Patents by Inventor Robert Blazej
Robert Blazej 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).
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Publication number: 20190161786Abstract: Provided herein are systems and components thereof for improving protease activity. The systems make use of an emulsion for in vitro compartmentalization of a library of synthetic compounds, each compound having a gene linked to a protease substrate and selectable marker. Expressed enzymes with greater protease activity will preferentially hydrolyze the protease substrate, whereas enzymes with less protease activity will leave the substrate intact. Removal of the non-hydrolyzed compounds provides an enriched gene library encoding for more active protease variants. Also described are synthetic compounds and emulsions which can be used in the methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2017Publication date: May 30, 2019Applicant: NOVOZYMES A/SInventors: Robert Blazej, Nicholas Toriello, Charles Emrich
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Publication number: 20180355404Abstract: Provided herein are methods and means for enhancing lipase activity. The system makes use of an emulsion for in vitro compartmentalization of a library of synthetic compounds which have a polynucleotide linked to a lipase substrate (e.g., a triglyceride). Expressed polypeptides having greater lipase activity will preferentially hydrolyze the substrate from the linked polynucleotide. Genes encoding polypeptides having less lipase activity will remain linked to the substrate and may be removed to enrich the library for more active variants. Also described are synthetic compounds and emulsions which can be used in the methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2016Publication date: December 13, 2018Inventors: Robert Blazej, Nicholas Toriello, Charles Emrich, Allan Svendsen, Jesper Brask, Anne Olsen, Kathleen Hirano, Amy Twite
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Publication number: 20180073017Abstract: Provided herein are methods and means for enhancing enzymatic activity. The system makes use of an emulsion for in vitro compartmentalization of a library of synthetic compounds which have a gene and a marked enzymatic substrate both directly linked to a solid phase. Expressed enzymes with greater activity will preferentially release the selectable marker from the solid phase, whereas enzymes with less activity will leave the markers intact. Removal of the marked compounds provides an enriched gene library encoding for more active variants. Also described are synthetic compounds and emulsions which can be used in the methods.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2016Publication date: March 15, 2018Applicant: NOVOZYMES A/SInventors: Robert Blazej, Nicholas Toriello, Charles Emrich, Allan Svendsen
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Publication number: 20170369860Abstract: The present invention relates to endoglucanase variants. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, expression vectors, and recombinant host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2016Publication date: December 28, 2017Applicant: Novozymes A/SInventors: Robert Blazej, Charles Emrich, Nicholas Toriello, Hanshu Ding, David Osborn, Aubrey Jones
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Publication number: 20150218553Abstract: The present invention provides methods based on screening expressed polynucleotide libraries for soluble proteins.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2013Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: Novozymes A/SInventors: Robert Blazej, Nicholas Toriello, Charles Emrich
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Patent number: 9080162Abstract: This invention provides novel variant cellulolytic enzymes having improved activity and/or stability. In certain embodiments the variant cellulotyic enzymes comprise a glycoside hydrolase with or comprising a substitution at one or more positions corresponding to one or more of residues F64, A226, and/or E246 in Thermobifida fusca Cel9A enzyme. In certain embodiments the glycoside hydrolase is a variant of a family 9 glycoside hydrolase. In certain embodiments the glycoside hydrolase is a variant of a theme B family 9 glycoside hydrolase.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2012Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Novozymes, A/SInventors: Robert Blazej, Nicholas Toriello, Charles Emrich, Richard N. Cohen, Nitzan Koppel
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Patent number: 8841116Abstract: Methods and microfluidic circuitry for inline injection of nucleic acids for capillary electrophoresis analysis are provided. According to various embodiments, microfabricated structures including affinity-based capture matrixes inline with separation channels are provided. The affinity-based capture matrixes provide inline sample plug formation and injection into a capillary electrophoresis channel. Also provided are methods and apparatuses for a microbead-based inline injection system for DNA sequencing.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2007Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Richard A. Mathies, Robert Blazej, Palani Kumaresan
