyme added, and the total fermentation process is about 20-40 hours. After the reaction is terminated, the fermentation liquid is concentrated and dried to prepare dietary fiber products with a molecular weight of 500-5000D. The viscosity of the fermentation liquid and concentration of ?-glucan in the fermentation liquid may be reduced to promote the forward reaction, accelerate the sucrose conversion rate and increase the product yield.

Methods for improving transgene in chloroplasts are disclosed along with improved transgenes so produced and methods of use thereof for the treatment of disease. Specifically, the methods comprising analyzing the native sequence of a nucleic acid encoding a protein of interest and replacing codons in said sequence with those preferentially used in psbA genes in chloroplasts in higher plants.

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having dextranase activity, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

An enzymatically produced soluble -glucan fiber composition is provided suitable for use as a digestion resistant fiber in food and feed applications. The soluble -glucan fiber composition can be blended with one or more additional food ingredients to produce fiber-containing compositions. Methods for the production and use of compositions comprising the soluble -glucan fiber are also provided.

An enzymatically produced soluble -glucan fiber composition is provided suitable for use as a digestion resistant fiber in food and feed applications. The soluble -glucan fiber composition can be blended with one or more additional food ingredients to produce fiber-containing compositions. Methods for the production and use of compositions comprising the soluble -glucan fiber are also provided.

Systems and methods for eradicating biofilms by killing bacteria within a biofilm, degrading the matrix and removing biofilm debris are disclosed herein. The disclosed subject matter provides techniques for administering a suspension of H.sub.2O.sub.2 and iron oxide nanoparticles to substantially eradicate bacteria within a biofilm matrix and degrade the bio film matrix, actuating the iron oxide nanoparticles for assembly into biohybrid robots suitable for removal of biofilm debris, and moving the biohybrid robots to remove the bio film debris from accessible or enclosed surfaces. In some embodiments, the disclosed subject matter can include embedding iron oxide nanoparticles in a hydrogel to form a soft robotic structure, administering the soft robotic structure to a biofilm-covered location, and magnetizing the soft robot structure to substantially eradicate bacteria within a biofilm matrix, degrade the biofilm matrix, and remove biofilm debris from enclosed surfaces.