Patents by Inventor Mirja Wessel

Mirja Wessel 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: 20240002813
    Abstract: Cells which make rhamnolipids and are genetically modified such that they have a decreased activity, compared to the wild type thereof, are provided. A glucose dehydrogenase and a method for producing rhamnolipids using the cells according to the invention are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: Evonik Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Thum, Steffen Schaffer, Christoph Schorsch, Mirja Wessel
  • Patent number: 11685905
    Abstract: The invention relates to cells which make rhamnolipids and are genetically modified such that they have a decreased activity, compared to the wild type thereof, of a glucose dehydrogenase and to a method for producing rhamnolipids using the cells according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Evonik Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Thum, Steffen Schaffer, Christoph Schorsch, Mirja Wessel
  • Patent number: 11236372
    Abstract: The present invention relates to at least one cell for producing at least one lipid with general formula II from at least one carbon substrate, wherein R1 and R2 independently of one another comprises identical or different organic radicals each with 5 to 13 carbon atoms, wherein the cell is a non-pathogenic cell that is genetically modified to increase the heterologous expression relative to the wild type cell of: an enzyme (E2) capable of converting 3-hydroxyalkanoyl-3-hydroxyalkanoyl-CoA/ACP or 3-(3-hydroxyalkanoyloxy)alkanoic acid (HAA) and NDP-glucose into ?-D-glucopyranosyl-3-hydroxyalkanoyl-3-hydroxyalkanoate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Evonik Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Mirja Wessel, Steffen Schaffer, Anne Jeremias, Martin Schilling, Hans Henning Wenk
  • Publication number: 20210371773
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mixture composition comprising glucolipids, to its use for producing formulations and to formulations comprising this mixture composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Evonik Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Kathrin Daniela Brandt, Stefan Julian Liebig, Hans Henning Wenk, Maciej Olek, Martin Schilling, Steffen Schaffer, Mirja Wessel, Anne Jeremias
  • Patent number: 11034938
    Abstract: There is provided a microbial cell expressing a mutant AlkB enzyme, the mutant AlkB enzyme comprising at least one point mutation in the wild type sequence of AlkB, wherein the point mutation is at amino acid position V129 and/or T136 of the wild type AlkB enzyme. There is also provided a method for producing omega-hydroxy carboxylic acid and/or ester thereof using this cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: EVONIK OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Arne Skerra, Ludwig Kirmair, Steffen Schaffer, Christoph Schorsch, Mirja Wessel, Thomas Haas
  • Publication number: 20200407761
    Abstract: The present invention relates to at least one cell for producing at least one lipid with general formula II from at least one carbon substrate, wherein R1 and R2 independently of one another comprises identical or different organic radicals each with 5 to 13 carbon atoms, wherein the cell is a non-pathogenic cell that is genetically modified to increase the heterologous expression relative to the wild type cell of: an enzyme (E2) capable of converting 3-hydroxyalkanoyl-3-hydroxyalkanoyl-CoA/ACP or 3-(3-hydroxyalkanoyloxy)alkanoic acid (HAA) and NDP-glucose into ?-D-glucopyranosyl-3-hydroxyalkanoyl-3-hydroxyalkanoate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: EVONIK OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Mirja WESSEL, Steffen SCHAFFER, Anne JEREMIAS, Martin SCHILLING, Hans Henning WENK
  • Patent number: 10745721
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for reacting a carboxylic acid ester of the formula (I) R1-A-COOR2??(I), wherein R1 is hydrogen, —CH2OH, —CHO, —COOR3, —CH2SH, —CH2OR3 or —CH2NH2, R2 is an alkyl group, R3 is hydrogen or an alkyl group, and A is a substituted, unsubstituted, linear, branched and/or cyclic alkylene, alkenylene, arylene or aralkylene radical having at least 4 carbons, in the presence of a cell. The process comprises a) contacting the cell with said carboxylic acid ester in an aqueous solution, wherein the cell is a recombinant cell which has reduced activity of a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 2 or a variant thereof over the wild-type cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Evonik Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Schaffer, Heiko Andrea, Mirja Wessel, Hans-Georg Hennemann, Harald Haeger
  • Publication number: 20190271020