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Publication number: 20140113335Abstract: This invention provides novel variant cellulolytic enzymes having improved activity and/or stability. In certain embodiments the variant cellulotyic enzymes comprise a glycoside hydrolase with or comprising a substitution at one or more positions corresponding to one or more of residues F64, A226, and/or E246 in Thermobifida fusca Cel9A enzyme. In certain embodiments the glycoside hydrolase is a variant of a family 9 glycoside hydrolase. In certain embodiments the glycoside hydrolase is a variant of a theme B family 9 glycoside hydrolase.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2012Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: Novozymes A/SInventors: Robert Blazej, Nicholas Toriello, Charles Emrich, Richard N. Cohen, Nitzan Koppel
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Patent number: 8420318Abstract: Methods and apparatus for genome analysis are provided. A microfabricated structure including a microfluidic distribution channel is configured to distribute microreactor elements having copies of a sequencing template into a plurality of microfabricated thermal cycling chambers. A microreactor element may include a microcarrier element carrying the multiple copies of the sequencing template. The microcarrier element may comprise a microsphere. An autovalve at an exit port of a thermal cycling chamber, an optical scanner, or a timing arrangement may be used to ensure that only one microsphere will flow into one thermal cycling chamber wherein thermal cycling extension fragments are produced. The extension products are captured, purified, and concentrated in an integrated oligonucleotide gel capture chamber. A microfabricated component separation apparatus is used to analyze the purified extension fragments.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2012Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Richard A. Mathies, Robert Blazej, Chung Liu, Palani Kumaresan, Stephanie H. I. Yeung
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Publication number: 20120142010Abstract: Methods and apparatus for genome analysis are provided. A microfabricated structure including a microfluidic distribution channel is configured to distribute microreactor elements having copies of a sequencing template into a plurality of microfabricated thermal cycling chambers. A microreactor element may include a microcarrier element carrying the multiple copies of the sequencing template. The microcarrier element may comprise a microsphere. An autovalve at an exit port of a thermal cycling chamber, an optical scanner, or a timing arrangement may be used to ensure that only one microsphere will flow into one thermal cycling chamber wherein thermal cycling extension fragments are produced. The extension products are captured, purified, and concentrated in an integrated oligonucleotide gel capture chamber. A microfabricated component separation apparatus is used to analyze the purified extension fragments.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2012Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Richard A. MATHIES, Robert BLAZEJ, Chung LIU, Palani KUMARESAN, Stephanie H.I. YEUNG
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Publication number: 20110020920Abstract: Methods and apparatus for genome analysis are provided. A microfabricated structure including a microfluidic distribution channel is configured to distribute microreactor elements having copies of a sequencing template into a plurality of microfabricated thermal cycling chambers. A microreactor element may include a microcarrier element carrying the multiple copies of the sequencing template. The microcarrier element may comprise a microsphere. An autovalve at an exit port of a thermal cycling chamber, an optical scanner, or a timing arrangement may be used to ensure that only one microsphere will flow into one thermal cycling chamber wherein thermal cycling extension fragments are produced. The extension products are captured, purified, and concentrated in an integrated oligonucleotide gel capture chamber. A microfabricated component separation apparatus is used to analyze the purified extension fragments.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2010Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Richard A. MATHIES, Robert BLAZEJ, Chung LIU, Palani KUMARESAN, Stephanie H. I. YEUNG
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Patent number: 7799553Abstract: Methods and apparatus for genome analysis are provided. A microfabricated structure including a microfluidic distribution channel is configured to distribute microreactor elements having copies of a sequencing template into a plurality of microfabricated thermal cycling chambers. A microreactor element may include a microcarrier element carrying the multiple copies of the sequencing template. The microcarrier element may comprise a microsphere. An autovalve at an exit port of a thermal cycling chamber, an optical scanner, or a timing arrangement may be used to ensure that only one microsphere will flow into one thermal cycling chamber wherein thermal cycling extension fragments are produced. The extension products are captured, purified, and concentrated in an integrated oligonucleotide gel capture chamber. A microfabricated component separation apparatus is used to analyze the purified extension fragments.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2005Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Richard A. Mathies, Robert Blazej, Chung Liu, Palani Kumaresan, Stephanie H. I. Yeung
