Rat neutrophils stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, zymosan A, and beta-1,3-D-glucan from Alcaligenes faecalis showed cytotoxicity to various tumor cells. Hydrogen peroxide was shown to be an effector molecule in tumor cytotoxicity by inhibition using various active oxygen scavengers. The following findings suggest that tumor cytotoxicity by rat neutrophil...

The contamination of pasteurised fruit juice products by thermophilic acidophilic bacteria (TAB) has become a concern for producers. The aim of this study was to identify the bacteria present in South African fruit juices before and after pasteurisation, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Alicyclobacillus acidote"estris was found to be pr...

Enzymatic conversion of levulinic acid (LA) to 4-hydroxyvaleric acid (4HV) was performed by an engineered oxidoreductase. LA, the reactant of this study, is a versatile chemical building block produced from cellulosic biomass, and can be converted into valuable chemicals and fuels. 4HV, the product of this study, can be used as a monomer of bio-polyester and a precursor of bio-fuels. Since ther...