A quorum sensing-defective mutant of Pectobacterium carotovorum ssp. brasiliense 1692 is attenuated in virulence and unable to occlude xylem tissue of susceptible potato plant stems.

Pectobacterium carotovorum ssp. brasiliense 1692 (Pcb1692) is an important emerging pathogen of potatoes causing blackleg in the field and soft rot during post-harvest storage. Blackleg diseases involve the bacterial colonization of vascular tissue and the formation of aggregates, also known as biofilms.

Comparative analysis of plant use in peri-urban domestic gardens of the Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Background: Relatively little has been researched or published on the importance of peri-urban domestic gardens as part of a household livelihood strategy in South Africa. Due to lack of comprehensive data on peri-urban domestic gardens, their potential value as luxury green space, provision of food, income and ecosystem services to the fast growing urban population in South Africa is not clearly known. The aim of this study was to document differences and similarities in plant use and diversity in domestic gardens of two peri-urban communities in the Limpopo Province that differ in proximity to an urban area.

[Optimization of hydrolysis of protein substrates by yeast proteases from Saccharomyces carlsbergenis].

Optimum conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis of bovine blood in the presence of brewer's yeast Saccharomyces carlsbergensis were studied. In addition to the amount of blood, yeast, sodium citrate, and ethanol in the mixture, the optimum process duration and temperature were determined. The yield of the major end product (blood hydrolysate) increased from 11 to 55%, and the amino acid composition of the end product was brought to a balanced level as a result of hydrolysis optimization and addition of pancreatin to the reaction mixture.

[Hydrolyzing ability of yeast proteases in relation to protein substrates].

The possibility of use of brewer's yeast as multienzymatic preparations for hydrolyzing of animal blood proteins was demonstrated. The kinetic characteristics of hydrolysis of blood proteins by activated brewer's yeast mass and neutral proteinase from Bacillus subtilis 102 and the activation energies were estimated. Brewer's yeast biomass may be used as a source of enzymes of broad substrate specificity and noncontiguous amino acids, in particular, isoleucine, to increase the biological efficiency of blood proteins by 15-30%.

[Enzymes as a subject of invention].

A patent-legal situation is analyzed which has arisen in the world in connection with the problem on protection of native enzymes as objects of invention. The objects under study are shown to correspond to the demands of novelty, essential distinctions and positive practical effect which are made by the legislation of the USSR to inventions. Possibility of legal protection of enzymes as substances with unstated structure obtained microbiologically is determined in terms of acting standard statements.