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Publication number: 20100224255Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing microfluidic analysis devices are provided. A monolithic elastomer membrane associated with an integrated pneumatic manifold allows the placement and actuation of a variety of fluid control structures, such as structures for pumping, isolating, mixing, routing, merging, splitting, preparing, and storing volumes of fluid. The fluid control structures can be used to implement a variety of sample introduction, preparation, processing, and storage techniques.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2010Publication date: September 9, 2010Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Richard A. Mathies, William H. Grover, Brian Paegel, Alison Skelley, Eric Lagally, Chung N. Liu, Robert Blazej
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Publication number: 20090060797Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing microfluidic analysis devices are provided. A monolithic elastomer membrane associated with an integrated pneumatic manifold allows the placement and actuation of a variety of fluid control structures, such as structures for pumping, isolating, mixing, routing, merging, splitting, preparing, and storing volumes of fluid. The fluid control structures can be used to implement a variety of sample introduction, preparation, processing, and storage techniques.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Richard A. Mathies, William H. Grover, Brian Paegel, Alison Skelley, Eric Lagally, Chung N. Liu, Robert Blazej
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Publication number: 20090035770Abstract: Methods and microfluidic circuitry for inline injection of nucleic acids for capillary electrophoresis analysis are provided. According to various embodiments, microfabricated structures including affinity-based capture matrixes inline with separation channels are provided. The affinity-based capture matrixes provide inline sample plug formation and injection into a capillary electrophoresis channel. Also provided are methods and apparatuses for a microbead-based inline injection system for DNA sequencing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2007Publication date: February 5, 2009Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Richard A. Mathies, Robert Blazej, Palani Kumaresan
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Publication number: 20060073484Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing microfluidic analysis devices are provided. A monolithic elastomer membrane associated with an integrated pneumatic manifold allows the placement and actuation of dense arrays of a variety of fluid control structures, such as structures for isolating, routing, merging, splitting, and storing volumes of fluid. The fluid control structures can be used to implement a pathogen detection and analysis system including integrated immunoaffinity capture and analysis, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) analysis. An analyte solution can be input into the device and pumped through a series of immunoaffinity capture matrices in microfabricated chambers having antibodies targeted to the various classes of microbiological organisms such as bacteria, viruses and bacterial spores. The immunoaffinity chambers can capture, purify, and concentrate the target for further analysis steps.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2003Publication date: April 6, 2006Inventors: Richard Mathies, William Grover, Brian Paegel, Alison Skelley, Chung Liu, Eric Lagally, Robert Blazej
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Publication number: 20050287572Abstract: Methods and apparatus for genome analysis are provided. A microfabricated structure including a microfluidic distribution channel is configured to distribute microreactor elements having copies of a sequencing template into a plurality of microfabricated thermal cycling chambers. A microreactor element may include a microcarrier element carrying the multiple copies of the sequencing template. The microcarrier element may comprise a microsphere. An autovalve at an exit port of a thermal cycling chamber, an optical scanner, or a timing arrangement may be used to ensure that only one microsphere will flow into one thermal cycling chamber wherein thermal cycling extension fragments are produced. The extension products are captured, purified, and concentrated in an integrated oligonucleotide gel capture chamber. A microfabricated component separation apparatus is used to analyze the purified extension fragments.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2005Publication date: December 29, 2005Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Richard Mathies, Robert Blazej, Chung Liu, Palani Kumaresan, Stephanie Yeung
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Publication number: 20040209354Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing microfluidic analysis devices are provided. A monolithic elastomer membrane associated with an integrated pneumatic manifold allows the placement and actuation of a variety of fluid control structures, such as structures for pumping, isolating, mixing, routing, merging, splitting, preparing, and storing volumes of fluid. The fluid control structures can be used to implement a variety of sample introduction, preparation, processing, and storage techniques.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2003Publication date: October 21, 2004Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Richard A. Mathies, William H. Grover, Brian Paegel, Alison Skelley, Eric Lagally, Chung N. Liu, Robert Blazej