Patents by Inventor Roland Contreras

Roland Contreras 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).

  • Patent number: 9359628
    Abstract: The present invention provides genetically engineered strains of Pichia capable of producing proteins with reduced glycosylation. In particular, the genetically engineered strains of the present invention are capable of expressing either or both of an ?-1,2-mannosidase and glucosidase II. The genetically engineered strains of the present invention can be further modified such that the OCH1 gene is disrupted. Methods of producing glycoproteins with reduced glycosylation using such genetically engineered stains of Pichia are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignees: VIB, VZW, Research Corporation Technologies, Inc., Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Roland Contreras, Nico L.M. Callewaert, Steven C.J. Geysens
  • Patent number: 9028844
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vaccine against Trypanosoma cruzi infection, useful in the prevention and/or treatment of the Chagas disease. More specifically, the present invention relates to a recombinant mutant trans-sialidase enzyme that can be used as an efficient vaccine, without side effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignees: VIB VZW, Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Roland Contreras, Kristof De Vusser, Silvia Revelli
  • Publication number: 20140377804
    Abstract: A filamentous fungal cell having reduced UDP-galactofuranose is provided. The fungal cell may, in certain embodiments, contain a nuclear genome comprising an inactivated UDP-galactopyranose mutase (UDP-galp mutase) gene and a recombinant nucleic acid for expression of a protein. Also provided are methods of producing a protein using the subject fungal cell, as well as methods of producing the subject fungal cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: DANISCO US INC.
    Inventors: Michael Ward, Wouter Vervecken, Roland Contreras
  • Patent number: 8883445
    Abstract: The present invention provides genetically engineered strains of methylotrophic yeast including Pichia and especially Pichia pastoris capable of producing proteins with reduced or modified glycosylation. Methods of producing glycoproteins with reduced and/or modified glycosylation using such genetically engineered strains of Pichia are also provided. Vectors, which comprise coding sequences for ?-1,2-mannosidase I, glucosidase II, GlcNAc-tranferase I and mannosidase II or comprising OCH1 disrupting sequence, for transforming methylotrophic yeasts are contemplated by the present invention. Kit for providing the comtemplated vectors are also included in this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignees: Research Corporation Technologies, Inc., Universiteit Gent, Vib, VZW
    Inventors: Roland Contreras, Nico L. M. Callewaert, Steven C. J. Geysens, Vladimir Kaigorodov, Vervecken Wouter
  • Publication number: 20140154738
    Abstract: The present invention provides genetically engineered strains of Pichia capable of producing proteins with reduced glycosylation. In particular, the genetically engineered strains of the present invention are capable of expressing either or both of an ?-1,2-mannosidase and glucosidase II. The genetically engineered strains of the present invention can be further modified such that the OCH1 gene is disrupted. Methods of producing glycoproteins with reduced glycosylation using such genetically engineered stains of Pichia are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicants: VIB, VZW, UNIVERSITEIT GENT, RESEARCH CORPORATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Roland Contreras, Nico L.M. Callewaert, Steven C.J. Geysens
  • Patent number: 8663971
    Abstract: The present invention provides genetically engineered strains of Pichia capable of producing proteins with reduced glycosylation. In particular, the genetically engineered strains of the present invention are capable of expressing either or both of an ?-1,2-mannosidase and glucosidase II. The genetically engineered strains of the present invention can be further modified such that the OCH1 gene is disrupted. Methods of producing glycoproteins with reduced glycosylation using such genetically engineered stains of Pichia are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: VIB, VZW, Research Corporation Technologies, Inc., Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Roland Contreras, Nico L. M. Callewaert, Steven C. J. Geysens
  • Patent number: 8354268
    Abstract: The present invention provides genetically engineered strains of Pichiacapable of producing proteins with reduced glycosylation. In particular, the genetically engineered strains of the present invention are capable of expressing either or both of an ?-1,2-mannosidase and glucosidase II. The genetically engineered strains of the present invention can be further modified such that the OCH1 gene is disrupted. Methods of producing glycoproteins with reduced glycosylation using such genetically engineered stains of Pichia are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignees: VIB, VZW, Research Corporation Technologies, Inc., Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Roland Contreras, Nico L. M. Callewaert, Steven C. J. Geysens
  • Patent number: 8058053
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and genetically engineered methylotrophic yeast strains for producing glycoproteins with mammalian-like glycosylation. The present invention also relates to vectors useful for generating methylotrophic yeast strains capable of producing glycoproteins with mammalian-like glycosylation. Glycoproteins produced from the genetically engineered methylotrophic yeast strains are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignees: VIB, VZW, Universiteit Gent, Research Corporation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Roland Contreras, Nico L. M. Callewaert, Wouter Vervecken, Vladimir Kaigorodov
  • Publication number: 20110104750
    Abstract: A filamentous fungal cell having reduced UDP-galactofuranose is provided. The fungal cell may, in certain embodiments, contain a nuclear genome comprising an inactivated UDP-galactopyranose mutase (UDP-galp mutase) gene and a recombinant nucleic acid for expression of a protein. Also provided are methods of producing a protein using the subject fungal cell, as well as methods of producing the subject fungal cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Ward, Wouter Vervecken, Roland Contreras
  • Publication number: 20110038887
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vaccine against Trypanosoma cruzi infection, useful in the prevention and/or treatment of the Chagas disease. More specifically, the present invention relates to a recombinant mutant trans-sialidase enzyme that can be used as an efficient vaccine, without side effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicants: VIB VZW, UNIVERSITEIT GENT
    Inventors: Roland Contreras, Kristof De Vusser, Silvia Revelli
  • Publication number: 20100267084
    Abstract: The present invention provides genetically engineered strains of Pichia capable of producing proteins with reduced glycosylation. In particular, the genetically engineered strains of the present invention are capable of expressing either or both of an ?-1,2-mannosidase and glucosidase II. The genetically engineered strains of the present invention can be further modified such that the OCH1 gene is disrupted. Methods of producing glycoproteins with reduced glycosylation using such genetically engineered stains of Pichia are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicants: VIB, VZW, RESEARCH CORPORATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Roland Contreras, Nico L. M. Callewaert, Steven C. J. Geysens
  • Publication number: 20090263863
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and genetically engineered methylotrophic yeast strains for producing glycoproteins with mammalian-like glycosylation. The present invention also relates to vectors useful for generating methylotrophic yeast strains capable of producing glycoproteins with mammalian-like glycosylation. Glycoproteins produced from the genetically engineered methylotrophic yeast strains are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicants: VIB, VZW, UNIVERSITEIT GENT, RESEARCH CORPORATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Roland Contreras, Nico L. M. Callewaert, Wouter Vervecken, Vladimir Kaigorodov
  • Publication number: 20090098243
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new isolated nucleic acid sequence comprising a gene that encodes a new fungal oxidase enzyme, and nucleic acid fragments thereof. It also relates to said new fungal oxidase isolated and purified from Aspergillus ficuum, its amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO 40 or 41, and functional equivalents or derivatives thereof. The present invention also relates to constructs, vectors and hosts cells comprising a nucleic acid molecule of the invention, as well as methods for producing an oxidase of the invention. The present invention also relates to the use of an oxidase of the invention in industrial processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: PURATOS N.V.
