Patents by Inventor Wim Soetaert

Wim Soetaert 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: 20240035055
    Abstract: This disclosure is in the technical field of cell cultivation or fermentation for the production of oligosaccharides. The present application discloses a process for purification of an oligosaccharide solution produced by microbial fermentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Joeri Beauprez, Maarten Delforche, Gaspard Lequeux, Wim Soetaert, Thomas Verbrugghen
  • Publication number: 20240011062
    Abstract: This disclosure is in the technical field of cell cultivation or fermentation for the production of oligosaccharides. This disclosure discloses a method to produce a purified mixture of different oligosaccharides produced by a cell cultivation or microbial fermentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Joeri Beauprez, Maarten Delforche, Gaspard Lequeux, Wim Soetaert, Thomas Verbrugghen
  • Publication number: 20230406875
    Abstract: This specification relates to a process for preparing a purified human milk oligosaccharide (“HMO”) from an HMO-containing solution (e.g., a fermentation broth) by a process comprising mixed bed ion exchange, and a product of such a process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Jyrki Kuusisto, Tero Tuomas Mentunen, Wim Soetaert
  • Publication number: 20230175032
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of production of novel biosurfactants. More specifically, the present invention relates to the efficient generation of short chained on-glycosides with less than 10%, preferably less than 1%, ?-1 glycosides using a fungal strain such as the yeast Starmerella bombicola having a dysfunctional CYP52M1 cytochrome P450 monooxygenase and a dysfunctional FAO1 fatty alcohol oxidase to produce high amounts of so-called unsaturated (symmetrical) ?,?-bola glycosides free from contaminating ?,?-1 bola glycosides, and subjecting said unsaturated (symmetrical) ?,?-bola glycosides to conditions inducing the breaking of the present double bond(s) such as for example through ozonolysis performed in water. More specifically, the present invention discloses the generation of (acetylated) C9:0 ?-sophoroside aldehydes, C9:0 ?-glucoside aldehydes, C9:0 ?-glucolipids, C9:0 ?-sophorolipids, C9:0 ?-sophoroside alcohols and C9:0 ?-glucoside alcohols and their further derivatives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Wim SOETAERT, Sophie ROELANTS, Christian STEVENS, Elisabeth DELBEKE, Goedele LUYTEN, Melike PALA, Jelle REMMERY
  • Publication number: 20220033869
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of microbial production of novel biosurfactants. More specifically, the present invention discloses the usage of a fungal strain such as the yeast Starmerellabombicola having a dysfunctional CYP52M1 cytochrome P450 monooxygenase and a dysfunctional FAO1 fatty alcohol oxidase for producing high amounts of so-called “symmetrical bolaform sophorosides” where both sophorose moieties are attached through a terminal glycosidic linkage to the hydrophobic linker. In addition, the present invention further discloses that the latter yeast can also be used to produce alkyl sophorosides and symmetrical bolaform glucosides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicants: UNIVERSITEIT GENT, BIO BASE EUROPE PILOT PLANT
    Inventors: Sophie Roelants, Lisa Van Renterghem, Wim Soetaert, Jelle Remmery
  • Patent number: 9650658
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to the field of the microbial production of specific types of glycolipids that are potentially useful as replacements for petroleum-based detergents and emulsifiers. This disclosure, more specifically, discloses the usage of yeasts having a dysfunctional acetyltransferase for producing high amounts of bolaamphiphilic glycolipids when using conventional and cheap substrates. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to yeasts having a dysfunctional acetyltransferase optionally combined with a dysfunctional lactonase and/or second glucosyltransferase. The latter microorganisms are capable of producing high amounts of bolaamphiphilic sophorolipids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Wim Soetaert, Inge Van Bogaert, Sophie Roelants
  • Patent number: 9394559
