Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of obtaining different biologically pure cultures of bacteria isolated from different species of Taxus such as Taxus canadensis. T. brevifolia, T. baccata, T. cuspidata, and T. hunnewelliana, wherein the bacteria produce in vitro taxanes and paclitaxel, and wherein the bacteria are of the genus Sphingomonas, Bacillus, Pantoea or Curtobacterium. Also, the present invention relates to a method of a bacterial mass production of at least one taxane or paclitaxel. There is also disclosed a novel bacterial taxane. The present invention also relates to the use of different biologically pure cultures of bacteria isolated from different species of Taxus, wherein the bacteria are able to biotransform pro-taxanes. There is also provided a process for improving taxanes and paclitaxel production of taxanes and paclitaxel producing bacteria which include culturing bacteria in the presence of a mutagenic agent for a period a time sufficient to allow mutagenesis. There is disclosed two new mutated bacteria which have an increased yield of pro-taxane biotransformation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (a) Field of the invention 
     The present invention relates to the production of paclitaxel and derivatives thereof (such as related taxanes) using a plurality of different bacteria isolated from different species of Taxus, and also to a novel taxane. There are disclosed methods for the isolation of these bacteria and the screening tests that were used to provide evidence that paclitaxel and taxanes were produced by said bacteria. There are also disclosed methods for the biotransformation of pro-taxanes by said bacteria. 
     (b) Description of prior art 
     Paclitaxel, also referred to as Taxol™, has been first identified in 1971 by Wani and collaborators (Wani MC et al., 1971 J. Am. Chem. Soc., 93: 2325-2327) following a screening program of plant extracts of the National Cancer Institute. This complex diterpene showed cytotoxic activity against several types of tumors and is presently used in the treatment of some cancers such as ovarian and breast cancers. Clinical studies suggest that Taxol™ could eventually be used in the treatment of over 70% of human cancers. 
     Paclitaxel differs from other cytotoxic drugs by its unique mechanism of action. It interferes with cell division by manipulating the molecular regulation of the cell cycle. Paclitaxel binds to tubulin, the major structural component of microtubules that are present in all eukaryotic cells. Unlike other antimitotic agents such as vinca alkaloids and colcichine, which inhibit the polymerization of tubulin, paclitaxel promotes this assembly of tubulin and stabilizes the resulting microtubules. This event leads to the interruption of cell division, and ultimately to cell death. 
     The major obstacle in the use of paclitaxel as an anticancer treatment is its supply. It was originally isolated from the bark and leaves of yew trees such as Taxus brevifolia, T. baccata, T. cuspidata or, T. canadensis. The low yield of the isolation of paclitaxel (0.016 g %) and the limited availability of the trees have forced the scientific and industrial community to find alternative ways of producing paclitaxel. 
     The antitumor property of taxoid compounds has also lead to the generation of new anticancer drugs derived from taxanes. Taxotere™ (sold by Rhone-Poulenc Rorer), which is produced from 10-deacetylbaccatin III by hemisynthesis, is currently used in the treatment of ovarian and breast cancers. Furthermore, Abbott Laboratories is conducting clinical trials with a drug derived from 9-dihydro-13-acetyl baccatin III, a natural precursor specific to Taxus canadensis. The increasing demand for taxanes highlights the urgent need for renewable and economical processes that would not endanger plant species. 
     Presently, industrials are producing paclitaxel through hemisynthesis from baccatin III, a natural precursor of paclitaxel. However, this process still relies on a plant substance that must be extracted from yew trees. The first complete chemical synthesis of paclitaxel has been achieved in 1994 by Nicolaou et al. (1994, Nature, 367:630-634). This is a multistep process and the overall yield has made this approach non economically feasible. 
     Plant cell culture of Taxus species is another approach explored by many groups (Yukimune et al., 1996, Nature Biotechnology, 14:1129-1132; Srinivasan et al., 1995, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 47:666-676). Somehow, this process is limited by the amount of paclitaxel that can be produced, the length of incubation time required to obtain significant yields, and the application of plant cell culture to the large volumes required by the industry. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,779, in the names of Gary A. Strobel et al. disclosed a fungus isolated from the bark of a sample of Taxus brevifolia which is able to synthetize paclitaxel at a level of 24-50 ng/l after a period of incubation of 3 weeks. Later, Strobel et al. (1996, Microbiology, 142:435-440) reported another fungus, Pestalotiopsis microspora, isolated from the inner bark of Taxus wallachiana that can produced up to 55 μg/l of paclitaxel within 5 weeks. Somehow, the long periods of incubation and the large volumes required to extract significant amounts of paclitaxel reduce the profitability of the process. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,055 (issued on Oct. 1, 1996 in the names of Michel Page et al., the Applicant), there is disclosed one bacterium, which was referred to as Erwinia taxi, for the production of paclitaxel. Since then, this bacteria has been characterized as Sphingomonas taxi. This bacterium was isolated from Taxus canadensis. It would be highly desirable to be provided with other bacteria having highly diverse metabolic capacities isolated from different species of Taxus for the production of paclitaxel and related taxanes at higher yields. 
     It would also be highly desirable to be provided with widely different bacteria for the mass production of various different bacterial taxanes. 
     As mentioned in International Patent Application published under number W097/16200, biotransformation process may be used for the generation of new taxanes molecules that lead to new therapeutic drugs. It would also be highly desirable to be provided with new strains of microorganisms able to biotransform taxanes compounds for use as therapeutic agents or to be modified by hemisynthesis. 
     Genetic manipulations of bacteria can increase the activity or the production of certain proteins. It would also be highly desirable to be provided with mutant of our original isolates that could produce and biotransform taxanes at higher levels. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aim of the present invention is to provide a plurality of bacteria for the mass production of taxanes and paclitaxel. 
     Another aim of the present invention is to provide a method for bacterial mass production of taxanes and paclitaxel which overcomes all the drawbacks of the prior art. 
     Another aim of the present invention is to pro- vide a novel process for the production of taxanes and paclitaxel. The industrial application of this process would provide alternative renewable sources of taxoids compounds for the pharmaceutical industry. 
     Another aim of the present invention is to provide a biotransformation process in which plant-derived taxanes are converted into substances that may be useful for the production of other therapeutic compounds. 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method to obtain biologically pure cultures of bacteria isolated from Taxus, wherein said bacteria produce de novo taxanes and paclitaxel at a concentration of about 1 to 25 μg/L, wherein said bacteria are isolated from the inner surfaces of different species of Taxus including without limitations Taxus canadensis, T. brevifolia, T. hunnewelliana, T. baccata, and T. cuspidata. 
     In addition, said bacteria are capable of producing biotransformed taxanes wherein pro-taxanes are added to their culture medium. 
     Such biologically pure cultures of bacteria of the present invention include, without limitation, bacteria of the genus selected from the group consisting of Sphingomonas, Bacillus, Pantoea, and Curtobacterium. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the bacteria include, without limitation, Bacillus cereus ssp. taxi, Bacillus megaterium ssp. taxi, Pantoea sp. BCM 1, Pantoea sp. BCM 2, Pantoea sp. BCM 3, Bacillus cereus ssp. BCM 4, Bacillus subtilis ssp. taxi, Bacillus megaterium ssp. BCM 9 or Curtobacterium sp. BCM 5. 
     In accordance with the present invention there is also provided a method of bacterial mass production of taxanes and paclitaxel thereof which comprises the steps of: 
     a) culturing the bacteria of the present invention in a growth-supporting nutrient medium capable of promoting growth and reproduction of said bacteria, and wherein said culturing is effected for a time sufficient to allow production of taxanes and paclitaxel; and 
     b) isolating said produced taxanes and paclitaxel from said bacteria or culturing medium of step a). 
     In accordance with the present invention there is also provided a process for improving taxanes and paclitaxel production of taxanes and paclitaxel producing bacteria comprising the steps of: 
     a) culturing bacteria in the presence of a mutagenic agent for a period of time sufficient to allow mutagenesis; 
     b) selecting said mutants by a change of the phenotype which results in an increased production of taxanes and paclitaxel. 
     The mutagenic agent may be a chemical agent, such as daunorubicin and nitrosoguanidine. 
     The mutagenic agent may be a physical agent, such as gamma radiation or ultraviolet. 
     The mutagenic agent may be a biological agent, such as a transposon. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the mutated bacteria include, without limitation, Sphingomonas taxi D200 or Sphingomonas taxi D201. 
     In accordance with the present invention there is also provided a method of bacterial biotransformation of taxanes and paclitaxel thereof which comprises the steps of: 
     a) incubating the bacteria of the present invention in a growth-supporting nutrient medium capable of promoting growth and reproduction of said bacteria, and wherein said incubation is effected in the presence of pro-taxanes for a time sufficient to allow production of taxanes and paclitaxel; and 
     b) isolating said produced taxanes and paclitaxel thereof from said culturing medium of step a). 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a process for improving biotransformation of pro-taxanes into taxanes and paclitaxel by taxanes and paclitaxel-producing bacteria comprising the steps of: 
     a) culturing bacteria in the presence of a mutagenic agent for a time sufficient to allow mutagenesis; and 
     b) selecting said mutants by a change of the phenotype which results in an increased biotransformation of pro-taxanes into taxanes and paclitaxel. 
     In accordance with the present invention there is also provided a method of bacterial biotransformation of pro-taxanes into taxanes and paclitaxel thereof which comprises the steps of: 
     a) incubating the mutated bacteria of the present invention in a nutrient medium, and wherein said incubation is effected in the presence of pro-taxanes for a time sufficient to allow production of taxanes and paclitaxel; and 
     b) isolating said produced taxanes and paclitaxel thereof from said culturing medium of step a). 
     In accordance with the present invention there is also provided a novel bacterial taxane having a characteristic ultraviolet spectrum in HPLC as shown in FIG. 9B, Electrospray Ionization (EI) spectrum as shown in FIG. 10A, and characteristic fragments as shown in FIG. 10B. 
     This novel bacteria-derived taxane of the present invention is produced by at least two species of Bacillus (B. cereus ssp. taxi and B. megaterium ssp. taxi). 
     For the purpose of the present invention the following terms are defined below. 
     The term &#34;taxanes and paclitaxel&#34; is intended to mean any paclitaxel derivatives or precursor which have retained or not the taxol-associated cytotoxic biological activity or are thought to be precursors in the synthesis of paclitaxel. Such taxanes and paclitaxel may be selected from the group consisting of all the diterpenes isolated from any Taxus species. The production of all taxanes by bacteria, whether pharmacologically active or inactive, is contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Taxanes that are produced by the bacteria of the present invention may be as such found in Taxus plant species or may differs from the ones found in Taxus plant species. 
