The present invention is directed to a transgenic bacterium including at least one polynucleotide encoding a Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) proteinaceous toxin. Further provided are compositions comprising the bacterium of the invention as well as methods of using same, such as for controlling a pest insect.

The present invention discloses a novel microbial process for decontaminating (per)chlorate and/or nitrate containing matrices. A heterotrophic mixed microbial culture expressing the functional genes responsible for (per) chlorate and nitrate reduction is the major component of the process. The present process can be a better substitute for existing processes for decontaminating perchlorate contaminated propellant wastewater, ion exchange resin/regenerate solutions, etc. The consortium consists or comprises of Halomonas sp. NIIST-PRB-02 (MTCC No. 5911), Bacillus sp. NIIST-PRB-03 (MTCC No. 5912) and Serratia marcescens strain NIIST5 (MTCC No. 5821).

The present invention discloses a novel microbial process for decontaminating (per)chlorate and/or nitrate containing matrices. A heterotrophic mixed microbial culture expressing the functional genes responsible for (per) chlorate and nitrate reduction is the major component of the process. The present process can be a better substitute for existing processes for decontaminating perchlorate contaminated propellant wastewater, ion exchange resin/regenerate solutions, etc. The consortium consists or comprises of Halomonas sp. NIIST-PRB-02 (MTCC No. 5911), Bacillus sp. NIIST-PRB-03 (MTCC No. 5912) and Serratia marcescens strain NIIST5 (MTCC No. 5821).

The present invention relates to the microbiological field, and particularly relates to a Serratia marcescens biocontrol strain efficiently inhibiting production of aflatoxins by Aspergillus flavus and an application thereof. The Serratia marcescens biocontrol strain 3J4SM was deposited at China Center for Type Culture Collection (CCTCC) on Jun. 13, 2017, and the accession number of the strain is CCTCC No. M2017328. The Serratia marcescens biocontrol strain 3J4SM can be used to inhibit production of aflatoxins by Aspergillus flavus and prevent grain crops from aflatoxin pollution.

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.

The present invention is related with a biotechnological process that increases the recovery and mobilization of oils present in carbonated and/or siliciclastic porous media by the action of tensoactive biomolecules from Serratia marcescens SmSA.

The invention also increases the oil recovery in reservoirs.

Serratia marcescens SmSA biomolecules display tensoactive and emulsifying properties that produce changes in the surface and interfacial tensions, enhanced the recovery and mobilization of oils.

The Serratia marcescens SmSA tensoactive biomolecules of the present invention are stable at temperatures from 4 to 121 C., pH from 2 to 12, pressures from atmospheric to 1,706 psi, and NaCl content from 0 to 200 g/L (from 0 to 200,000 ppm).

The Serratia marcescens SmSA tensoactive biomolecules reduce the surface tension up to 26 mN/m, the interfacial tension up to 1.8 mN/m with hexadecane, with emulsifying activity up to 71% with the same solvent and a critical micellar concentration (CMC) of 300 mg/L.

The Serratia marcescens SmSA tensoactive biomolecules enhance recovery of residual oil above 10%.