    Abstract: Described is an enzyme derived from Candida bombicola that is capable of lactonizing or polymerizing carbohydrate-containing compounds, lipids, fatty acids, hydroxylated fatty acids, alcohols, dicarboxylic acids or mixtures thereof. Hence, host cells comprising the enzyme can be used, via the formation of intra- or inter-molecular ester-bounds, to produce, for example, lactonized sophorolipids or polymers of acidic sophorolipids. Also described is that host cells having lost their capability to produce a functional enzyme disclosed herein can be used to produce 100% acidic sophorolipids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Inge Van Bogaert, Katarzyna Ciesielska, Bart Devreese, Wim Soetaert, Sophie Roelants
  • Patent number: 9388443
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an enzyme derived from Candida bombicola that is capable of lactonizing or polymerizing carbohydrate-containing compounds, lipids, fatty acids, hydroxylated fatty acids, alcohols, dicarboxylic acids or mixtures thereof. Hence, host cells comprising the latter enzyme can be used, via the formation of intra- or inter-molecular ester-bounds, to produce, for example, lactonized sophorolipids or polymers of acidic sophorolipids. On the other hand, host cells having lost their capability to produce a functional enzyme disclosed herein can be used to produce 100% acidic sophorolipids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Inge Van Bogaert, Katarzyna Ciesielska, Bart Devreese, Wim Soetaert, Sophie Roelants
  • Publication number: 20160168612
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to the field of the microbial production of specific types of glycolipids that are potentially useful as replacements for petroleum-based detergents and emulsifiers. This disclosure, more specifically, discloses the usage of yeasts having a dysfunctional acetyltransferase for producing high amounts of bolaamphiphilic glycolipids when using conventional and cheap substrates. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to yeasts having a dysfunctional acetyltransferase optionally combined with a dysfunctional lactonase and/or second glucosyltransferase. The latter microorganisms are capable of producing high amounts of bolaamphiphilic sophorolipids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Wim Soetaert, Inge Van Bogaert, Sophie Roelants
  • Publication number: 20150284761
    Abstract: Described is an enzyme derived from Candida bombicola that is capable of lactonizing or polymerizing carbohydrate-containing compounds, lipids, fatty acids, hydroxylated fatty acids, alcohols, dicarboxylic acids or mixtures thereof. Hence, host cells comprising the enzyme can be used, via the formation of intra- or inter-molecular ester-bounds, to produce, for example, lactonized sophorolipids or polymers of acidic sophorolipids. Also described is that host cells having lost their capability to produce a functional enzyme disclosed herein can be used to produce 100% acidic sophorolipids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Inge Van Bogaert, Katarzyna Ciesielska, Bart Devreese, Wim Soetaert, Sophie Roelants
  • Patent number: 9102922
    Abstract: The present invention relates to trehalose phosphorylases which are useful for the industrial production of trehalose-analogs and glycosyl phosphates. More specifically, the invention discloses trehalose phosphorylases which are mutated in specific amino acid regions. These specific mutations result in modified substrate specificities of the enzymes. In addition, the present invention discloses a wild type trehalose phosphorylase from the marine organism Caldanaerobacter subterraneus, and mutated types thereof, which are highly thermostable and have a broad acceptor and donor specificity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Jef Van Der Borght, Tom Desmet, Wim Soetaert, Chao Chen
  • Patent number: 9005923
    Abstract: The present invention relates to yeast species which are normally capable of producing sophorolipids but which are modified in such way that they are incapable producing the latter compounds. These sophorolipid-negative strains surprisingly display equal growth characteristics and biomass formation as their wild type counterparts and are hence useful for the production of compounds such as recombinant proteins, glycolipids, polyhydroxyalkanoates and carotenoides. In addition, the present invention discloses two glucosyltransferase genes with key-functions in sophorolipid production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Wim Soetaert, Sofie De Maeseneire, Karen Saerens, Sophie Roelants, Inge Van Bogaert
  • Patent number: 8889379