     Exemplary taxanes which may be produced by the bacteria of the present invention include but are not limited to those of the following Formula I: ##STR1## wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , R 14 , R 15 , R 16 , R 17  are defined in Table 1 below. 
     However, since bacteria have highly diverse metabolic capacities the taxanes and paclitaxel must only correspond to Formula I, whatever is the nature of R 1  to R 17  substituants. 
     The term &#34;pro-taxanes&#34; used in accordance with the present invention is intended to mean any precursors of any taxanes in the biosynthesis pathway of paclitaxel in plant, fungi and bacteria, including, without limitation, 10-deacetylbaccatin III, baccatin III, cephalomannine, taxinines, taxuspines, taxusin, 7-xylosyl taxol, 7-epi-10-deacetyl taxol, 10-deacetyl taxol, paclitaxel, 7-epitaxol, taxadiene, geranyl-geranyl-pyrophosphate (GGPP) and farnesyl-pyrophosphate. 
     Exemplary pro-taxanes which may be biotransformed by the bacteria of the present invention include but are not limited to those of the preceding formula I where R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 11 , R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , R 14 , R 15 , R 16 , R 17  are defined in Table 1 below. 
     Exemplary biotransformed taxanes of the present invention include, but are not limited to, those of the following Formula I where R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , R 14 , R 15 , R 16 , R 17  are defined in Table 1 below. 
     
                                           TABLE 1__________________________________________________________________________Compound   R.sub.1.sup.(1)            R.sub.2                R.sub.3                    R.sub.4                          R.sub.5                                R.sub.8.sup.(3)                                      R.sub.7.sup.(2)__________________________________________________________________________1)  paclitaxel      tax   CH.sub.3                H   β-acetyloxy                          ═O                                β-CH.sub.3                                      β-OH2)  10-deacetylcephalo-      ceph  CH.sub.3                H   β-OH                          ═O                                β-CH.sub.3                                      β-OH  mannine3)  7-epitaxol      tax   CH.sub.3                H   β-acetyloxy                          ═O                                β-CH.sub.3                                      α-OH4)  10-deacetyl-7-epi-      tax   CH.sub.3                H   β-OH                          ═O                                β-CH.sub.3                                      α-OH  taxol5)  7-epicephalo-      ceph  CH.sub.3                H   β-acetyloxy                          ═O                                β-CH.sub.3                                      α-OH  mannine6)  baccatin III      α-OH            CH.sub.3                H   β-acetyloxy                          ═O                                β-CH.sub.3                                      β-OH7)  10-deacetyl baccatin      α-OH            CH.sub.3                H   β-OH                          ═O                                β-CH.sub.3                                      β-OH  III8)  cephalomannine      ceph  CH.sub.3                H   β-acetyloxy                          ═O                                β-CH.sub.3                                      β-OH9)  10-deacetyl taxol      tax   CH.sub.3                H   β-OH                          ═O                                β-CH.sub.3                                      β-OH10)  7-xylosyl taxol      tax   CH.sub.3                H   β-acetyloxy                          ═O                                β-CH.sub.3                                      β-xylosyl11)  7-xylosylcephalo-      ceph  CH.sub.3                H   β-acetyloxy                          ═O                                β-CH.sub.3                                      β-xylosyl  mannine12)  taxagifine      ═O            α-CH.sub.3                β-OH                    β-acetyloxy                          α-acetyloxy                                β-CH.sub.3                                      β-acetyloxy13)  δ-benzoyloxy-      ═O            α-CH.sub.3                β-OH                    β-acetyloxy                          α-acetyloxy                                β-benzoyl-                                      β-acetyloxy  taxagifine                         oxymethyl14)  9-acetyloxy-taxusin      α-acetyloxy            CH.sub.3                H   β-acetyloxy                          α-acetyloxy                                β-CH.sub.3                                      H15)  9-hydroxy-taxusin      α-acetyloxy            CH.sub.3                H   β-acetyloxy                          α-OH                                β-CH.sub.3                                      H16)  taxane la      tax   CH.sub.3                H   ═O                          ═O                                β-CH.sub.3                                      α-OH17)  taxane lb      taxsub            CH.sub.3                H   ═O                          ═O                                β-CH.sub.3                                      α-OH18)  taxane lc      taxsub            CH.sub.3                H   ═O                          ═O                                β-CH.sub.3                                      α-acetyloxy19)  taxane ld      α-acetyloxy            CH.sub.3                H   β-acetyloxy                          α-acetyloxy                                β-CH.sub.3                                      β-acetyloxy20)  7-epibaccatin III      α-OH            CH.sub.3                H   β-acetyloxy                          ═O                                β-CH.sub.3                                      α-OH__________________________________________________________________________Compound   R.sub.8 R.sub.17          R.sub.9 R.sub.10.sup.(4)                  R.sub.11                        R.sub.12.sup.(6)                               R.sub.13                                  R.sub.14                                     R.sub.15.sup.(5)                                        R.sub.16__________________________________________________________________________1)  paclitaxel      H   oxetane α-acetyloxy                        α-benzoyloxy                               β-OH                                  H  CH.sub.3                                        CH.sub.32)  10-deacetylcephalo-      H   oxetane α-acetyloxy                        α-benzoyloxy                               β-OH                                  H  CH.sub.3                                        CH.sub.3  mannine3)  7-epitaxol      H   oxetane α-acetyloxy                        α-benzoyloxy                               β-OH                                  H  CH.sub.3                                        CH.sub.34)  10-deacetyl-7-epi-      H   oxetane α-acetyloxy                        α-benzoyloxy                               β-OH                                  H  CH.sub.3                                        CH.sub.3  taxol5)  7-epicephalo-      H   oxetane α-acetyloxy                        α-benzoyloxy                               β-OH                                  H  CH.sub.3                                        CH.sub.3  mannine6)  baccatin III      H   oxetane α-acetyloxy                        α-benzoyloxy                               β-OH                                  H  CH.sub.3                                        CH.sub.37)  10-deacetyl baccatin      H   oxetane α-acetyloxy                        α-benzoyloxy                               β-OH                                  H  CH.sub.3                                        CH.sub.3  III8)  cephalomannine      H   oxetane α-acetyloxy                        α-benzoyloxy                               β-OH                                  H  CH.sub.3                                        CH.sub.39)  10-deacetyl taxol      H   oxetane α-acetyloxy                        α-benzoyloxy                               β-OH                                  H  CH.sub.3                                        CH.sub.310)  7-xylosyl taxol      H   oxetane α-acetyloxy                        α-benzoyloxy                               β-OH                                  H  CH.sub.3                                        CH.sub.311)  7-xylosylcephalo-      H   oxetane α-acetyloxy                        α-benzoyloxy                               β-OH                                  H  CH.sub.3                                        CH.sub.3  mannine12)  taxagifine      H   α-cinnamoyloxy                  methylene                        α-acetyloxy                               β-H                                  H  cyclo                                        α-CH.sub.3                  (═CH.sub.2)13)  δ-benzoyloxy-      H   α-cinnamoyloxy                  methylene                        α-acetyloxy                               β-H                                  H  cyclo                                        α-CH.sub.3  taxagifine           (═CH.sub.2)14)  9-acetyloxy-taxusin      H   α-acetyloxy                  methylene                        H      H  H  CH.sub.3                                        CH.sub.3                  (═CH.sub.2)15)  9-hydroxy-taxusin      H   α-acetyloxy                  methylene                        H      H  H  CH.sub.3                                        CH.sub.3                  (═CH.sub.2)16)  taxane la      H   oxetane α-acetyloxy                        α-benzoyloxy                               β-OH                                  H  CH.sub.3                                        CH.sub.317)  taxane lb      H   oxetane α-acetyloxy                        α-benzoyloxy                               β-OH                                  H  CH.sub.3                                        CH.sub.318)  taxane lc      H   oxetane α-acetyloxy                        α-benzoyloxy                               β-OH                                  H  CH.sub.3                                        CH.sub.319)  taxane ld      H   α-OH                  epoxide                        α-acetyloxy                               β-OH                                  H  CH.sub.3                                        CH.sub.320)  7-epibaccatin III      H   oxetane α-acetyloxy                        α-benzoyloxy                               β-OH                                  H  CH.sub.3                                        CH.sub.3__________________________________________________________________________ Footnotes (1) &#34;ceph&#34; denotes ##STR2## &#34;tax&#34; denotes ##STR3## &#34;taxsub&#34; denotes ##STR4## (2) &#34;xylosyl&#34; denotes ##STR5## (3) &#34;α&#34; denotes the stereoposition of a stereomoiety below the plan of the taxane ring structure shown above ##STR6## &#34;β&#34; denotes the stereoposition of a moiety above the plane of the taxane ring structure shown above ##STR7## (4) &#34;oxetane&#34; denotes the moiety ##STR8## which is ##STR9## (5) &#34;cyclo&#34; denotes the cyclic group formed by bonding the group ##STR10## to the taxane A ring as follows: ##STR11## (6) &#34;epoxide&#34; denotes the moiety ##STR12## which is ##STR13## 
    
     The term &#34;taxolassociated cytotoxic biological activity&#34; is intended to mean a cytotoxic activity which is sufficient to promote the assembly of tubulin and stabilizes the resulting microtubules of cancer cells causing the division of the cells in two equal daughter cells to be interrupted; and sufficient to cause a disruption in the dynamic equilibrium which exists between microtubules and their depolymerized tubulin dimers, thus preventing completion of the mitotic step which causes a lethal metaphase arrest of cancer cells. 
     The expression &#34;cancer cells&#34; is intended to mean any cancer cells which include without limitation, ovarian, breast, lung, head and neck cancer cells. 
     The term &#34;growth supporting nutrient medium&#34; is intended to mean any culture media which include, without limitation, carbon sources, nitrogen sources, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. 
