Patents Examined by Christian Fronda
  • Genes encoding key catalyzing mechanisms for ethanol production from syngas fermentation
    Patent number: 9284538
    Abstract: Gene sequences of key acetogenic clostridial species were sequenced and isolated. Genes of interest were identified, and functionality was established. Key genes of interest for metabolic catalyzing activity in clostridial species include a three-gene operon coding for CODH activity, a two-gene operon coding for PTA-ACK, and a novel acetyl coenzyme A reductase. The promoter regions of the two operons and the acetyl coA reductase are manipulated to increase ethanol production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew Reeves, Rathin Datta
  • Mouse models carrying a knock-out mutation of the QPCTL-gene
    Patent number: 9277737
    Abstract: A knock-out non-human animal, in particular a mouse, carrying a QPCTL knock-out mutation. Additionally, respective cells and cell lines and methods and compositions for evaluating agents that affect QPCTL, for use in compositions for the treatment of QPCTL-related diseases are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: PROBIODRUG AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ulrich Demuth, Anett Stephan, Birgit Koch, Holger Cynis, Stephan Schilling, Reinhard Sedlmeier, Sigrid Graubner
  • Yeast mutant of kluyveromyces and method for ethanol production using the same
    Patent number: 9273328
    Abstract: A yeast of the genus Kluyveromyces is modified to improve the ethanol yield from xylose by attenuation of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of the ADH1 gene derived from Kluyveromyces marxianus, a gene functionally equivalent to the ADH1 gene, the ADH4 gene derived from Kluyveromyces marxianus, and a gene functionally equivalent to the ADH4 gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriko Shisa, Rinji Akada, Hisashi Hoshida, Takeshi Uemura, Kozue Mutaguchi, Kenro Tokuhiro, Satoshi Katahira
  • Thermostable blunt-end ligase and methods of use
    Patent number: 9273301
    Abstract: Fusion proteins having thermostable blunt-end ligase activity are provided. Blunt-end ligases are useful for DNA amplification, sequencing, production of recombinant DNA and recombinant fusion proteins, and other purposes. These thermostable blunt-end DNA ligases are useful in ligation schemes which include, e.g., an incubation at about 60-65° C. or higher, or as high as about 94° C., or at other temperatures. The ligases disclosed herein may enable high temperature blunt-end ligation without need for molecular crowding agents, and so may be useful for many nucleic acid ligation-amplification schemes, e.g., ones which operate at a uniform temperature (e.g., at about 60° C. or higher), including ones which require temperature cycling, e.g., from about 94° C. to about 60° C. (or higher) for one, two, three, or more cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Theranos, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick Christians
  • Alpha amylase variants and polynucleotides encoding same
    Patent number: 9267124
    Abstract: The present invention relates to variants of alpha amylase. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: NOVOZYMES A/S
    Inventors: Tomoko Matsui, Aki Tomiki, Guillermo Coward-Kelly
  • Bilirubin oxidase from and applications thereof
    Patent number: 9260700
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel bilirubin oxidase from Magnaporthe oryzae, to the method of preparation thereof as well as use thereof notably for assay of bilirubin and for the application of enzymatic biofuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Nicolas Mano, Fabien Durand
  • PmST1 mutants for chemoenzymatic synthesis of sialyl lewis X compounds
    Patent number: 9255257
    Abstract: The present invention provides mutants of PmST1 for the preparation of sialyl-Lewisx oligosaccharides, and other sialosides with decreased sialidase activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Xi Chen, Go Sugiarto, Kam Lau
  • Glutamate oxidase mutagenesis for diagnostic testing
    Patent number: 9249450
    Abstract: The described invention provides a method of generating a catalytically active oxidase enzyme preparation. The described invention also provides a means of generating reagents for a protease detection sensor which can use colorimetric, fluorescent, or electrochemical detection. Further, the invention describes a system for a protease detecting sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Abbott Point of Care Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Wang, G. Bruce Collier
  • Selectable markers and related methods
    Patent number: 9234210
    Abstract: The invention relates to newly identified selectable marker systems, cells for use in a selectable marker system, and methods for using the selectable marker systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Intrexon CEU, Inc.
