Patents by Inventor BRIAN FREDERICK PFLEGER

BRIAN FREDERICK PFLEGER has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20210155961
    Abstract: Described is a recombinant expression vector that enables a cell transformed to contain and express the vector to use levulinic acid as a carbon source, thereby converting levulnic acid into 2-butanne. Also described are genetically modified cells transformed to contain and express the vector and methods of using the cells to produce 2-butanone from a medium containing levulinic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Brian Frederick Pfleger, Jacqueline Marie Rand, Christopher Robert Mehrer, Matthew Ryan Incha
  • Patent number: 10982240
    Abstract: Cells and methods for producing polyhydroxyalkanoates. The cells comprise one or more recombinant genes selected from an R-specific enoyl-CoA hydratase gene, a PHA polymerase gene, a thioesterase gene, and an acyl-CoA-synthetase gene. The cells further have one or more genes functionally deleted. The functionally deleted genes include such genes as an enoyl-CoA hydratase gene, a 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, and a 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase gene. The recombinant cells are capable of using producing polyhydroxyalkanoates with a high proportion of monomers having the same carbon length from non-lipid substrates, such as carbohydrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Brian Frederick Pfleger, Daniel E. Agnew
  • Patent number: 10934563
    Abstract: Described is a recombinant expression vector that enables a cell transformed to contain and express the vector to use levulinic acid as a carbon source, thereby converting levulnic acid into 2-butanne. Also described are genetically modified cells transformed to contain and express the vector and methods of using the cells to produce 2-butanone from a medium containing levulinic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Brian Frederick Pfleger, Jacqueline Marie Rand, Christopher Robert Mehrer, Matthew Ryan Incha
  • Publication number: 20190085362
    Abstract: Described is a recombinant expression vector that enables a cell transformed to contain and express the vector to use levulinic acid as a carbon source, thereby converting levulnic acid into 2-butanne. Also described are genetically modified cells transformed to contain and express the vector and methods of using the cells to produce 2-butanone from a medium containing levulinic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Brian Frederick Pfleger, Jacqueline Marie Rand, Christopher Robert Mehrer, Matthew Ryan Incha
  • Publication number: 20180201961
    Abstract: Cells and methods for producing polyhydroxyalkanoates. The cells comprise one or more recombinant genes selected from an R-specific enoyl-CoA hydratase gene, a PHA polymerase gene, a thioesterase gene, and an acyl-CoA-synthetase gene. The cells further have one or more genes functionally deleted. The functionally deleted genes include such genes as an enoyl-CoA hydratase gene, a 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, and a 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase gene. The recombinant cells are capable of using producing polyhydroxyalkanoates with a high proportion of monomers having the same carbon length from non-lipid substrates, such as carbohydrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Brian Frederick Pfleger, Daniel E. Agnew
  • Patent number: 8846354
    Abstract: Organic acid-producing microorganisms and methods of using same. The organic acid-producing microorganisms comprise modifications that reduce or ablate AcsA activity or AcsA homolog activity. The modifications increase tolerance of the microorganisms to such organic acids as 3-hydroxypropionic acid, acrylic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, and others. Further modifications to the microorganisms increase production of such organic acids as 3-hydroxypropionic acid, lactate, and others. Methods of producing such organic acids as 3-hydroxypropionic acid, lactate, and others with the modified microorganisms are provided. Methods of using acsA or homologs thereof as counter-selectable markers are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Brian Frederick Pfleger, Matthew Brett Begemann
  • Patent number: 8846329
    Abstract: Organic acid-producing microorganisms and methods of using same. The organic acid-producing microorganisms comprise modifications that reduce or ablate AcsA activity or AcsA homolog activity. The modifications increase tolerance of the microorganisms to such organic acids as 3-hydroxypropionic acid, acrylic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, and others. Further modifications to the microorganisms increase production of such organic acids as 3-hydroxypropionic acid, lactate, and others. Methods of producing such organic acids as 3-hydroxypropionic acid, lactate, and others with the modified microorganisms are provided. Methods of using acsA or homologs thereof as counter-selectable markers are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Brian Frederick Pfleger, Matthew Brett Begemann
  • Patent number: 8715973
    Abstract: Organic acid-tolerant microorganisms and methods of using same. The organic acid-tolerant microorganisms comprise modifications that reduce or ablate AcsA activity or AcsA homolog activity. The modifications increase tolerance of the microorganisms to such organic acids as 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3HP), acrylic acid, and propionic acid. Further modifications to the microorganisms such as increasing expression of malonyl-CoA reductase and/or acetyl-CoA carboxylase provide or increase the ability of the microorganisms to produce 3HP. Methods of generating an organic acid with the modified microorganisms are provided. Methods of using acsA or homologs thereof as counter-selectable markers include replacing acsA or homologs thereof in cells with genes of interest and selecting for the cells comprising the genes of interest with amounts of organic acids effective to inhibit growth of cells harboring acsA or the homologs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Brian Frederick Pfleger, Matthew Brett Begemann
  • Publication number: 20140073022
    Abstract: Cells and methods for producing polyhydroxyalkanoates. The cells comprise one or more recombinant genes selected from an R-specific enoyl-CoA hydratase gene, a PHA polymerase gene, a thioesterase gene, and an acyl-CoA-synthetase gene. The cells further have one or more genes functionally deleted. The functionally deleted genes include such genes as an enoyl-CoA hydratase gene, a 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, and a 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase gene. The recombinant cells are capable of using producing polyhydroxyalkanoates with a high proportion of monomers having the same carbon length from non-lipid substrates, such as carbohydrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: BRIAN FREDERICK PFLEGER, DANIEL E. AGNEW