24493 results about "Bacilli" patented technology

The present invention relates to the discovery, identification and characterization of toxic agents which are lethal to pathogens and methods for targeting such toxic agents to a pathogen or pathogen infected cells in order to treat and / or eradicate the infection. In particular, the present invention relates to toxic agents which target bacteria at different stages of the bacterial life cycle, which are delivered alone or in combination to bacteria or bacteria-infected cells. The invention relates to toxic agents which are lethal to diseased cells and methods for targeting such toxic agents to a diseased cell in order to treat and / or eradicate the disease. The present invention relates to promoter elements which are pathogen-specific or tissue-specific and the use of such promoter elements to achieve pathogen-specific or tissue-specific expression of the toxic agent(s) and / or ribozyme(s) of the present invention. Specifically, the invention relates to the delivery of one or more toxic gene products, antisense RNAs, or ribozymes, or combination thereof. The invention provides a novel system by which multiple pathogenic targets may be simultaneously targeted to cause the death of a pathogen, or cell infected with a pathogen. Further, the invention has important implications in the eradication of drug-resistant bacterium and bacterial pathogens. The invention provides a novel system by which multiple targets may be simultaneously targeted to cause the death of a diseased cell. The invention also has important implications in the eradication of drug-resistant pathogens and drug-resistant diseased cells (such as cancer cells).

Disclosed are Coleopteran-toxic B. thuringiensis delta -endotoxins, nucleic acid sequences, and transgenic plants expressing these genes. Methods of making and using these genes and proteins are disclosed as well as methods for the recombinant expression, and transformation of suitable host cells.

Disclosed is a method of diagnosing irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder, autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus, or Crohn's disease, which involves detecting the presence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in a human subject having at least one symptom associated with a suspected diagnosis of any of those diagnostic categories. Also disclosed is a method of treating these disorders, and other disorders caused by SIBO, that involves at least partially eradicating a SIBO condition in the human subject. The method includes administration of anti-microbial or probiotic agents, or normalizing intestinal motility by employing a prokinetic agent. The method improves symptoms, including hyperalgesia related to SIBO and disorders caused by SIBO. Also disclosed is a kit for the diagnosis or treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder, autoimmune diseases, or Crohn's disease.

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions suitable for the treatment of chronic diseases associated with the presence of abnormal or an abnormal distribution of microflora in the gastrointestinal tract of a mammalian host, which compositions comprise viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic Clostridia. The compositions further comprise one or more additional viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic microorganisms selected from the group consisting of Bacteroides, Eubacteria, Fusobacteria, Propionibacteria, Lactobacilli, anaerobic cocci, Ruminococcus, E.Coli, Gemmiger, Desullomonas, Peptostreptococcus, and fungi. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions suitable for the treatment of the same chronic diseases comprising viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic Escherichia coli, at least one strain of viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathoenic Bacteroides and at least one strain of viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic microorganism.

Disclosed is a novel delta -endotoxin, designated CryET29, that exhibits insecticidal activity against siphonapteran insects, including larvae of the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis), as well as against colcopteran insects, including the southern corn rootworm (Diabrotica undecimpunctata), western corn rootworm (D. virgifera), Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica), and red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneur). Also disclosed are nucleic acid segments encoding CryET29, recombinant vectors, host cells, and transgenic plants comprising a cryET29 DNA segment. Methods for making and using the disclosed protein and nucleic acid segments are disclosed as well as assays and diagnostic kits for detecting cryET29 and CryET29 sequences in vivo and in vitro.

The present invention describes changes in bacterial gastrointestinal, cutaneous and nasal microbiota associated various mammalian medical conditions. Described are diagnostic tests that arise from combining phylogenetic information about the families, genus, and species of the microbiome and their relative abundance with the metabolic information contained in the metatranscriptome to determine the presence and absence of a disease or medical condition. Provided are compositions of bacteria, co-cultures of bacteria and a carrier for use in treating the disclosed medical conditions. The described compositions restore or correct disease- or medical condition-related imbalances in the microbiome profile with culture-conditioned formulations in which the transcriptome activity of the administered organisms is optimized. Alternatively, formulations of metabolites that drive changes in the metatranscriptome native to the mammal that treat disease or a medical condition or restore health are taught.