    Inventors: Imandokht Famili, Renata Usaite Black, Christophe H. Schilling
  • Synthesis of prazole compounds
    Patent number: 9228216
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to non-naturally occurring monooxygenase polypeptides useful for preparing prazole compounds, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and methods of using the polypeptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Codexis, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Koy Bong, Michael D. Clay, Steven J. Collier, Benjamin Mijts, Michael Vogel, Xiyun Zhang, Jun Zhu, Jovana Nazor, Derek J. Smith, Shiwei Song
  • Plant cell culture expressing human lysosomal proteins and uses thereof
    Patent number: 9220737
    Abstract: A device, system and method for producing glycosylated proteins in plant culture, particularly proteins having a high mannose glycosylation, while targeting such proteins with an ER signal and/or by-passing the Golgi. The invention further relates to vectors and methods for expression and production of enzymatically active high mannose lysosomal enzymes using transgenic plant root, particularly carrot cells. More particularly, the invention relates to host cells, particularly transgenic suspended carrot cells, vectors and methods for high yield expression and production of biologically active high mannose Glucocerebrosidase (GCD). The invention further provides for compositions and methods for the treatment of lysosomal storage diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Protalix Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoseph Shaaltiel, Gideon Baum, Daniel Bartfeld, Sharon Hashmueli, Ayala Lewkowicz
  • Antibacterial phage, phage peptides and methods of use thereof
    Patent number: 9222077
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the field of phage therapy for the treatment and control of bacterial infections. In particular, the present invention is directed to the novel bacteriophage F387/08, F391/08, F394/08, F488/08, F510/08, F44/10, and F125/10, isolated polypeptides thereof, compositions comprising one or more of the novel bacteriophage and/or isolated polypeptides, as well as to methods for the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections using same, either alone or in combination with other antibacterial therapies, e.g., antibiotics and/or other phage therapies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignees: Tecnifar—Industria Tecnica Farmaceutica, S.A., Technophage, Investigacao E Desenvolveimento Em Biotecnologia, SA
    Inventors: Miguel Ângelo Da Costa Garcia, Carlos Jorge Sousa De São José, Clara Isabel Rodrigues Leandro, Filipa Maria Rodrigues Pardal Dias Antunes Marçal Da Silva, Ana Raquel Martins Barbosa
  • Heterologous biomass degrading enzyme expression in thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum
    Patent number: 9206434
    Abstract: Thermophilic gram-positive anaerobic host cells, for example Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum (“T sacch”), express heterologous biomass degrading enzymes, such as cellulases, and are able to produce useful fermentation products from cellulose. Useful fermentation products include, for example, ethanol, acetic acid, lactic acid or CO2. In order to provide maximum expression and activity levels, biomass degrading enzymes can be expressed from codon-optimized nucleotide sequences, can be expressed under the control of a high-efficiency promoter, and/or can be fused to a signal peptide. In addition, the host cell, for example, a T sacch host cell, can be genetically altered to further improve ethanol production, for example by disrupting the production of organic products other than ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Enchi Corporation
    Inventors: Heidi Hau, Charles Rice, Chris Herring, John McBride, Arthur J. Shaw, IV, Erin Wiswall
  • Yeast expressing saccharolytic enzymes for consolidated bioprocessing using starch and cellulose
    Patent number: 9206444
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a yeast strain, or strains, secreting a full suite, or any subset of that full suite, of enzymes to hydrolyze corn starch, corn fiber, lignocellulose, (including enzymes that hydrolyze linkages in cellulose, hemicellulose, and between lignin and carbohydrates) and to utilize pentose sugars (xylose and arabinose). The invention is also directed to the set of proteins that are well expressed in yeast for each category of enzymatic activity. The resulting strain, or strains can be used to hydrolyze starch and cellulose simultaneously. The resulting strain, or strains can be also metabolically engineered to produce less glycerol and uptake acetate. The resulting strain, or strains can also be used to produce ethanol from granular starch without liquefaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignees: Lallemand Hungary Liquidity Management LLC, Stellenbosch University