     The term &#34;intercalating agent&#34; is intended to mean any molecule binding to the double stranded DNA structure which include, without limitation, daunorubicine, ethidium bromide, acridine orange, acriflavine and epirubicine. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A shows the elution profile, according to HPLC method no. 1, of an organic supernatant extract of a bacteria in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, referred to as Sphingomonas taxi; 
     FIG. 1B illustrates the UV spectra of paclitaxel obtained from a standard and of an organic extract of supernatant of a bacteria in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, referred to as Sphingomonas taxi; 
     FIG. 2A illustrates a typical chromatogram of an organic extract of the supernatant of a bacteria in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, referred to as Bacillus cereus ssp. taxi using HPLC method no. 2; 
     FIG. 2B illustrates the ultraviolet spectrum of paclitaxel produced by Bacillus cereus ssp. taxi compared to a paclitaxel standard; 
     FIG. 2C illustrates the ultraviolet spectrum of 7-xylosyl-10-deacetyltaxol produced by Bacillus cereus ssp. taxi compared to an authentic standard co-eluting with taxinine M; 
     FIG. 3A illustrates a typical chromatogram of an organic extract of the supernatant of a bacteria in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, referred to as Pantoea sp. BCM 1 using HPLC method no. 2; 
     FIG. 3B illustrates the ultraviolet spectrum of 7-epi-10-deacetyltaxol produced by Pantoea sp. BCM 1 compared to an authentic standard; 
     FIG. 4A illustrates a typical chromatogram of an organic extract of the supernatant of a bacteria in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, referred to as Bacillus megaterium ssp. taxi using HPLC method no. 2; 
     FIG. 4B illustrates the ultraviolet spectrum of the bacterial paclitaxel produced by Bacillus megaterium ssp. taxi compared to an authentic standard; 
     FIG. 5A illustrates a typical chromatogram of an organic extract of the supernatant of a bacteria in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, referred to as Bacillus cereus ssp. BCM 4 using HPLC method no. 2; 
     FIG. 5B shows a substance having the characteristic ultraviolet spectrum of a taxane compared to a standard of 7-xylosyl-10-deacetyltaxol co-eluting with taxinine M; 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the cytotoxicity of organic extracts of microorganisms isolated from different species of Taxus on CRL-1572 cell line as well as the cytotoxicity of taxanes and paclitaxel negative bacteria (STJ.BRP.K1 and E. coli TG1); 
     FIG. 7A illustrates the mass spectrometry of the substances eluted between 45 and 48 minutes using HPLC method no. 1 from an extract of Sphingomonas taxi; 
     FIG. 7B illustrates the mass spectrometry of a paclitaxel standard; 
     FIG. 8A illustrates the almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequence of Sphingomonas taxi (SEQ ID NO:1); 
     FIG. 8B illustrates the almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequence of Bacillus cereus ssp. taxi (SEQ ID NO:2); 
     FIG. 8C illustrates the partial 16S rRNA gene sequence of Bacillus megaterium ssp. taxi (SEQ ID NO:3); 
     FIG. 8D illustrates the partial 16S rRNA gene sequence of Pantoea sp. BCM 1 (SEQ ID NO:4); 
     FIG. 8E illustrates the partial 16S rRNA gene sequence of Bacillus cereus ssp. BCM 4 (SEQ ID NO:5); 
     FIG. 8F illustrates the partial 16S rRNA gene sequence of a bacteria in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, referred to as Bacillus subtilis ssp. taxi (SEQ ID NO:6); 
     FIG. 8G illustrates the partial 16S rRNA gene sequence of a bacteria in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, referred to as Pantoea sp. BCM 2 (SEQ ID NO:7); 
     FIG. 8H illustrates the partial 16S rRNA gene sequence of a bacteria in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, referred to as Pantoea sp. BCM 3 (SEQ ID NO:8); 
     FIG. 8I illustrates the partial 16S rRNA gene sequence of a bacteria in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, referred to as Bacillus megaterium ssp. BCM 9 (SEQ ID NO:9); 
     FIG. 8J illustrates the partial 16S rRNA gene sequence of a bacteria in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, referred to as Curtobacterium sp. BCM 5 (SEQ ID NO:10); 
     FIG. 8K illustrates the partial 16S rRNA gene sequence of a bacteria in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, referred to as Sphingomonas sp. BCM 7 (SEQ ID NO:11); 
     FIG. 9A illustrates a typical chromatogram of an organic extract from the supernatant of Bacillus cereus ssp. taxi producing a specific bacterial taxane using HPLC method no. 2; 
     FIG. 9B illustrates the ultraviolet spectrum of the characteristic taxane produced by Bacillus cereus ssp. taxi; 
     FIG. 10A illustrates the GC/MS (EI) spectrum of the purified specific bacterial taxane produced by Bacillus cereus ssp. taxi in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 10B illustrates the mass-to-charge ratios of ions present in the EI mass spectra of the bacterial taxane produced by Bacillus cereus ssp. taxi; 
     FIG. 11A shows the evolution in time of two taxanes in the sterile culture medium supplemented with 1% v/v of an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis incubated at 150 rpm at 30° C.; 
     FIG. 11B shows the evolution of two taxanes transformed by Sphingomonas taxi when cultured in the culture medium S-7 supplemented with 1% of an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis, shaken at 150 rpm at 30° C.; 
     FIG. 12 shows the HPLC chromatograms of S. taxi cultured in the S-7 culture medium supplemented with 1% v/v of an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis where sample name 8A represents the organic extract of the culture medium supplemented with 1% v/v of an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis, sample name S 24 hres represents the organic extract of Sphingomonas taxi incubated 24 hours in the culture medium supplemented with 1% v/v of an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis, sample name S 48 hres represents the organic extract of Sphingomonas taxi incubated 48 hours in the culture medium supplemented with 1% v/v of an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis, and sample name S 72 hres represents the organic extract of Sphingomonas taxi incubated 72 hours in the culture medium supplemented with 1% v/v of an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis; 
     FIG. 13 compares HPLC chromatograms of the supernatant extracts of S. taxi (sample name: S 48 hres), S. taxi D200 (sample name: SC 48 hres) and S. Taxi D201 (sample name: SCP 48 hres) cultured 48 hours in the medium S-7 supplemented with 1% v/v of an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis, and the organic extract of the medium S-7 supplemented with 1% v/v of an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis (sample name 8A); and 
     FIGS. 14A-14C show the characteristic ultraviolet spectrum of the new biotransformed pro-taxanes. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Plants are hosts of a variety of microorganisms. The relation between the plant and the microorganism can be saprophytic, parasitic, endophytic or symbiotic. Whatever the relation, there may be genetic exchange between the species. Taxus, such as Taxus canadensis, which grows in some regions of the province of Quebec, shows significant amounts of paclitaxel in its needles and stems. Samples of Taxus canadensis from seven (7) regions of the province of Quebec were chosen as well as samples of different species of Taxus such as Taxus brevifolia, T. cuspidata, T. baccata, T. hunnewelliana. Several different bacteria of different genus, such as Sphingomonas, Bacillus, Pantoea, and Curtobacterium were isolated from inner parts of samples from different species of Taxus, and all demonstrated taxanes and/or paclitaxel-producing properties. 
     Bacteria described above, produced taxanes and paclitaxel in fermentation procedures. Bacteria are cultured in a appropriate growth supporting nutrient medium containing ingredients known to those skilled in the art for the cultivation of microorganisms. Specific examples of appropriate such media are given below. Temperature of cultivation ranges from 10° C. to 35° C., and aerobic cultivation is generally preferred. 
     Taxanes and paclitaxel are generally excreted in the supernatant, up to 10% of those substances remain in the cell. Taxanes and paclitaxel thereof may be extracted by performing an organic extraction with an appropriate solvents such as methylene chloride or ethyl acetate. 
     In accordance with the present invention, various bacteria producing taxanes and paclitaxel were isolated from different species of Taxus. 
     One bacterium isolated from Taxus canadensis allows for the production of taxanes and paclitaxel at a yield of 1 μg/L, referred to as Sphingomonas taxi, has been already deposited at the American Type Culture Collection but was identified as Erwinia taxi (ATCC, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852 USA) on Apr. 25, 1995 under deposit number ATCC 55669. The deposit is also available as required by Foreign Patent laws in countries wherein counterpart applications are filed. 
     The other strains of the present invention have been deposited at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852 USA) on Dec. 18, 1997 under deposit accession numbers as set forth below. The deposit are also available as required by Foreign Patent laws in countries wherein counterpart applications are filed. 
     
         ______________________________________Strain             ATCC No.______________________________________Bacillus cereus ssp. taxi              202061Bacillus megaterium ssp. taxi              202062Curtobacterium sp. BCM5              202063Pantoea sp. BCM2   202064Bacillus megaterium BCM9              202065Bacillus cereus BCM4              202066Sphingomonas taxi D201              202067Sphingomonas taxi D200              202068Sphingomonas sp. BCM7              202069Pantoea sp. BCM3   202070Pantoea sp. BCM1   202071Bacillus subtilis ssp. taxi              202072______________________________________ 
    
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the bacteria isolated from different species of Taxus allow for the production of taxanes and paclitaxel thereof at a yield of 1 to 25 μg/L. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the bacteria isolated from different species of Taxus may be employed for the biotransformation of pro-taxanes. 
     Isolation of the different microorganisms producing taxanes and paclitaxel 
     Each plant was divided into 5 parts; needles, twigs, stems, bark and roots. Each inner part of the plant was verified for the presence of taxanes and paclitaxel producing microorganisms. 
     The surface of every part of the plant was sterilized with 95% ethanol and then, cut into small pieces with a sterile blade. Pieces were homogenized in sterile water with a POLYTRON™ that had also been sterilized with ethanol 95%. The resulting mix was used to inoculate two different culture media; R2A agar (Difco) and Sabouraud agar (Difco). 
     Each plate was incubated at 22° C. and examined on a day-to-day basis. The morphology of each colony was meticulously noted and the bacteria were transferred on different media until a pure culture was obtained. A Gram coloration of every bacteria was done before the culture was frozen at -80° C. 
     Over 50 bacteria were isolated from different samples of Taxus canadensis of the province of Quebec. In addition, over 30 different bacteria were isolated from different species of Taxus which include, without limitations, Taxus brevifolia, T. baccata, T. cuspidata, T. hunnewelliana. Some of them, showing taxanes and paclitaxel production capacities, will be fully described below. 
     Screening of microorganisms 
     In order to verify the production of taxanes and paclitaxel by microorganisms, each organism was cultured in at least 500 ml of a growth supporting nutrient medium. Any liquid medium allowing taxanes and paclitaxel thereof production may be employed. Exemplary liquid media are S-7 media (Table 2), and defined media for Bacillus (Table 3). Every culture was performed in culture flasks and incubated at a temperature ranging from 20° C. to 35° C. with constant shaking until a sufficient growth was achieved, generally 18 to 72 hres. 