Disclosed is a novel delta-endotoxin, designated CryET29, that exhibits insecticidal activity against siphonapteran insects, including larvae of the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis), as well as against coleopteran insects, including the southern corn rootworm (Diabrotica undecimpunctata), western corn rootworm (D. virgifera), Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica), and red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum). Also disclosed are nucleic acid segments encoding CryET29, recombinant vectors, host cells, and transgenic plants comprising a cryET29 DNA segment. Methods for making and using the disclosed protein and nucleic acid segments are disclosed as well as assays and diagnostic kits for detecting cryET29 and CryET29 sequences in vivo and in vitro.

The subject invention relates to the surprising discovery that toxin complex (TC) proteins, obtainable from Xenorhabdus, Photorhabdus, and Paenibacillus, can be used interchangeably with each other. In particularly preferred embodiments of the subject invention, the toxicity of a “stand-alone” TC protein (from Photorhabdus, Xenorhabdus, or Paenibacillus, for example) is enhanced by one or more TC protein “potentiators” derived from a source organism of a different genus from which the toxin was derived. As one skilled in the art will recognize with the benefit of this disclosure, this has broad implications and expands the range of utility that individual types of TC proteins will now be recognized to have. Among the most important advantages is that one skilled in the art will now be able to use a single set of potentiators to enhance the activity of a stand-alone Xenorhabdus protein toxin as well as a stand-alone Photorhabdus protein toxin. (As one skilled in the art knows, Xenorhabdus toxin proteins tend to be more desirable for controlling lepidopterans while Photorhabdus toxin proteins tend to be more desirable for controlling coleopterans.) This reduces the number of genes, and transformation events, needed to be expressed by a transgenic plant to achieve effective control of a wider spectrum of target pests. Certain preferred combinations of heterologous TC proteins are also disclosed herein. Other objects, advantages, and features of the subject invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art having the benefit of the subject disclosure.

The present invention relates to the isolation and characterization of nucleotide sequences encoding novel insecticidal proteins secreted into the extracellular space from Bacillus thuringiensis and related strains. The proteins are isolated from culture supernatants of Bacillus thuringiensis and related strains and display insecticidal activity against coleopteran insects including Colorado potato beetle (Lymantria dispar) and Southern Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica undecempunctata). Insecticidal proteins encoded by nucleotide sequences that hybridize to the isolated and characterized nucleotide sequences are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of making and using transgenic cells and plants comprising the novel nucleotide sequence of the invention.

A novel bacterial strain of Bacillus thuringiensis, VBTS 2528, is described. This strain comprises genes encoding Cry1Ac, Cry 1Ca, and Cry2Aa endotoxin proteins. The invention further relates to an insecticidal composition comprising a mixture of VBTS 2528 and to methods for controlling insect pests utilizing VBTS 2528.

The present invention provides methods for tagging and / or identifying microorganisms. In some preferred embodiments, the microorganisms are bacteria. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the bacteria are members of the genus Streptococcus, while in other embodiments, the bacteria are members of other genera. The present invention also provides microorganisms tagged using the methods set forth herein. In some preferred embodiments, the tagged microorganisms are bacteria. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the tagged bacteria are members of the genus Streptococcus, while in other embodiments, the tagged bacteria are members of other genera.

The invention includes a method of treating gastrointestinal diseases associated with species of genus Clostridium such as clostridium deficit in human patients with gastrointestinal disorders having an etiological component such as a microbial agent producing a toxin where treated with an antimicrobial composition an amount effective to inhibit or eliminate the microbial agent. The antimicrobial composition in a form of probiotic mixture can be administrated alone or in combination with an antimicrobial agent, such as a bacteriophage which is specific for a bacterium producing toxin or antibiotics which are then used to eliminate or inhibit the clostridial species overgrown in a patient's gastrointestinal tract. Disorders that can be treated by the method of the invention include diarrhea or inflammatory bowel diseases such as colitis or Crohn's disease.