    Abstract: The invention relates to cells which make rhamnolipids and are genetically modified such that they have a decreased activity, compared to the wild type thereof, of a glucose dehydrogenase and to a method for producing rhamnolipids using the cells according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Applicant: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Thum, Steffen Schaffer, Christoph Schorsch, Mirja Wessel
  • Publication number: 20190233856
    Abstract: The invention relates to cells which make rhamnolipids and are genetically modified such that they have a decreased activity, compared to the wild type thereof, of an ABC glucose transporter and, compared to the wild type thereof, an increased activity of at least one non-ABC glucose transporter and to a method for producing rhamnolipids using the cells according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Thum, Steffen Schaffer, Christoph Schorsch, Mirja Wessel
  • Publication number: 20190153405
    Abstract: There is provided a microbial cell expressing a mutant AlkB enzyme, the mutant AlkB enzyme comprising at least one point mutation in the wild type sequence of AlkB, wherein the point mutation is at amino acid position V129 and/or T136 of the wild type AlkB enzyme. There is also provided a method for producing omega-hydroxy carboxylic acid and/or ester thereof using this cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: EVONIK DEGUSSA GMBH
    Inventors: Arne SKERRA, Ludwig KIRMAIR, Steffen SCHAFFER, Christoph SCHORSCH, Mirja WESSEL, Thomas HAAS
  • Patent number: 10174353
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing at least one rhamnolipid comprising: contacting a recombinant cell with a medium containing a carbon source; and culturing the cell under suitable conditions for preparation of the rhamnolipid from the carbon source by the cell, wherein the recombinant cell has been genetically modified such that, compared to the wild-type of the cell, the cell has an increased activity of at least one of the enzymes E1, E2 and E3, wherein the enzyme E1 is an ?/? hydrolase, the enzyme E2 is a rhamnosyltransferase I and the enzyme E3 is a rhamnosyl-transferase II, and wherein the carbon source is a C4 molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Thum, Philip Engel, Christian Gehring, Steffen Schaffer, Mirja Wessel
  • Patent number: 9765370
    Abstract: A process for producing alanine, including culturing a cell under aerobic conditions in an aqueous phase in the presence of an inorganic nitrogen source, and then contacting the aqueous phase and the cell cultured in the aqueous phase with a hydrophobic organic phase. The cell is a prokaryotic or a lower eukaryotic cell and expresses a recombinant alanine dehydrogenase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Hennemann, Steffen Schaffer, Mirja Wessel, Markus Pötter, Jan Christoph Pfeffer, Thomas Haas, Jasmin Corthals, Eva-Maria Eckl, Silvana Roeder, Wolfgang Kroutil, Arne Skerra
  • Patent number: 9725746
    Abstract: The invention relates to a whole-cell catalyst which expresses a recombinant ?-dioxygenase or the combination of a recombinant fatty acid reductase and a phosphopantetheinyl transferase which phosphopantetheinylates the fatty acid reductase, and which expresses, in addition to the ?-dioxygenase and/or the combination of fatty acid reductase and phosphopantetheinyl transferase, a transaminase, wherein the phosphopantetheinyl transferase and/or transaminase is preferably recombinant; and also to a process for converting a carboxylic acid or dicarboxylic acid or a monoester thereof to an amine or diamine, comprising the steps of contacting the carboxylic acid or dicarboxylic acid or the monoester thereof with a phosphopantetheinylated fatty acid reductase or an ?-dioxygenase and contacting the product with a transaminase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Schaffer, Jasmin Corthals, Mirja Wessel, Hans-Georg Hennemann, Harald Haeger, Michael Volland, Martin Roos
  • Patent number: 9719117
    Abstract: The invention provides a whole cell catalyst which expresses a recombinant ?-dioxygenase or the combination of a recombinant fatty acid reductase and a phosphopantetheinyl transferase phosphopantetheinylating the fatty acid reductase, and which in addition to the ?-dioxygenase and/or the combination of fatty acid reductase and phosphopantetheinyl transferase expresses a transaminase, characterized in that the phosphopantetheinyl transferase and/or transaminase is preferably recombinant; and a method for the conversion of a fatty acid, ?-hydroxy fatty acid, ?-oxo fatty acid or a monoester thereof to an amine, comprising oxidation of the fatty acid, ?-hydroxy fatty acid, ?-oxo fatty acid or the monoester thereof to an oxidation product by contacting with an alkane hydroxylase and/or alcohol dehydrogenase, contacting the oxidation product with a phosphopantetheinylated fatty acid reductase or a ?-dioxygenase to give an aldehyde, and contacting the aldehyde with a transaminase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa
    Inventors: Steffen Schaffer, Jasmin Gielen, Mirja Wessel, Hans-Georg Hennemann, Harald Haeger, Thomas Haas, Wilfried Bluemke