    Inventors: Filip Arnaut, Roland Contreras, Thierry Dauvrin, Guy Vanneste, Jasmine Viaene, Jacques Claude Eloi Georis
  • Publication number: 20090087882
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a glucosidase II mutation to increase protein secretion in yeast cells. The invention relates further to the use of yeast cells, comprising a mutant glucosidase II gene, possibly in combination with the expression of a recombinant ?-1,2-mannosidase gene and/or a recombinant N-acetylglucosaminyl-transferase gene, as a host for protein secretion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Roland Contreras, Steven Geysens
  • Patent number: 7507573
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and genetically engineered methylotrophic yeast strains for producing glycoproteins with mammalian-like glycosylation. The present invention also relates to vectors useful for generating methylotrophic yeast strains capable of producing glycoproteins with mammalian-like glycosylation. Glycoproteins produced from the genetically engineered methylotrophic yeast strains are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignees: VIB, vzw, Universiteit Gent, Research Corporation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Roland Contreras, Nico L. M. Callewaert, Wouter Vervecken, Vladimir Kaigorodov
  • Patent number: 7491510
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a glucosidase II mutation to increase protein secretion in eukaryotic cells. The present invention relates further to the use of eukaryotic cells, comprising a mutant glucosidase II gene, possibly in combination with the expression of a recombinant ?-1,2-mannosidase gene and/or a recombinant N-acetylglucosaminyl-transferase gene, as a host for protein secretion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignees: Vlaams Interuniversitair Institute voor Biotechnologie vzw, Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Roland Contreras, Steven Geysens
  • Publication number: 20080009037
    Abstract: The present invention provides genetically engineered strains of methylotrophic yeast including Pichia and especially Pichia pastoris capable of producing proteins with reduced or modified glycosylation. Methods of producing glycoproteins with reduced and/or modified glycosylation using such genetically engineered strains of Pichia are also provided. Vectors, which comprise coding sequences for ?-1,2-mannosidase I, glucosidase II, GlcNAc-tranferase I and mannosidase II or comprising OCH1 disrupting sequence, for transforming methylotrophic yeasts are contemplated by the present invention. Kit for providing the comtemplated vectors are also included in this invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: Flanders Interuniversity Institute For Biotechnology
    Inventors: Roland Contreras, Nico Callewaert, Steven Geysens, Vladimir Kaigorodov, Vervecken Wouter
  • Publication number: 20080003180
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a marker that can be used as aging biomarker. More specifically, the present invention relates to the analysis of N-glycans in serum and its relation to the virtual age of the subject. This aging biomarker can be used to study the effect of medication, food compounds and/or special diets on the wellness and virtual age of animals, including humans.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicants: Vlaams Interuniversitair Instituut Voor Biotechnologie VZW, Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Cuiying Chen, Roland Contreras
  • Patent number: 7252933
    Abstract: The present invention provides genetically engineered strains of methylotrophic yeast including Pichia and especially Pichia pastoris capable of producing proteins with reduced or modified glycosylation. Methods of producing glycoproteins with reduced and/or modified glycosylation using such genetically engineered strains of Pichia are also provided. Vectors, which comprise coding sequences for ?-1,2-mannosidase I, glucosidase II, GlcNAc-tranferase I and mannosidase II or comprising OCH1 disrupting sequence, for transforming methylotrophic yeasts are contemplated by the present invention. Kit for providing the comtemplated vectors are also included in this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology
    Inventors: Roland Contreras, Nico L. M. Callewaert, Steven C. J. Geysens, Vladimir Kaigorodov, Vervecken Wouter
  • Publication number: 20070010448
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the identification of genes or functional fragments thereof from Candida albicans which are critical for growth and cell division and which genes may be used as selective drug targets to treat Candida albicans associated infections. Novel nucleic acid sequences from Candida albicans are also provided and which encode the polypeptides which are critical for growth of Candida albicans. Methods for the identification of anti-fungal compounds which inhibit fungal or yeast growth are also contemplated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Inventors: Roland Contreras, Bart Nelissen, Marianne De Backer, Walter Luyten, Jasmine Viaene, Marc Logghe, Jorge Vialard