     
                       TABLE 2______________________________________Composition of S-7 mediumCompounds              g/L______________________________________glucose                1fructose               3sucrose                6sodium acetate         1soytone                1thiamine               0.001biotine                0.001pyridoxal-HCl          0.001Ca pantothenate        0.001MgSO.sub.4             0.0036CaNO.sub.3             0.0065Cu(NO.sub.3).sub.2     0.001ZnSO.sub.4             0.0025MnCl.sub.2             0.005FeCl.sub.3             0.002phenylalanine          0.005sodium benzoate        0.1KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4 1M (pH 6.8)                  1 ml______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 3______________________________________Composition of the defined medium for Bacillus  Compounds       g/L______________________________________  L-glutamic acid 10  glucose          5  citric acid      1  K.sub.2 HPO.sub.4                   0.5  KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4                   0.5  MgSO.sub.4 --7H.sub.2 O                   0.2  MnSO.sub.4 --4H.sub.2 O                   0.01  FeSO.sub.4 --7H.sub.2 O                   0.01______________________________________ 
    
     The culture was then centrifuged and-the pellet separated from the supernatant by decantation. To verify if taxanes and paclitaxel were secreted in the medium or if it was confined within the cells, both were tested for the presence of the drug. Since taxanes and paclitaxel are hydrophobic, and in order to concentrate each sample, an extraction with an organic solvent was performed. For the pellet, the cells were dried and about 200 mg were powdered and ultrasonicated twice for 40 minutes in 3 ml methanol. The extracts were dried at 25° C. The residue was dissolved by adding 2 ml of methylene chloride and 2ml of distilled water. After appropriate shaking, the mixture was centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 5 min. The methylene chloride fraction was collected and dried under reduced pressure. Finally, the residue is dissolved in 0.5 ml of HPLC grade methanol. 
     The supernatant is extracted with one volume of methylene chloride. After appropriate shaking, the organic fraction is evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. The residue is then resolubilized in 50 ml of methylene chloride and 50 ml of distilled water. After appropriate shaking, each fraction was collected and dried under reduced pressure. Each residue is dissolved in a measured minimal volume of HPLC grade methanol. All samples were kept frozen at -20° C. 
     a) HPLC screening 
     HPLC method no. 1 
     Some extracts were analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) on a system consisting of a WATERS™ 625 LC pump, a WATERS™ 996 photodiode array spectrophotometer, and a WATERS™ 717plus autosampler. Chromatography was performed with a phenyl column from Waters (5im particle size, 6 mm×15 mm) with a guard module. The injection volume varies from 50 to 150 μl and the flow rate maintained at 1 ml/min. The following elution program was used; 
     0 to 20 min.: methanol:water:acetonitrile (20:65:15) ramped to methanol:water:aceto-nitrile (20:45:35) 
     20 to 50 min.: methanol:water:acetonitrile (20:45:35) ramped to methanol:water:acetonitrile (20:25:55) 
     50 to 60 min.: methanol:water:acetonitrile (20:25:55) ramped to methanol 100% 
     Table 4 identifies the retention times of known authentic standards on HPLC methods no. 1 and no. 2. Using HPLC no. 1, paclitaxel has a retention time of 46 minutes. In FIG. 1, we show the ultraviolet spectrum of paclitaxel produced by Sphingomonas taxi. The spectrum is very characteristic with a second maximum of absorption at 230 nm. This figure illustrates that Sphingomonas taxi produces a compound having the same retention time and the same UV spectrum as paclitaxel. 
     HPLC method no. 2 
     Some extracts were analyzed on the same HPLC system with a curosil-PFP column (250 mm×3.2 mm) from Phenomenex with a guard module. Injections varied from 50 ul to 150 ul and the flow rate maintained at 0.8 ml/min. The following gradient program was used; 
     0 to 50 min.: acetonitrile:water (25:75) ramped to acetonitrile:water (65:35) 
     50 to 62.5 min.: acetonitrile:water (65:35) ramped to methanol 100% 
     62.5 to 65 min.: methanol 100% to acetonitrile:water (25:75) 
     65 to 75 min.: acetonitrile:water (25:75) 
     As shown in Table 4, using HPLC method no. 2, paclitaxel is eluted at 36.987 minutes. 
     
                       TABLE 4______________________________________Retention time of taxanes standards using HPLC methodsno. 1 and no. 2              Retention time using                HPLC      HPLCTaxanes              method no. 1                          method no. 2______________________________________10-deacetyl baccatin III                n/a       12.037 min.baccatin III         n/a       20.670 min.7-xylosyl-10-deacetyltaxol B                n/a       24.870 min.7-xylosyl-10-deacetyltaxol and taxinine M                n/a       27.120 min.7-xylosyl-10-deacetyltaxol C                n/a       28.770 min.10-deacetyltaxol and 7-xylosyltaxol                n/a       30.770 min.cephalomannine       n/a       34.753 min.7-epi-10-deacetyltaxol                n/a       35.703 min.paclitaxel           46 minutes                          36.987 min.taxol C              n/a       38.853 min.7-epitaxol           n/a       42.287 min.______________________________________ 
    
     FIG. 2A shows a typical chromatogram of an organic extract of Bacillus cereus ssp. taxi, and in FIGS. 2B and 2C there is compared the UV spectra of the substances produced by Bacillus with authentic commercial plant standards. This figure clearly illustrates the ability of Bacillus cereus ssp. taxi to produce paclitaxel and 7-xylosyl-10-deacetyltaxol. 
     FIG. 3A shows the typical HPLC chromatogram of the supernatant of Pantoea sp. BCM 1 and, in FIG. 3B there is compared the bacterial 7-epi-10-deacetyltaxol against an authentic commercial plant standard, establishing the production of 7-epi-10-deacetyltaxol by Pantoea sp. BCM 1. 
     FIG. 4A shows a typical chromatogram of Bacillus megaterium ssp. taxi and, in FIG. 4B there is compared the ultraviolet spectrum of the bacterial paclitaxel with an authentic standard proving the capacity of this bacterium to produce paclitaxel. 
     FIG. 5A shows a typical chromatogram of Bacillus cereus ssp. BCM 4 and, FIG. 5B shows a substance having the characteristic ultraviolet spectrum of a taxane compared to a standard of 7-xylosyl-10-deacetyl-taxol co-eluting with taxinine M, proving the capacity of Bacillus cereus ssp. BCM 4 to produce taxanes. 
     b) Cytotoxicity on cancer cells 
     An ovarian cancer cell line obtained from American Type Culture Collection (12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852 USA) under ATCC accession number CRL-1572) was chosen for the investigation. Briefly, 2000 cells/well of a 96-well microplate were inoculated. After 2 days, different dilutions of the drug were added in a volume of 100 μl. Three days later, the viability of cells was measured with ALAMAR™ blue (B. Page et al. 1993, Intl. J. of Oncology, 3:473-476). The ATCC CRL-1572 cell line is particularly sensitive to paclitaxel (ID 50  of 1 ng/ml). Microbial extracts have also been tested for their cytotoxicity on those cells. FIG. 6 shows the cytotoxicity of different bacterial supernatant extracts. This figure clearly demonstrates that culture supernatant extracts from Sphingomonas taxi and Bacillus cereus ssp. taxi are at least 5-fold more cytotoxic than extracts from non-paclitaxel producing bacteria such as STJ.BRP.K1 and E. coli TG1. 
     c) Mass spectrometry 
     Mass spectrometry of the substances eluted between 45 and 48 minutes with HPLC method no.1 from an extract of Sphingomonas taxi was performed. FIG. 7A shows the results obtained. In every sample, a substance with a molecular weight (M.W.) of 853.5 daltons appears. The theoretical M.W. of paclitaxel is 854 daltons. Even if these extracts were partially purified, essentially the major compound obtained is paclitaxel. 
     d) Characterization of a bacterial taxane by EI/MS 
     FIG. 9A, shows a typical chromatogram of Bacillus cereus ssp. taxi producing a characteristic taxane having a retention time o f 15 minutes using HPLC method no. 2. In FIG. 9B, the characteristic ultraviolet spectrum of this substance is illustrated. It was purified on HPLC using HPLC method no. 2 and, analyzed in Electro Ionization Mass Spectrometry (EI/MS) as described by Thomas D. McClure et al. (J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom., 1992, 3, pp. 672-679). 
     FIG. 10A shows the EI spectrum of this taxane and FIG. 10B shows the characteristic fragments of this taxane. Since this taxane has never been observed in plant extracts of different species of Taxus, and this compound is produced by at least two species of Bacillus (cereus ssp. taxi and megaterium ssp. taxi), we consider this novel taxane unique to microorganisms isolated from Taxus. 
     Characterization of taxane and paclitaxel producing microorganisms 
     a) Biochemical and physiological characteristics Table 5 shows the species of Taxus from which each bacterium was isolated, the Gram coloration, the morphology of colonies on different culture media and, some biochemical characteristics. This Table clearly illustrates the diversity of our taxanes and-paclitaxel producing bacteria i.e. we have isolated and identified Gram-negative and Gram-positive rods including Actinomycetes from different species of Taxus which all possess taxanes and/or paclitaxel producing capacities. 
     
                                           TABLE 5__________________________________________________________________________Cellular, morphological and biochemical characteristics ofsome taxanes and paclitaxel producing bacteria                   Description of             Cellular                   colonies on blood                           Description ofName    Isolated from          Gram             morphology                   agar    colonies on TA-1                                    Catalase                                        Urease__________________________________________________________________________Sphingomonas   Taxus  -  Rod   No growth                           3 days to grow                                    +   -taxi    canadensis              Orange-Opaque                           Glossy-Convexe                           Circular contourBacillus cereus   Taxus  +  Rod   Double hemolysis                           Cream- Opaque                                    +   -ssp. taxi   canadensis      Gray-green-                           Dry-Dull-Flat                   Opaque  Irregular edge                   Dry-Dull-Flat                   Irregular edgeBacillus   Taxus  +  Rod   Gray- Opaque                           Cream- Opaque                                    +   -megaterium   hunnewelliana   Dry-Dull                           Glossyssp. taxi               Convex  Slightly convex                   Irregular edge                           Irregular edgePantoea sp.   Taxus  -  Rod   Semi-translucent                           Cream with yellow                                    +   -BCM 1   hunnewelliana   Glossy-Flat                           pigment in middle                   Regular edge                           Opaque-Glossy-                           Flat                           Regular edgePantoea sp.   Taxus  -  Rod   Yellow  Yellow   +   -BCM 2   cuspidata       Opaque  Semi-translucent                   Glossy-Flat                           Glossy-Flat                   Regular edge                           Regular edgePentoea sp.   Taxus  -  Rod   Semi-translucent                           Yellow   +   -BCM 3   cuspidata       Glossy-Flat                           Semi-translucent                   Regular edge                           Glossy-Flat                           Regular edgeBacillus cereus   Taxus  +  Rod   Double hemolysis                           Cream- Opaque                                    +   -ssp. BCM 4   brevifolia      Gray-green-                           Dry-Dull-Flat                   Opaque  Irregular edge                   Dry-Dull-Flat                   Irregular edgeBacillus subtilis   Taxus  +  Rod   Semi-translucent                           Cream-   +   -ssp. taxi   baccata         Dry, Dull                           Translucent                   Convex  Dry, Dull                   Regular edge                           Convex                           Regular edgeBacillus   Taxus  +  Rod   Gray- Opaque                           Cream- Opaque                                    +   -megaterium   hunnewelliana   Dry-Dull                           Glossyssp. BCM 9              Convex  Slightly convex                   Irregular edge                           Irregular edgeCurtobacterium   Taxus  +  Rod   2 days to grow                           2 days to grow                                    +   -sp. BCM 5   brevifolia      Cream   Yellow                   Semi-translucent                           Semi-translucent                   Glossy-Flat                           Glossy-Flat                   Regular edge                           Regular edgeSphingomonas   Taxus  -  Rod   No growth                           3 days to grow                                    +   -sp. BCM 7   hunnewelliana           Orange-Opaque                           Glossy-Convex                           Regular edge__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     b) Identification of the genus of taxanes and paclitaxel producing microorganisms 
     The genus of each taxanes and paclitaxel producing bacteria was determined by sequencing the 16S rRNA genes. Genomic DNA of each strain was used as template for PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). Primers based on conserved regions at the beginning and the end of the 16S rRNA gene, SSU-27 (5&#39;-AGAGTTTGATCMTGGCTCAG-3&#39;; SEQ ID NO:12), and SSU-1 492 (5&#39;-TACGGYTACCTTGTTACGACTT-3&#39;; SEQ ID NO:13), were used to amplify a portion of the 16S gene. The amplicons were purified with the &#34;PCR purification kit&#34; (sold by Qiagen) and sequenced using the ABI Prism System. Sequence analysis was performed using GCG software package (Genetics Computer Group Inc., Madison, Wis.). 