Compositions and methods for conferring nematicidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions including a coding sequence for nematicidal polypeptides are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also include transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated nematicidal nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules including nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 5, 8, 9, 13, 14, 47, 48, or 49, the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 15, 45, or 46, as well as variants and fragments thereof.

The present invention relates to a novel strain of Bacillus sp. D747 (deposited as FERM BP-8234) and methods for controlling plant diseases and insect pests, comprising administering cultures of Bacillus sp. D747 (including the viable bacteria) or viable bacteria isolated by culturing, on the plant parts such as roots, stems, leaves, seeds, and the like, or in the culture soil.

A composition comprising intact killed bacterial cells that contain a therapeutic nucleic acid, a drug or a functional nucleic acid is useful for targeted delivery to mammalian cells. The targeted delivery optionally employs bispecific ligands, comprising a first arm that carries specificity for a killed bacterial cell surface structure and a second arm that carries specificity for a mammalian cell surface receptor, to target killed bacterial cells to specific mammalian cells and to cause endocytosis of the killed bacterial cells by the mammalian cells. Alternatively, the delivery method exploits the natural ability of phagocytic mammalian cells to engulf killed bacterial cells without the use of bispecific ligands.

The present invention provides methods for tagging and / or identifying microorganisms. In some preferred embodiments, the microorganisms are bacteria. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the bacteria are members of the genus Streptococcus, while in other embodiments, the bacteria are members of other genera. The present invention also provides microorganisms tagged using the methods set forth herein. In some preferred embodiments, the tagged microorganisms are bacteria. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the tagged bacteria are members of the genus Streptococcus, while in other embodiments, the tagged bacteria are members of other genera.

A novel clostridia bacterial species (Clostridium coskatii ATCC No. PTA-10522, “PS02”) is provided. Under anaerobic conditions C. coskatii can convert CO and / or H2 and / or CO2 to ethanol or acetate. Thus, this novel bacterium is capable of transforming waste gases (e.g. syngas and refinery wastes) into useful products.

The present invention relates to characterizing changes in mammalian gastrointestinal microbiota associated with antibiotic treatment and various disease conditions (such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, insulin-deficiency or insulin-resistance related disorders, glucose intolerance, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, abnormal lipid metabolism, short stature, osteoporosis, and other disorders of bone formation and mineralization, etc.) and related diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Therapeutic methods of the invention involve the use of probiotics, prebiotics, or narrow spectrum antibiotics / anti-bacterial agents that are capable of restoring healthy mammalian bacterial gastrointestinal microbiota.

The present invention relates in one aspect to a fast acidifying lactic acid bacterium that generates a viscosity in fermented milk greater than about 62 Pa·s after 14 days of storage at 6° C.

Compositions and methods for conferring insecticidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions including a coding sequence for a Brevibacillus-derived delta-endotoxin polypeptide are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also include transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated delta-endotoxin nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed, and antibodies specifically binding to those amino acid sequences. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules having nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 7, or 10, or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15, as well as variants and fragments thereof.

An optimized synthetic polynucleotide encoding a Bacillus anthracis protective antigen and an anthrax vaccine based on the encoded protective antigen. Furthermore, heterologous expression in a host Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria of an optimized polynucleotide sequence encoding a Bacillus anthracis protective antigen.

A bacterial strain of Escherichia coli is described which produces L-threonine, and is obtained by a process comprising transduction by bacteriophage P1 which bears a transposon which inactivates threonine dehydrogenase activity, and isolation of a transductant lacking threonine dehydrogenase activity.

The present invention comprises a method to identify granulocytic cell genes that are differentially expressed upon exposure to a pathogen or in a sterile inflammatory disease by preparing a gene expression profile of a granulocytic cell population exposed to a pathogen or isolated from a subject having a sterile inflammatory disease and comparing that profile to a profile prepared from quiescent granulocytic cells. The present invention is particularly useful for identifying cytokine genes, genes encoding cell surface receptors and genes encoding intermediary signaling molecules. The invention also includes methods to identify a therapeutic agent that modulates the expression of at least one gene in a granulocytic population. Genes which are differentially expressed during neutrophil contact with a pathogen, such as a virulent bacteria, or that are differentially expressed in a subject having a sterile inflammatory disease are of particular importance.