University of Florida Research Foundation Inc

United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

Drion G Boucias

Peter E A Teal

Baldwyn Torto

James H Tumlinson, Iii

Michael E Scharf

Xuguo Zhou

Monique R Coy

Marsha M Wheeler

Aurelien Tartar

Tamer Ibrahim Zaki Salem

James H Tumlinson

Sanjay B Jadhao

The disclosure provides isolated nucleic acid molecules derived from the gut of the termite, recombinant nucleic acid molecules comprising a vector and an isolated heterologous nucleic acid molecule operably inserted therein, whereby, when transformed into an appropriate host cell system, the heterologous nucleic acid sequence is expressed as a polypeptide having an activity similar to that when expressed in the gut of the termite. The recombinant nucleic acid molecules can comprise more than one heterologous nucleic acid molecule such that more than one polypeptide may be expressed by the host system. The expressed polypeptides may be substantially purified, or used in a substantially unpurified form, to be admixed with a lignocellulose source to be converted to a fermentable product such as a sugar or a mixture of sugars. One aspect of the present disclosure, therefore, encompasses methods of converting a lignified plant material to a fermentable product, the method comprising obtaining a series of isolated polypeptides of a termite, wherein the series of polypeptides cooperate to convert a plant lignocellulose to a fermentable product; and incubating the series of polypeptides with a source of lignified plant material, under conditions allowing the polypeptides to cooperatively produce a fermentable product from the lignified plant material.

Termite enzymes and uses thereof for in vitro conversion of lignin-containing materials to fermentable products

A Small Hive Beetle trap, which replaces the bottom board of beehives, includes a frame having three walls and a top surface, a trap plate, an entry means, and a trapping means. The trapping means provides a dark environment attractive to small hive beetles and contains a small hive beetle attractant made from pollen dough and inoculated with yeast that produces small hive beetle attracting volatiles. The yeast is a biologically pure strain of yeast producing hive beetle attracting volatiles designated yeast spp. NRRL Y-30722.

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A Small Hive Beetle trap, which replaces the bottom board of beehives, includes a frame having three walls and a top surface, a trap plate, an entry device, and a trapping means. The trapping device provides a dark environment attractive to small hive beetles and contains a small hive beetle attractant made from pollen dough and inoculated with yeast that produces small hive beetle attracting volatiles.

Growing community of inventors

Gainesville, FL, United States of America

Drion G Boucias