     FIG. 8A shows the almost complete sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of Sphingomonas taxi. Since this strain has unique biosynthetic capacities and more than 3% sequence difference with the 16S rRNA genes of other known species of Sphingomonas, we created a new species and named it taxi on the behalf of its isolation source. FIG. 8B shows the almost complete sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of Bacillus cereus ssp. taxi. Since this bacterium possesses unique metabolic capacities, and in order to differentiate this species from other known Bacillus cereus, we identified it by subspecies name taxi also on the behalf of its isolation source. In FIGS. 8C to 8L, we show partial sequences of the 16S rRNA genes of other taxanes and/or paclitaxel producing microorganisms. 
     Consequently, in accordance with the present invention, a plurality of bacteria isolated from different species of Taxus can be used for the mass production of paclitaxel and other taxanes. Based on the analysis of partial 16S rRNA gene sequences, and morphological and biochemical characteristics, we assigned the following genera, species, and subspecies or strain names to our paclitaxel and taxanes producing bacterial isolates; Sphingomonas taxi, Bacillus cereus ssp. taxi, Bacillus megaterium ssp. taxi, Pantoea sp. BCM 1, Pantoea sp. BCM 2, Pantoea sp. BCM 3, Bacillus cereus ssp. BCM 4, Bacillus subtilis ssp. taxi, Bacillus megaterium ssp. BCM 9, Curtobacterium sp. BCM 5 and Sphingomonas sp. BCM 7. 
     Biotransformation of taxanes 
     a) Preparation of an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis 
     Fresh cuttings of needles and small twigs (10 g) of a sample of Taxus canadensis are homogenized in 100 ml of distilled water. The solution is then centrifuged at 7000 rpm and the clear supernatant sterilized by filtration on a 0.22 μm filter. The solution is kept frozen at -20° C. until utilization. 
     b) Biotransformation of taxanes by taxanes and paclitaxel producing bacteria 
     The growth supporting nutrient medium S-7 is supplemented with 1% v/v on an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis. This resulting supplemented medium is then inoculated with a thawed vial of a pure culture of one of our strain and incubated at 30° C. with constant shaking for a time sufficient to allow biotransformation of pro-taxanes. 
     The culture is then centrifuged and the remaining supernatant extracted with one volume of methylene chloride or ethyl acetate. After appropriate shaking, the organic fraction is evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. The residue is then resolubilized in 50 ml of methylene chloride or ethyl acetate, and 50 ml of distilled water. After appropriate shaking, each fraction was collected and dried under reduced pressure. Each residues is dissolved in a measured minimal volume of HPLC grade methanol. All samples were kept frozen at -20° C. until analysis. 
     Samples were analyzed on HPLC using method no. 2. FIG. 11 shows the evolution of two taxanes in A) the sterile culture medium S-7 supplemented with 1% v/v of an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis shaken at 150 rpm and incubated at 30° C., and in B) the supernatant of Sphingomonas taxi cultured in the culture medium S-7 supplemented with 1% v/v of an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis shaken at 150 rpm and incubated at 30° C. This figure clearly illustrates that in the supernatant of Sphingomonas taxi, the diminution of the taxane eluted at 12 minutes corresponds to the proportional elevation of the taxane eluted at 24 minutes, proving the capacity of Spingomonas taxi to biotransform taxanes. 
     In addition, FIG. 12 compares the HPLC chromatogram of the organic extract of the culture supernatant of S. taxi incubated 24, 48 and 72 hours in the culture medium S-7 supplemented with 1% v/v of an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis. This FIG. 12 clearly illustrates the production of pro-taxanes. The ultaviolet spectrum of one of these pro-taxanes is illustrated in FIG. 14A. FIG. 14A compares the UV spectrum of the new biotransformed taxane produced by S. taxi with taxanes from the aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis. 
     I. Mutagenesis of taxanes and paclitaxel producing bacteria 
     Typically, 20 ml of the culture medium TA-1 with 200 μg/ml of daunorubicin (purchased from Rhone-Poulenc) were inoculated with 500 μl of an overnight culture. The resulting broth was incubated at 200 rpm at 30° C. for 2 days. After this time 10 ml of the broth are added to 10 ml of fresh medium containing 200 μg/ml of daunorubicin and incubated as described above. The preceding step is repeated as necessary to obtain mutated bacteria. Those mutants were further isolated on the solid culture medium TA-1 (composition as follows). 
     
         ______________________________________Solid culture medium TA-1  Ingredient          amount______________________________________  glucose        5     g  tryptone       20    g  yeast extract  5     g  NaCl           0.5   g  agar           15    g  H.sub.2 O      1     L______________________________________ 
    
     Biotransformation of taxanes by mutated strains 
     The growth supporting nutrient medium S-7 is supplemented with 1% v/v on an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis. This resulting supplemented medium is then inoculated with a thawed vial of a pure culture of one of our strain and incubated at 30° C. with constant shaking for a time sufficient to allow biotransformation of pro-taxanes. 
     The culture is then centrifuged and the remaining supernatant extracted with one volume of methylene chloride or ethyl acetate. After appropriate shaking, the organic fraction is evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. The residue is then resolubilized in 50 ml of methylene chloride or ethyl acetate, and 50 ml of distilled water. After appropriate shaking, each fraction was collected and dried under reduced pressure. Each residues is dissolved in a measured minimal volume of HPLC grade methanol. All samples were kept frozen at -20° C. until analysis. 
     Samples were analyzed on HPLC using method no. 2. FIG. 13 shows HPLC chromatograms of S. taxi, S. taxi D200 and S. taxi D201 incubated the same time (48 hours) in the culture medium S-7 supplemented with 1% v/v of an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis. All cultures had comparable cell density. This figure clearly illustrates the improved yields of biotransformation by the mutated strains S. taxi D200 and S. taxi D201. In FIGS. 14B and 14C the characteristic ultraviolet spectrum of the new pro-taxanes, produced by the mutated strains S. taxi D200 and S. taxi D201, are compared with the UV spectrum of two taxanes from Taxus canadensis. 
     The present invention will be more readily understood by referring to the following examples which are given to illustrate the invention rather to limit its scope. 
     EXAMPLE I 
     Mass Production of Paclitaxel using Sphingomonas taxi 
     A colony of a pure culture of Sphingomonas taxi is used to inoculate 5 ml of S-7 culture medium. The broth is incubated 2-3 days with constant shaking (90 rpm) at 22° C. This 5 ml is then transferred into 5 liters of the same culture medium. The resulting broth is incubated as described above in aerobic conditions. 
     After 4-5 days of incubation, or after the maximum cell density is reached, the cell pellet is separated by centrifugation. Hydrophobic compounds are then extracted from the supernatant by partition with one volume of dichloromethane. Each organic fraction is evaporated to dryness and, the residue is solubilized in a minimal amount of HPLC grade methanol, typically 500 μl to 1 ml. 
     Paclitaxel and taxanes are further purified by HPLC on a phenyl column using HPLC method no. 1. Typically, up to 400 1l of the methanolic solution are injected and fractions of 0.5 ml to 1 ml are collected. Fractions containing paclitaxel or taxanes are evaporated to dryness. 
     Using this method, from 200 ng to 1 μg of paclitaxel per liter of culture medium were purified. 
     EXAMPLE II 
     Mass Production of Taxanes and Paclitaxel using Bacillus cereus ssp. taxi 
     A thawed vial of a pure dense cell suspension of Bacillus cereus ssp. taxi is used to inoculate 500 ml of the defined medium for Bacillus. The broth is incubated 1 to 3 days with constant shaking (150 rpm) at 30° C. The cell pellet is then separated form the supernatant by centrifugation. Hydrophobic substances are extracted from the supernatant by an extraction with one volume of dichloromethane. The organic fraction is evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure, and residues resolubilized in a minimal amount of HPLC grade methanol. 
     Taxanes and paclitaxel are further purified on HPLC using method no. 2. Using this method, from 0.2 to 10 μg of paclitaxel can be produced, and from 0.2 to 15 μg of taxanes, including the specific bacterial taxane illustrated in FIG. 13B, can also be produced. 
     EXAMPLE III 
     Mass Production of Taxanes and Paclitaxel using Bacillus megaterium ssp. taxi 
     A thawed vial of a pure dense cell suspension of Bacillus megaterium ssp. taxi is used to inoculate 500 ml of the S-7 culture medium. The broth is incubated 1 to 3 days with constant shaking (150 rpm) at 30° C. The cell pellet is then separated form the supernatant by centrifugation. Hydrophobic substances are extracted from the supernatant by an extraction with one volume of dichloromethane. The organic fraction is evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure, and residues resolubilized in a minimal amount of HPLC grade methanol. 
     Taxanes and paclitaxel are further purified on HPLC using method no. 2. Using this method, from 1 to 12 μg of paclitaxel can be produced, and from 1 to 15 μg of taxanes, including the specific bacterial taxane illustrated in FIG. 13B, can also be produced. 