    Inventors: Elena Brevnova, John E. McBride, Erin Wiswall, Kevin S. Wenger, Nicky Caiazza, Heidi Hau, Aaron Argyros, Frank Agbogbo, Charles F. Rice, Trisha Barrett, John S. Bardsley, Abigail Foster, Anne K. Warner, Mark Mellon, Ryan Skinner, Indraneel Shikhare, Riaan Den Haan, Chhayal V. Gandhi, Alan Belcher, Vineet B. Rajgarhia, Allan C. Froehlich, Kristen M. Deleault, Emily Stonehouse, Shital A. Tripathi, Jennifer Gosselin, Yin-Ying Chiu, Haowen Xu
  • Method for analyzing methylation of a genome
    Patent number: 9200316
    Abstract: Compositions, methods and related uses are provided relating to cleaving modified DNA. For example, a set of DNA fragments obtainable by enzymatic cleavage of a large DNA is described where at least 50% are similarly sized and have a centrally positioned modified nucleotide. In addition, an enzyme preparation is provided that includes one or more enzymes that recognize a modified nucleotide in a DNA and cleave the DNA at a site that is at a non-random distance from the modified nucleotide. The one or more enzymes are further characterized by an N-terminal conserved domain with greater than 90% amino acid sequence homology to WXD(X)10YXGD. The related uses include creating a methylome, methods of purifying DNA fragments containing a modified nucleotide and diagnostic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: New England Biolabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Zheng, Richard J. Roberts
  • Phytase having improved enzymatic activity
    Patent number: 9194010
    Abstract: A phytase having improved enzymatic activity is disclosed. The phytase has a modified amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the modification is a substitution of Valine at position 90 with Threonine. Alternatively, the phytase has a modified amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6, wherein the modification is a substitution of Asparagine at position 204 with Alanine or a substitution of Serine at position 206 with Alanine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: DONGGUAN APAC BIOTECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Rey-Ting Guo, Tzu-Hui Wu, Ya-Shan Cheng, Jian-Wen Huang, Hui-Lin Lai, Cheng-Yen Lin, Ting-Yung Huang
  • Fusion protein
    Patent number: 9187570
    Abstract: The present invention provides means useful for making devices, materials and the like that are excellent in photocatalytic activity, electric property or the like. Specifically, the present invention provides a fusion protein comprising a polypeptide portion capable of forming a multimer having an internal cavity, and a first peptide portion capable of binding to a first target substance and a second peptide portion capable of binding to a second target substance; a multimer of the fusion protein; a complex comprising the multimer of the fusion protein; and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ippei Inoue, Ichiro Yamashita, Bin Zheng, Hisashi Yasueda, Yukiharu Uraoka, Yasuaki Ishikawa
  • Phenylpyruvate reductase and method for manufacturing optically-active phenyllactic acid and 4-hydroxyl-phenyllactic acid using same enzyme
    Patent number: 9187771
    Abstract: The present invention provides a phenylpyruvate reductase for efficiently obtaining highly pure, optically active 3-phenyllactate and 4-hydroxyphenyllactate; a gene coding for the same; and a method for manufacturing optically active 3-phenyllactate and 4-hydroxyphenyllactate employing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunobu Konishi, Naoki Takaya
  • Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs)
    Patent number: 9181535
    Abstract: This application provides transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), polynucleotide sequences encoding the TALENs, expression cassettes for producing TALENs to target cleavage of nucleic acids, and methods of producing and using the TALENs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
    Inventors: Yun Liu, Christopher H. K. Cheng
  • Method for producing a polyhydroxyalkanoate using a microorganism belonging to the genus
    Patent number: 9175317
    Abstract: The present invention provides a microorganism that synthesizes a high-molecular-weight PHA, and a method for producing a high-molecular-weight PHA, which have a productivity of at least 100 g/L. The provision is achieved by controlling the specific activity of a PHA synthase in cells of a microorganism that belongs to the genus Cupriavidus and is capable of producing a PHA, to 0.1 U/mg-protein at most. The microorganism and the method enable industrially efficient production of a PHA with a weight average molecular weight of at least 4,000,000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Sato, Tetsuya Fujiki, Keiji Matsumoto