A genetically modified microorganism that can produce 3-hydroxyadipic acid and/or α-hydromuconic acid with a high yield; and a method of producing 3-hydroxyadipic acid and/or α-hydromuconic acid using the genetically modified microorganism, are disclosed. The genetically modified microorganism has an ability to produce 3-hydroxyadipic acid and/or α-hydromuconic acid, and has an enhanced enzymatic activity to catalyze a reaction to reduce 3-oxoadipyl-CoA to 3-hydroxyadipyl-CoA, wherein, in the genetically modified microorganism, a dicarboxylic acid excretion carrier function is deleted or decreased.

Disclosed herein include methods, compositions, and kits suitable for use in imaging of in situ gene expression. There are provided, in some embodiments, viral vector compositions. Disclosed herein includes a single viral vector comprising one or more gas vesicle assembly (GVA) gene(s) encoding one or more GVA protein(s), and one or more gas vesicle structural (GVS) gene(s) encoding one or more GVS protein(s). The one or more GVA protein(s) and the one or more GVS protein(s) can be capable of forming gas vesicles (GVs) upon expression in a cell.

Provided herein are methods for integrating a gene of interest into a chromosome of a host cell. In some embodiments, the methods include introducing into a host cell a first plasmid comprising a transposase coding sequence and a donor sequence, which includes a selectable marker coding sequence flanked by a first and a second lox site and is itself flanked by inverted repeats recognized by the transposase. Following transposase-mediated chromosomal integration of the donor sequence into the host cell, a second plasmid is introduced, which comprises the gene of interest and a second selectable marker coding sequence, both flanked by a first and a second lox site. The gene of interest is chromosomally integrated into the host cell by recombinase-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE) between the donor sequence and the second plasmid via Cre-/cuc recombination. Further provided herein are host cells, vectors, and methods of producing a product related thereto.

Bacterial strains are provided that can be isolated from the microflora of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), and that are capable of increasing the antioxidant content of their growth medium. The bacteria can be used, for example, to increase the antioxidant content of various foodstuffs, as probiotics or as additives to animal feed. Antioxidant-enriched compositions produced by fermentation processes utilising the bacteria are also provided. The antioxidant-enriched compositions can be used in the preparation of cosmetics and nutritional supplements. The antioxidant-enriched compositions also have therapeutic applications.

Provided is a method of producing α-hydromuconic acid, the method including the step of culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Serratia capable of producing α-hydromuconic acid.

Disclosed are a genetically modified microorganism with an ability to produce 3-hydroxyadipic acid, α-hydromuconic acid, and/or adipic acid in high yield, and a method of producing 3-hydroxyadipic acid, α-hydromuconic acid, and/or adipic acid by using the genetically modified microorganism. The genetically modified microorganism has an ability to produce 3-hydroxyadipic acid, α-hydromuconic acid, and/or adipic acid and is deficient in the function of pyruvate kinase, in which the activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and of an enzyme that catalyzes the reaction of reducing 3-oxoadipyl-CoA to 3-hydroxyadipyl-CoA are enhanced.

The present invention provides a bacterium and a method for the biological production of Heliotropin by the fermemtation of safrole. In one aspect of the present invention, a process for the conversion of safrole to Heliotropin is achieved by the use of a bacterial strain of Serratia liquefaciens ZMT-1 (CCTCC M 2016170). The production method comprises the steps of seeding the Serratia liquefaciens culture in the presence of oxygen for 24-36 hours, transforming the safrole substrate for 24-48 hours with 0.5-3 g/L substrate concentration, and reaching the Heliotropin concentration of 160-524 mg/L. The present invention reports, for the first time, on a method for producing the high concentration of Heliotropin by using the Serratia liquefaciens ZMT-1 strain or the enzyme extracted from the strain.

Disclosed are a novel strain Serratia plymuthica GYUN-8 and use thereof and, specifically, a Serratia plymuthica GYUN-8 strain, a control agent for controlling a plant disease and a plant growth promoter each containing the strain or a culture thereof as an active ingredient, and a method for controlling a plant disease and a method for promoting plant growth each including soaking or drenching a plant or a plant seed in the strain or a culture thereof, wherein the control agent for controlling a plant disease and the plant growth promoter each containing the novel strain Serratia plymuthica GYUN-8 have an excellent antagonistic action on plant pathogens and a superior activity to promote seed germination and plant growth, and furthermore, the control agent for controlling a plant disease and the plant growth promoter of the present disclosure, which are microbial preparations using microbes, can solve environmental pollution problems due to the use of conventional chemical pesticides and human toxicity problems due to residual pesticides, and thus are safer and more eco-friendly and can increase the production of plants, leading to very useful effects from an economic view.

Compositions and methods for controlling plant pests are disclosed. In particular, novel chimeric insecticidal proteins having toxicity to at least coleopteran insect pests are provided. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the novel insecticidal proteins are also provided. Methods of making the insecticidal proteins and methods of using the insecticidal proteins and nucleic acids encoding the insecticidal proteins of the invention, for example in transgenic plants to confer protection from insect damage, are also disclosed.

Disclosed are a novel strain Serratia plymuthica GYUN-8 and use thereof and, specifically, a Serratia plymuthica GYUN-8 strain, a control agent for controlling a plant disease and a plant growth promoter each containing the strain or a culture thereof as an active ingredient, and a method for controlling a plant disease and a method for promoting plant growth each including soaking or drenching a plant or a plant seed in the strain or a culture thereof, wherein the control agent for controlling a plant disease and the plant growth promoter each containing the novel strain Serratia plymuthica GYUN-8 have an excellent antagonistic action on plant pathogens and a superior activity to promote seed germination and plant growth, and furthermore, the control agent for controlling a plant disease and the plant growth promoter of the present disclosure, which are microbial preparations using microbes, can solve environmental pollution problems due to the use of conventional chemical pesticides and human toxicity problems due to residual pesticides, and thus are safer and more eco-friendly and can increase the production of plants, leading to very useful effects from an economic view.