     EXAMPLE IV 
     Biotransformation of Pro-taxanes by Sphingomonas taxi 
     The growth supporting nutrient medium S-7 is supplemented with 1% v/v on an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis. This resulting supplemented medium is then inoculated with a thawed vial of a pure culture of one of Sphingomonas taxi and incubated at 30° C. with constant shaking for 24 to 96 hours. 1 The culture is then centrifuged and the remaining supernatant extracted with one volume of methylene chloride. After appropriate shaking, the organic fraction is evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. The residue is then resolubilized in 50 ml of methylene chloride and 50 ml of distilled water. After appropriate shaking, the organic fraction is collected and dried under reduced pressure. The residue is dissolved in 500 μl of HPLC grade methanol and 100 μl of the methanolic solution are analyzed on HPLC using method no. 2 and compared to the resulting chromatogram of the organic extract of the growth-supporting nutrient medium supplemented with and aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis 1% v/v shaken the same time. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12 and 14A, Sphingomonas taxi is able to biotransform taxanes into new pro-taxanes. 
     EXAMPLE V 
     Mutagenesis of Sphingomonas taxi 
     20 ml of the culture medium TA-1 with 200 μg/ml of daunorubicin (purchased from Rhone-Poulenc) were inoculated with 500 μl of an overnight culture of Sphingomonas taxi. The resulting broth was incubated at 200 rpm at 30° C. for 2 days. After this time 10 ml of the broth are added to 10 ml of fresh medium containing 200 μg/ml of daunorubicin and incubated as described above. The preceding step is repeated as necessary to obtain mutated bacteria. Those mutants were further isolated on the solid culture medium TA-1. Two new mutated strains were obtained named Sphingomonas taxi D200 and Sphingomonas taxi D201. 
     EXAMPLE VI 
     Biotransformation of taxanes by Sphingomonas taxi D200 and Sphingomonas taxi D201 
     The growth supporting nutrient medium S-7 is supplemented with 1% v/v on an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis. This resulting supplemented medium is then inoculated with a thawed vial of a pure culture of one of our mutated strain and incubated at 30° C. at 150 rpm. Cultures were stopped after 24, 48 and 72 hours of incubation. 
     Cultures were then centrifuged and the remaining supernatants extracted with one volume of ethyl acetate. After appropriate shaking, the organic fractions were evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. Residues were then resolubilized in 50 ml of ethyl acetate. After appropriate shaking, fractions were collected and dried under reduced pressure. Each residues were dissolved in a measured minimal volume of HPLC grade methanol. All samples were kept frozen at -20° C. until analysis. 
     Samples were analyzed on HPLC using method no. 2. FIG. 13 shows HPLC chromatograms of S. taxi, S. taxi D200 and S. taxi D201 incubated the same time (48 hours) in the culture medium S-7 supplemented with 1% v/v of an aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis. All cultures had comparable cell densities. This figure clearly illustrates the improved yields of biotransformation by the mutated strains S. taxi D200 and S. taxi D201. In FIG. 14B the characteristic ultraviolet spectrum of the new pro-taxanes produced by S. taxi D200 is compared with the UV spectrum of two taxanes from Taxus canadensis. FIG. 14C compares the UV spectrum of the new biotransformed taxane produce by S. taxi D201 with taxanes from the aqueous extract of Taxus canadensis. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that is capable of further modifications and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as many be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as follows in the scope of the appended claims. 
     
         __________________________________________________________________________#             SEQUENCE LISTING- (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:-    (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 18- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1556 base     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: rRNA-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:- ATGATTACGC CAAGCTATTT AGGTGACACT ATAGAATACT CAAGCTATGC AT - #CCAACGCG  60- TTGGGAGCTC TCCCATATGG TCGACCTGCA GGCGGCCGCA CTAGTGATTA GA - #GTTTGATC 120- CTGGCTCAGA ACGAACGCTG GCGGCATGCC TAACACATGC AAGTCGAACG AG - #ATCTTCGG 180- ATCTAGTGGC GCACGGGTGC GTAACGCGTG GGAATCTGCC CTTTGGTTCG GA - #ATAACAGT 240- TGGAAACGAC TGCTAATACC GGATGATGAC GTAAGTCCAA AGATTTATCG CC - #AGAGGATG 300- AGCCCGCGTA GGATTAGCTA GTTGGTGTGG TAAGAGCGCA CCAAGGCGAC GA - #TCCTTAGC 360- TGGTCTGAGA GGATGATCAG CCACACTGGG ACTGAGACAC GGCCCAGACT CC - #TACGGGAG 420- GCAGCAGTGG GGAATATTGG ACAATGGGCG AAAGCCTGAT CCAGCAATGC CG - #CGTGAGTT 480- GATGAAAGCC TTAGGTTGTT AAAGCTCTTT TACCCGGGAA TGATAATGAC AG - #TACCGGGA 540- GAATAAGCTC CGGCTAACTC CGTGCCAGCA GCCGCGGTAA TACGGAAGGA GC - #TAGCGTTG 600- TTCGGAATTA CTGGGCGTAA AGCGCACGTA GGCGGCTTTG TAAGTTAGAG GT - #GAAAGCCT 660- GGAGCTCAAC TCCAGAATTG CCTTTAAGAC TGCATCGCTT GAATCCAGGA GA - #GGTGAGTG 720- GAATTCCGAG TGTAGAGGTG AAATTCGTAG ATATTCGGAA GAACACCAGT GG - #CGAAGGCG 780- GCTCACTGGA CTGGTATTGA CGCTGAGGTG CGAAAGCGTG GGGAGCAAAC AG - #GATTAGAT 840- ACCCTGGTAG TCCACGCCGT AAACGATGAT AACTAGCTGT CCGGGGACTT GG - #TCTTTGGG 900- TGGCGCAGCT AACGCATTAA GTTATCCGCC TGGGGAGTAC GGCCGCAAGG TT - #AAAACTCA 960- AATGAATTGA CGGGGGCCTG CACAAGCGGT GGAGCATGTG GTTTAATTCG AA - #GCAACGCG1020- CAGAACCTTA CCAGCGTTTG ACATGTCCGG ACGATTTCTG GAGACAGATC TC - #TTCCCTTC1080- GGGGACTGGA ACGCAGGTGC TGCATGGCTG TCGTCAGCTC GTGTCGTGAG AT - #GTTGGGTT1140- AAGTCCCGCA ACGAGCGCAA CCCTCGCCTT TAGTTACCAT CATTTAGTTG GG - #GACTCTAA1200- AGGAACCGCC GGTGATAAGC CGGAGGAAGG TGGGGATGAC GTCAAGTCCT CA - #TGGCCCTT1260- ACGCGCTGGG CTACACACGT GCTACAATGG CGGTGACAGT GGGCAGCAAA CT - #CGCGAGAG1320- TGCGCTAATC TCCAAAAGCC GTCTCAGTTC GGATTGTTCT CTGCAACTCG AG - #AGCATGAA1380- GGCGGAATCG CTAGTAATCG CGGATCAGCA TGCCGCGGTG AATACGTTCC CA - #GGCCTTGT1440- ACACACCGCC CGTCACACCA TGGGAGTTGG GTTCACCCGA AGGCGTTGCG CT - #AACTCGTA1500- AGAGAGGCAG GCGACCACGG TGGGCTTAGC GACTGGGGTG AAGTCGTAAC AA - #GGTA1556- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 1512 base     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: rRNA-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:- AGAGTTTGAT CATGGCTCAG GATGAACGCT GGCGGCGTGC CTAATACATG CA - #AGTCGAGC  60- GAATGGATTA AGAGCTTGCT CTTATGAAGT TAGCGGCGGA CGGGTGAGTA AC - #ACGTGGGT 120- AACCTACCCA TAAGACTGGG ATAACTCCGG GAAACCGGGG CTAATACCGG AT - #AATATTTT 180- GAACTGCATA GTTCGAAATT GAAAGGCGGC TTCGGCTGTC ACTTATGGAT GG - #ACCCGCGT 240- CGCATTAGCT AGTTGGTGAG GTAACGGCTC ACCAAGGCGA CGATGCGTAG CC - #GACCTGAG 300- AGGGTGATCG GCCACACTGG GACTGAGACA CGGCCCAGAC TCCTACGGGA GG - #CAGCAGTA 360- GGGAATCTTC CGCAATGGAC GAAAGTCTGA CGGAGCAACG CCGCGTGAGT GA - #TGAAGGCT 420- TTCGGGTCGT AAAACTCTGT TGTTAGGGAA GAACAAGTGC TAGTTGAATA AG - #CTGGCACC 480- TTGACGGTAC CTAACCAGAA AGCCACGGCT AACTACGTGC CAGCAGCCCG CG - #GTAATACG 540- TAGGTGGCAA GCGTTATCCG GAATTATTGG GCGTAAAGCG CGCGCAGGTG GT - #TTCTTAAG 600- TCTGATGTGA AAGCCCACGG CTCAACCGTG GAGGGTCATT GGAAACTGGG AG - #ACTTGAGT 660- GCAGAAGAGG AAAGTGGAAT TCCATGTGTA GCGGTGAAAT GCGTAGAGAT AT - #GGAGGAAC 720- ACCAGTGGCG AAGGCGACTT TCTGGTCTGT AACTGACACT GAGGCGCGAA AG - #CGTGGGGA 780- GCAAACAGGA