  • Patent number: 9655934
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a dermatologically active yeast extract, comprising the following steps: providing a preculture of the yeast cells, culturing the cells for at least fifteen minutes at a pH of 1.8-4, harvesting the cells and lysing the cells, and a yeast extract produced thereby and products comprising said yeast extract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: EVONIK DEGUSSA GMBH
    Inventors: Yvonne Schiemann, Mike Farwick, Thomas Haas, Mirja Wessel
  • Publication number: 20170096695
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing at least one rhamnolipid comprising: contacting a recombinant cell with a medium containing a carbon source; and culturing the cell under suitable conditions for preparation of the rhamnolipid from the carbon source by the cell, wherein the recombinant cell has been genetically modified such that, compared to the wild-type of the cell, the cell has an increased activity of at least one of the enzymes E1, E2 and E3, wherein the enzyme E1 is an ?/? hydrolase, the enzyme E2 is a rhamnosyltransferase I and the enzyme E3 is a rhamnosyl-transferase II, and wherein the carbon source is a C4 molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: OLIVER THUM, PHILIP ENGEL, CHRISTIAN GEHRING, STEFFEN SCHAFFER, MIRJA WESSEL
  • Patent number: 9611489
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for oxidizing a fatty acid or an ester thereof of formula (I) H3C —(CH2)n-COOR, wherein R is selected from the group that comprises H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl, wherein n is 0 to 30, preferably 6 to 24, comprising the step of oxidizing the fatty acid or the ester thereof by contacting the fatty acid or the ester thereof with a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase of the CYP153 family in the presence of molecular oxygen and NAD(P)H and a whole-cell catalyst that expresses a recombinant cytochrome P450 monooxygenase of the CYP153 family, a recombinant alcohol dehydrogenase, a recombinant transaminase, and optionally one or more than one recombinant enzyme from the group comprising alanine dehydrogenase, ferredoxin, and ferredoxin reductase, and the use of said whole-cell catalyst to oxidize a fatty acid or an ester thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: EVONIK DEGUSSA GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Schaffer, Michaela Hauberg, Mirja Wessel, Hans-Georg Hennemann, Jan Christoph Pfeffer, Thomas Haas, Harald Haeger
  • Patent number: 9580720
    Abstract: This invention relates to cells and nucleic acids and also use thereof for producing rhamnolipids, and also methods for producing rhamnolipids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: EVONIK DEGUSSA GMBH
    Inventors: Steffen Schaffer, Mirja Wessel, Anja Thiessenhusen, Nadine Stein
  • Patent number: 9249435
    Abstract: A process for the improved separation of a hydrophobic organic solution from an aqueous culture medium is provided. The process includes preparing an aqueous culture medium of a metabolically active cell having a decreased activity; contacting of the aqueous culture medium with a hydrophobic organic solution comprising a substrate for biotransformation; conducting a biotransformation of the substrate; and separating the hydrophobic organic solution comprising a biotransformed substrate from the aqueous culture medium. The decreased activity of the metabolically active cell is in comparison to a wild-type of the active cell and the decreased activity is of at least of one enzyme that catalyzes one reaction of ?-oxidation of fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: EVONIK DEGUSSA GmbH
    Inventors: Jasmin Gielen, Thomas Haas, Hans-Georg Hennemann, Steffen Schaffer, Mirja Wessel, Katharina Berse, Marion Schiebelhut, Sabine Hafkemeyer, Markus Poetter, Frank Erhardt
  • Publication number: 20150307906
    Abstract: The invention relates to a whole-cell catalyst which expresses a recombinant ?-dioxygenase or the combination of a recombinant fatty acid reductase and a phosphopantetheinyl transferase which phosphopantetheinylates the fatty acid reductase, and which expresses, in addition to the ?-dioxygenase and/or the combination of fatty acid reductase and phosphopantetheinyl transferase, a transaminase, wherein the phosphopantetheinyl transferase and/or transaminase is preferably recombinant; and also to a process for converting a carboxylic acid or dicarboxylic acid or a monoester thereof to an amine or diamine, comprising the steps of contacting the carboxylic acid or dicarboxylic acid or the monoester thereof with a phosphopantetheinylated fatty acid reductase or an ?-dioxygenase and contacting the product with a transaminase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen SCHAFFER, Jasmin GIELEN, Mirja WESSEL, Hans-Georg HENNEMANN, Harald HÄGER, Michael VOLLAND, Martin ROOS