In one aspect, methods of reversing or delaying the progression of Alzheimer's disease in a subject having Alzheimer's disease or delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease in a subject having mild cognitive impairment are provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises administering to the subject an oxysterol inhibitor.

A genetically-modified bacterium, for example of the class Actinobacteria, and the use of such a bacterium in the bioconversion of a steroidal substrate into a steroidal product of interest. A method of converting a steroidal substrate into a steroidal product of interest, wherein the method comprises: inoculating culture medium with genetically-modified bacteria according to any of Claims 1 to 28 and growing the bacterial culture until a target OD.sub.600 is reached; adding a steroidal substrate to the bacterial culture when the target OD.sub.600 is reached; culturing the bacterial culture so that the steroidal substrate is converted to the steroidal product of interest; and extracting and/or purifying the steroidal product of interest from the bacterial culture.

A new alga having an improved ability to produce a pigment is disclosed. When the alga is used, a carotenoid-based pigment, specifically, a xanthophyll can be produced by consuming less energy, so that it is possible to efficiently produce the pigment at the industrial level. The pigment can be applied as a raw material for a food, a health functional food and a medicine, which include the pigment. Since a DNA fragment is not likely to be inserted into a target base sequence or a base sequence other than the target, it is expected that the procedure of constructing the mutant is not regulated as a GMO.

A new alga having an improved ability to produce a pigment is disclosed. When the new alga is used, a carotenoid-based pigment, specifically, a xanthophyll can be produced by consuming less energy, so that it is possible to efficiently produce the pigment at the industrial level. The pigment can be applied as a raw material for a food, a health functional food and a medicine, which include the pigment. Since a DNA fragment is not likely to be inserted into a target base sequence or a base sequence other than the target, it is expected that the procedure of constructing the mutant is not regulated as a GMO, so that it is expected that the procedure of constructing the mutant can create a big economic effect in terms of an industry which produces lutein and zeaxanthin by using microalgae.

This invention relates to modified hydroxylases. The invention further relates to cells expressing such modified hydroxylases and methods of producing hydroxylated alkanes by contacting a suitable substrate with such cells.

A new alga having an improved ability to produce a pigment is disclosed. When the alga is used, a carotenoid-based pigment, specifically, a xanthophyll can be produced by consuming less energy, so that it is possible to efficiently produce the pigment at the industrial level. The pigment can be applied as a raw material for a food, a health functional food and a medicine, which include the pigment. Since a DNA fragment is not likely to be inserted into a target base sequence or a base sequence other than the target, it is expected that the procedure of constructing the mutant is not regulated as a GMO.

A new alga having an improved ability to produce a pigment is disclosed. When the new alga is used, a carotenoid-based pigment, specifically, a xanthophyll can be produced by consuming less energy, so that it is possible to efficiently produce the pigment at the industrial level. The pigment can be applied as a raw material for a food, a health functional food and a medicine, which include the pigment. Since a DNA fragment is not likely to be inserted into a target base sequence or a base sequence other than the target, it is expected that the procedure of constructing the mutant is not regulated as a GMO, so that it is expected that the procedure of constructing the mutant can create a big economic effect in terms of an industry which produces lutein and zeaxanthin by using microalgae.

The present invention relates to a new alga having an improved ability to produce a pigment, and when a mutant of the present invention is used, a carotenoid-based pigment, specifically, a xanthophyll can be produced by consuming less energy, so that it is possible to efficiently produce the pigment at the industrial level. Further, the pigment can be applied as a raw material for a food, a health functional food and a medicine, which include the pigment. In particular, since a DNA fragment is not likely to be inserted into a target base sequence or a base sequence other than the target, it is expected that the procedure of constructing the mutant is not regulated as a GMO, so that it is expected that the procedure of constructing the mutant can create a big economic effect in terms of an industry which produces lutein and zeaxanthin by using microalgae.

Compositions, methods, and systems for modifying sterol metabolism in a subject is disclosed. In some embodiments, the subjects may be administered one or more mammalian cells modified to express at least one sterol degrading enzyme derived from a bacterium. In many embodiments, the cell is a macrophage or monocyte stably expressing three or more enzymes that aid in opening the ring of cholesterol. The disclosed compositions and methods may be useful in lowering cholesterol levels in a subject in need thereof. In some embodiments, the subject may have a genetic predisposition to atherosclerosis.

This invention relates to modified hydroxylases. The invention further relates to cells expressing such modified hydroxylases and methods of producing hydroxylated alkanes by contacting a suitable substrate with such cells.