TTAGATACCC TGGTAGTCCA CGCCGTAAAC GATGAGTGCT AA - #GTGTTAGA 840- GGGTTTCCGC CCTTTAGTGC TGAAGTTAAC GCATTAAGCA CTCCGCCTGG GG - #AGTACGGC 900- CGCAAGGCTG AAACTCAAAG GAATTGACGG GGGCCCGCAC AAGCGGTGGA GC - #ATGTGGTT 960- TAATTCGAAG CAACGCGAAG AACCTTACCA GGTCTTGACA TCCTCTGAAA AC - #TCTAGAGA1020- TAGAGCTTCT CCTTCGGGAG CAGAGTGACA GGTGGTGCAT GGTTGTCGTC AG - #CTCGTGTC1080- GTGAGATGTT GGGTTAAGTC CCGCAACGAG CGCAACCCTT GATCTTAGTT GC - #CATCATTA1140- AGTTGGGCAC TCTAAGGTGA CTGCCGGTGA CAAACCGGAG GAAGGTGGGG AT - #GACGTCAA1200- ATCATCATGC CCCTTATGAC CTGGGCTACA CACGTGCCAC AATGGACGGT AC - #AAAGAGCT1260- GCAAGACCGC GAGGTGGAGC TAATCTCATA AAACCGTTCT CAGTTCGGAT TG - #TAGGCTGC1320- AACTCGCCTA CATGAAGCTG GAATCGCTAG TAATCGCGGA TCAGCATGCC GC - #GGTGAATA1380- CGTTCCCGGG CCTTGTACAC ACCGCCCGTC ACACCACGAG AGTTTGTAAC AC - #CCGAAGTC1440- GGTGGGGTAA CCTTTATGGA GCCAGCCGCC TAAGGTGGGA CAGATGATTG GG - #GTGAAGTC1500#     1512- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 554 base     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: rRNA-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:- TGGTTTAATT CGAAGGGACG CGAAAAACCT TAGGAGGTCT TGACATCCTC TG - #ACAACTCT  60- AGAGATAGAG CGTTCCCCTT CGGGGGACAG AGTGACAGGT GGTGCATGGT TG - #TCGTCAGC 120- TCGTGTCGTG AGATGTTGGG TTAAGTCCCG CAACGAGCGC AACCCTTGAT CT - #TAGTTGCC 180- AGCATTTAGT TGGGCACTCT AAGGTGACTG CCGGTGACAA ACCGGAGGAA GG - #TGGGGATG 240- ACGTCAAATC ATCATGCCCC TTATGACCTG GGCTACACAC GTGCTACAAT GG - #ATGGTACA 300- AAGGGCTGCA AGACCGCGAG GTCAAGCCAA TCCCATAAAA CCATTCTCAG TT - #CGGATTGT 360- AGGCTGCAAC TCGCCTACAT GAAGCTGGAA TCGCTAGTAA TCGCGGATCA GC - #ATGCCGCG 420- GTGAATACGT TCCCGGGCCT TGTACACACC GCCCGTCACA CCACGAGAGT TT - #GTAACACC 480- CGAAGTCGGT GGAGTAACCG TAAGGAGCTA GCCGCCTAAG GTGGGACAGA TG - #ATTGGGGT 540#    554- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 558 base     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: rRNA-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:- TTACCTTGTT ACGACTTCAC CCCAATCATC TGTCCCACCT TAGGCGGCTA GC - #TCCTTACG  60- GTTACTCCAC CGACTTCGGG TGTTACAAAC TCTCGTGGTG TGACGGGCGG TG - #TGTACAAG 120- GCCCGGGAAC GTATTCACCG CGGCATGCTG ATCCGCGATT ACTAGCGATT CC - #AGCTTCAT 180- GTAGGCGAGT TGCAGCCTAC AATCCGAACT GAGAATGGTT TTATGGGATT GG - #CTTGACCT 240- CGCGGTCTTG CAGCCCTTTG TACCATCCAT TGTAGCACGT GTGTAGCCCA GG - #TCATAAGG 300- GGCATGATGA TTTGACGTCA TCCCCACCTT CCTCCGGTTT GTCACCGGCA GT - #CACCTTAG 360- AGTGCCCAAC TAAATGCTGG CAACTAAGAT CAAGGGTTGC GCTCGTTGCG GG - #ACTTWACC 420- CAACATCTCA CGACACGAGC TGACGACAAC CATGCACCAC CTGTCACTCT GT - #CCCCCGAA 480- GGGGAACGCT CTATCTCTAG AGTTGTCAGA GGATGTCAAG ACCTCCTAAG GT - #TTTTCGCG 540# 558              CA- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 626 base     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: rRNA-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:- TCGGGACGGT CAGCACACGA GGAGCTTGCT CCTTGGGTGA CGAGTGGCGG AC - #GGGTGAGT  60- AATGTCTGGG GATCTGCCCG ATANAGGGGG ATAACCACTG GAAACGGTGG CT - #AATACCGC 120- ATAACGTCGC AAGACCAAAG AGGGGGACCT TCGGGCCTCT CACTATCGGA TG - #AACCCAGA 180- TGGGATTAGC TAGTANGCGG GGTAATGGCC CACCTAGGCG ACGATCCCTA NC - #TGGTCTGA 240- GAGGATGACC AGCCACACTG GAACTGAGAC ACGGTCCANA CTCCTACGGG AG - #GCAGCAGT 300- GGGGAATATT GCACAATGGG CGCAAGCCTG ATGCAGCCAT GCCGCGTGTA TG - #AAGAAGGC 360- CTTCGGGTTG TAAAGTACTT TCAGCGGGGA GGAAGGCGAT GCGGTTAATA AC - #CCTGTCGA 420- TTGACGTTCC CCGCANGAAG AAGCACCGGC TAACTCCGTG CCAGCAGCCG CG - #GTAATACC 480- GGAGGGTGCA AGCGTTAATC CGGAATTACT GGGCGTAAAG CGCACGCAGG CG - #GTCTGTTA 540- AGTCAGATGT GAAATCCCCG GGCTTAACCT GGGGAACTGC ATTTGAAACT GG - #CAGGCTTN 600#             626  GTAG AATTCC- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 574 base     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: rRNA-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:- GCACAAGCGG TGGAGCATGT GGTTTAATTC GATGCAACGC GAAGAACCTT AC - #CTACTCTT  60- GACATCCAGC GAACTTGCCA GAGATGGATT GGTGCCTTCG GGAACGCTGA GA - #CAGGTGCT 120- GCATGGCTGT CGTCAGCTCG TGTTGTGAAA TGTTGGGTTA AGTCCCGCAA CG - #AGCGCAAC 180- CCTTATCCTT TGTTGCCAGC GATTCGGTCG GGAACTCAAA GGAGACTGCC GG - #TGATAAAC 240- CGGAGGAAGG TGGGGATGAC GTCAAGTCAT CATGGCCCTT ACGAGTAGGG CT - #ACACACGT 300- GCTACAATGG CGCATACAAA GAGAAGCGAC CTCGCGAGAG CAAGCGGACC TC - #ACAAAGTG 360- CGTCGTAGTC CGGATCGGAG TCTGCAACTC GACTCCGTGA AGTCGGAATC GC - #TAGTAATC 420- GTGGATCAGA ATGCCACGGT GAATACGTTC CCGGGCCTTG TACACACCGC CC - #GTCACACC 480- ATGGGAGTGG GTTGCAAAAG AAGTAGGTAG CTTAACCTTC GGGAGGGCGC TT - #ACCACTTT 540#       574        GTGA AGTCGTAACA AGTA- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 572 base     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: rRNA-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:- GCACAAGCGG TGGAGCATGT GGTTTAATTC GAAGCAACGC GAAGAACCTT AC - #CAGGTCTT  60- GACATCCTCT GAAAACCCTA GAGATAGGGC TTCTCCTTCG GGAGCAGAGT GA - #CAGGTGGT 120- GCATGGTTGT CGTCAGCTCG TGTCGTGAGA TGTTGGGTTA AGTCCCGCAA CG - #AGCGCAAC 180- CCTTGATCTT AGTTGCCATC ATTAAGTTGG GCACTCTAAG GTGACTGCCG GT - #GACAAACC 240- GGAGGAAGGT GGGGATGACG TCAAATCATC ATGCCCCTTA TGACCTGGGC TA - #CACACGTG 300- CTACAATGGA CGGTACAAAG AGCTGCAAGA CCGCGAGGTG GAGCTAATCT CA - #TAAAACCG 360- TTCTCAGTTC GGATTGTAGG CTGCAACTCG CCTACATGAA GCTGGAATCG CT - #AGTAATCG 420- CGGATCAGCA TGCCGCGGTG AATACGTTCC CGGGCCTTGT ACACACCGCC CG - #TCACACCA 480- CGAGAGTTTG TAACACCCGA AGTCGGTGGG GTAACCTTTT TGGAGCCAGC CG - #CCTAAGGT 540#         572      GTGA AGTCGTAACA AG- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 567 base     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: rRNA-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:- CAAGCGGTGG AGCATGTGGT TTAATTCGAA GCAACGCGAA GAACCTTACC AG - #GTCTTGAC  60- ATCCTCTGAC AATCCTAGAG ATAGGACGTC CCCTTCGGGG GCAGAGTGAC AG - #GTGGTGCA 120- TGGTTGTCGT CAGCTCGTGT CGTGAGATGT TGGGTTAAGT CCCGCAACGA GC - #GCAACCCT 180- TGATCTTAGT TGCCAGCATT CAGTTGGGCA CTCTAAGGTG ACTGCCGGTG AC - #AAACCGGA 240- GGAAGGTGGG GATGACGTCA AATCATCATG CCCCTTATGA CCTGGGCTAC AC - #ACGTGCTA 300- CAATGGACAG AACAAAGGGC AGCGAAACCG CGAGGTTAAG CCAATCCCAC AA - #ATCTGTTC 360- TCAGTTCGGA TCGCAGTCTG CAACTCGACT GCGTGAAGCT GGAATCGCTA GT - #AATCGCGG 420- ATCAGCATGC CGCGGTGAAT ACGTTCCCGG GCCTTGTACA CACCGCCCGT CA - #CACCACGA 480- GAGTTTGTAA CACCCGAAGT CGGTGAGGTA ACCTTTATGG AGCCAGCCGC CG - #AAGGTGGG 540#            567   AAGT CGTAACA- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 711 base     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: rRNA-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:- GCCTAACAGT GCGAGTCGGA CGGTAGCACA GAGGAGCTTG CTCTTCGGGT GA - #CGAGTGGC  60- GGACGGGTGA GTAATGTCTG GGGATCTGCC CGATGGAGGG GGATAACCAC TG - #GAAACGGT 120- GGCTAATACC GCATAATGTC GCAAGACCAA AGTGGGGGAC CTTCGGGCCT CA - #CACCATCG 180- GATGAACCCA GATGGGATTA GCTAGTAGGT GGGGTAACGG CTCACCTAGG CG - #ACGATCCC 240- TAGCTGGTCT GAGAGGATGA CCAGCCACAC TGGAACTGAG ACACGGTCCA GA - #CTCCTACG 300- GGAGGCAGCA GTGGGGAATA TTGCACAATG GGCGCAAGCC TGATGCAGCC AT - #GCCGCGTG 360- TATGAAGAAG GCCTTCGGGT TGTAAAGTAC TTTCANCGGG GAGGAAGGGG AC - #GAGGTTAA 420- TAACCCCGTT CATTGACGTT ACCCGCAGAA GAAGCACCGG CTAACTCCGT GC - #CAGCAGCC 480- GCGGTAATAC GGAGGGTGCA AGCGTTAATC GGAATTACTG GGCGTAAAGC GC - #ACGCAGGC 540- GGTCTGTTAA GTCAGATGTG AAATCCCCGG GCTTAACCTG GGAACTGCAT TT - #GAAACTGG 600- CAGGCTTGAG TCTTGTAGAG GGGGGTAGAA TTCCAGGTGT AGCGGTGAAA TG - #CCGTAGAG 660#            711CCGGTGG CGAAGGCGGC CCCCCTGGAC AAAGACTGAC C- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10:-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 572 base     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: rRNA-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:- GCACAAGCGG TGGAGCATGT GGTTTAATTC GATGCAACGC GAAGAACCTT AC - #CTGCTCTT  60- GACATCCACG GAATTCGGCA GAGATGCCTT AGTGCCTTCG GGAACCGTGA GA - #CAGGTGCT 120- GCATGGCTGT CGTCAGCTCG TGTTGTGAAA TGTTGGGTTA AGTCCCGCAA CG - #AGCGCAAC 180- CCTTATCCTT TGTTGCCAGC GATTCGGTCG GGAACTCAAA GGAGACTGCC GG - #TGATAAAC 240- CGGAGGAAGG TGGGGATGAC GTCAAGTCAT CATGGCCCTT ACGAGCAGGG CT - #ACACACGT 300- GCTACAATGG CGCATACAAA GAGAAGCGAC CTCGCGAGAG CAAGCGGACC TC - #ACAAAGTG 360- CGTCGTAGTC CGGATCGGAG TCTGCAACTC GACTCCGTGA AGTCGGAATC GC - #TAGTAATC 420- GTGGATCAGA ATGCCACGGT GAATACGTTC CCGGGCCTTG TACACACCGC CC - #GTCACACC 480- ATGGGAGTGG GTTGCAAAAG AAGTAGGTAG CTTAACCTTC GGGAGGGCGC TT - #ACCACTTT 540#         572      GTGA AGTCGTAACA AG- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11:-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 704 base     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: rRNA-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:- AGTGCGAGTC GGACGGTAGC ACAGAGAGCT TGCTCTTGGG TGACGAGTGG CG - #GACGGGTG  60- AGTAATGTCT GGGGATCTGC CCGATAGAGG GGGATAACCA CTGGAAACGG TG - #GCTAATAC 120- CGCATAACGT CGCAAGACCA AAGAGGGGGA CCTTCGGGCC TCTCACTATC GG - #ATGAACCC 180- AGATGGGATT AGCTAGTAGG CGGGGTAATG GCCCACCTAG GCGACGATCC CT - #AGCTGGTC 240- TGAGAGGATG ACCAGCCACA CTGGAACTGA GACACGGTCC AGACTCCTAC GG - #GAGGCAGC 300- AGTGGGGAAT ATTGCACAAT GGGCGCAAGC CTGATGCAGC CATGCCGCGT GT - #ATGAAGAA 360- GGCCTTCGGG TTGTAAAGTA CTTTCAGCGG GGAGGAAGGC GATGCGGTTA AT - #AACCCTGT 420- CGATTGACGT TACCCGCAGA AGAAGCACCG GCTAACTCCG TGCCAGCAGC CG - #CGGTAATA 480- CGGAGGGTGC AAGCGTTAAT CGGAATTACT GGGCGTAAAG CGCACGCAGG CG - #GTCTGTTA 540- AGTCAGATGT GAAATCCCCG GGCTTAACCT GGGAACTGCA TTTGAAACTG GC - #AGGCTTGA 600- GTCTTGTAGA AGGGGGTAGA ATTCCAGGTG TAGCGGTGAA ATGCGTAGAG AT - #CTGGAGGA 660#704               CGGC CCCCTGGACA AAGACTGACG CTCA- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 574 base     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: rRNA-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:- GCACAAGCGG TGGAGCATGT GGTTTAATTC GATGCAACGC GAAGAACCTT AC - #CTACTCTT  60- GACATCCACC GAACTTAGCA GAGATGCTTT GGTGCCTTCG GGAACCCTGA GA - #CAGGTGCT 120- GCATGGCTGT CGTCAGCTCG TGTTGTGAAA TGTTGGGTTA AGTCCCGCAA CG - #AGCGCAAC 180- CCTTATCCTT TGTTGCCAGC GATTCGGTCG GGAACTCAAA GGAGACTGCC GG - #TGATAAAC 240- CGGAGGAAGG TGGGGATGAC GTCAAGTCAT CATGGCCCTT ACGAGTAGGG CT - #ACACACGT 300- GCTACAATGG CGCATACAAA GAGAAGCGAC CTCGCGAGAG CAAGCGGACC TC - #ACAAAGTG 360- CGTCGTAGTC CGGATCGGAG TCTGCAACTC GACTCCGTGA AGTCGGAATC GC - #TAGTAATC 420- GTGGATCAGA ATGCCACGGT GAATACGTTC CCGGGCCTTG TACACACCGC CC - #GTCACACC 480- ATGGGAGTGG GTTGCAAAAG AAGTAGGTAG CTTAACCTTC GGGAGGGCGC TT - #ACCACTTT 540#       574        GTGA AGTCGTAACA AGTA- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13:-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 573 base     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: rRNA-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13:- GCACAAGCGG TGGAGCATGT GGTTTAATTC GAAGGAACGC GAAGAACCTT AC - #CAGGTCTT  60- GACATCCTCT GACAACTCTA GAGATAGAGC GTTCCCCTTC GGGGGACAGA GT - #GACAGGTG 120- GTGCATGGTT GTCGTCAGCT CGTGTCGTGA GATGTTGGGT TAAGTCCCGC AA - #CGAGCGCA 180- ACCCTTGATC TTAGTTGCCA GCATTTAGTT GGGCACTCTA AGGTGACTGC CG - #GTGACAAA 240- CCGGAGGAAG GTGGGGATGA CGTCAAATCA TCATGCCCCT TATGACCTGG GC - #TACACACG 300- TGCTACAATG GATGGTACAA AGGGCTGCAA GACCGCGAGG TCAAGCCAAT CC - #CATAAAAC 360- CATTCTCAGT TCGGATTGTA GGCTGCAACT CGCCTACATG AAGCTGGAAT CG - #CTAGTAAT 420- CGCGGATCAG CATGCCGCGG TGAATACGTT CCCGGGCCTT GTACACACCG CC - #CGTCACAC 480- CACGAGAGTT TGTAACACCC GAAGTCGGTG GAGTAACCGT AAGGAGCTAG CC - #GCCTAAGG 540#        573       GGTG AAGTCGTAAC AAG- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14:-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 759 base     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: rRNA-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14:- CGCTGGGCGG CCTGCTTAAC ACNTGCAAGT CGAACGATGA TGCCCAGCTT GC - #TGGGTGGA  60- TTAGTGGCGA ACGGGTGAGT AACACGTGAG TAACCTGCCC CTGACTCTGG GA - #TAAGCGTT 120- GGAAACGACG TCTAATACTG GATATGATCA CTGGCCGCAT GGTCTGGTGG TG - #GAAAGATT 180- TTTTGGTTGG GGATGGACTC GCGGCCTATC AGCTTGTTGG TGAGGTAATG GC - #TCACCAAG 240- GCGACGACGG GTAGCCGGCC TGAGAGGGTG ACCGGCCACA CTGGGACTGA GA - #CACGGCCC 300- AGACTCCTAC GGGAGGCAAC AGTGGGGAAT ATTGCACAAT GGGCGAAAGC CT - #GATGCAGC 360- AACGCCGCGT GAGGGATGAC GGCCTTCGGG TTGTAAACCT CTTTTAGTAG GG - #AAGAAGCG 420- AAAGTGACGG TACCTGCAGA AAAAGCACCG GCTAACTACG TGCCAGCAGC CG - #CGGTAATA 480- CGTAGGGTGC AAGCGTTGTC CGGAATTATT GGGCGTAAAG AGCTCGTAGG CG - #GTTTGTCG 540- CGTCTGCTGT GAAATCCCGA GGCTCAACCT CGGGCTTGCA GTGGGTACGG GC - #AGACTAGA 600- GTGCGGTAGG GGAGATTGGA ATTCCTGGTG TAGCGGTGGA ATGCGCAGAT AC - #CAGGAGGA 660- ACACCGATGG CGAAGGCAGA TCTCTGGGCC GTAACTGACG CTGAGGAGCG AA - #AGCATGGG 720#   759            ATAC CCTGGTAGTC CATGCCGTA- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15:-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 544 base     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: rRNA-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:15:- TCGAGGCAAC GCGAAGAACT TACCAAGGAT TGACATACAC CGGAGACGGC CA - #GAGATGGT  60- CGCCCCCTTG TGGTCGGTGT ACAGGTGGTG CATGGTTGTC GTCAGCTCGT GT - #CGTGAGAT 120- GTTGGGTTAA GTCCCGCAAC GAGCGCAACC CTCGTTCTAT GTTGCCAGCG GG - #TTATGCCG 180- GGGACTCATA GGAGACTGCC GGGGTCAACT CGGAGGAAGG TGGGGATGAC GT - #CAAATCAT 240- CATGCCCCTT ATGTCTTGGG CTTCACGCAT GCTACAATGG CCGGTACAAA GG - #GCTGCGAT 300- ACCGTAAGGT GGAGCGAATC CCAAAAAGCC GGTCTCAGTT CGGATTGAGG TC - #TGCAACTC 360- GACCTCATGA AGTCGGAGTC GCTAGTAATC GCAGATCAGC AACGCTGCGG TG - #AATACGTT 420- CCCGGGCCTT GTACACACCG CCCGTCAAGT CATGAAAGTC GGTAACACCC GA - #AGCCGGTG 480- GCCTAACCCT TGTGGAAGGA GCCGTCGAAG GTGGGATCGG TGATTAGGAC TA - #AGTCGTAA 540#            544- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16:-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 569 base     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: rRNA-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16:- GCACAAGCGG TGGAGCATGT GGTTTAATTC GAAGCAACGC GCAGAACCTT AC - #CAGCGTTT  60- GACATGTCCG GACGATTTCT GGAGACAGAT CTCTTCCCTT CGGGGACTGG AA - #CACAGGTG 120- CTGCATGGCT GTCGTCAGCT CGTGTCGTGA GATGTTGGGT TAAGTCCCGC AA - #CGAGCGCA 180- ACCCTCGCCT TTAGTTACCA TCATTTAGTT GGGGACTCTA AAGGAACCGC CG - #GTGATAAG 240- CCGGAGGAAG GTGGGGATGA CGTCAAGTCC TCATGGCCCT TACGCGCTGG GC - #TACACACG 300- TGCTACAATG GCGGTGACAG TGGGCAGCAA ACTCGCGAGA GTGCGCTAAT CT - #CCAAAAGC 360- CGTCTCAGTT CGGATTGTTC TCTGCAACTC GAGAGCATGA AGGCGGAATC GC - #TAGTAATC 420- GCGGATCAGC ATGCCGCGGT GAATACGTTC CCAGGCCTTG TACACACCGC CC - #GTCACACC 480- ATGGGAGTTG GGTTCACCCG AAGGCGTTGC GCTAACTCAG CAATGAGAGG CA - #GGCGACCA 540#           569    TGGG GTGAAGTCG- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17:-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 20 base     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17:# 20               TCAG- (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18:-      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:#pairs    (A) LENGTH: 22 base     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid     (C) STRANDEDNESS: single     (D) TOPOLOGY: linear-     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA-     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18:#                 22GAC TT__________________________________________________________________________