    Abstract: An in vitro method to produce a glycoside is described which includes the steps of contacting the cellodextrin phosphorylase from Clostridium stercorarium with alpha-glucose-1-phosphate or alpha-galactose-1-phosphate and an acceptor, and glycosylating the acceptor. The acceptor may be an alkyl beta-glucoside, an aryl beta-glucoside, a glucolipid, an alkyl beta-sophoroside, an aryl beta-sophoroside or a sophorolipid. Alkylcellobiosides, arylcellobiosides, cellobiolipids, cellotriolipids, glucosophorolipids and cellobiosesophorolipids are produced when alpha-glucose-1-phosphate is used as donor. Corresponding lactosides are produced when alpha-galactose-1-phosphate is used as donor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Giang Hai Tran, Tom Desmet, Wim Soetaert
  • Publication number: 20140335567
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an enzyme derived from Candida bombicola that is capable of lactonizing or polymerizing carbohydrate-containing compounds, lipids, fatty acids, hydroxylated fatty acids, alcohols, dicarboxylic acids or mixtures thereof. Hence, host cells comprising the latter enzyme can be used, via the formation of intra- or inter-molecular ester-bounds, to produce, for example, lactonized sophorolipids or polymers of acidic sophorolipids. On the other hand, host cells having lost their capability to produce a functional enzyme disclosed herein can be used to produce 100% acidic sophorolipids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Inge Van Bogaert, Katarzyna Ciesielska, Bart Devreese, Wim Soetaert, Sophie Roelants
  • Publication number: 20130302857
    Abstract: The present invention relates to trehalose phosphorylases which are useful for the industrial production of trehalose-analogues and glycosyl phosphates. More specifically, the invention discloses trehalose phosphorylases which are mutated in specific amino acid regions. These specific mutations result in modified substrate specificities of the enzymes. In addition, the present invention discloses a wild type trehalose phosphorylase from the marine organism Caldanaerobacter subterraneus, and mutated types thereof, which are highly thermostable and have a broad acceptor and donor specificity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Jef Van Der Borght, Tom Desmet, Wim Soetaert, Chao Chen
  • Publication number: 20130089892
    Abstract: The present invention relates to yeast species which are normally capable of producing sophorolipids but which are modified in such way that they are incapable producing the latter compounds. These sophorolipid-negative strains surprisingly display equal growth characteristics and biomass formation as their wild type counterparts and are hence useful for the production of compounds such as recombinant proteins, glycolipids, polyhydroxyalkanoates and carotenoides. In addition, the present invention discloses two glucosyltransferase genes with key-functions in sophorolipid production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Wim Soetaert, Sofie De Maeseneire, Karen Saerens, Sofie Roelants, Inge Van Bogaert
  • Publication number: 20130059340
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the biocatalytic production of glycosides. In particular, the invention discloses a method to produce alkylcellobiosides, arylcellobiosides, cellobiolipids, cellotriolipids, glucosophorolipids and cellobiosesophorolipids via the usage of a cellodextrin phosphorylase (CDP) derived from Clostridium stercorarium (CsCDP). The method of the present invention is feasible for use in industrial glycosylation processes and has advantageous properties compared to classical as chemical glycosylation reactions. Moreover, said method can also be employed to produce corresponding lactosides such a lactolipids when a-galactose-1-phosphate instead of a-glucose-1-phosphate is used as a donor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVERSITEIT GENT
    Inventors: Giang Hai Tran, Tom Desmet, Wim Soetaert
  • Publication number: 20130029384
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sucrose phosphorylase from Bifidobacterium adolescentis which is useful as a biocatalyst in carbohydrate conversions at high temperatures. Indeed, the biocatalysts of the present invention are enzymatically active for a time period of at least 16 h and up to 1 to 2 week(s) at a temperature of at least 60° C. The biocatalysts of the present invention are: a) immobilized on an enzyme carrier, or b) are part of a cross-linked enzyme aggregate (CLEA), and/or c) are mutated, and/or d) are enzymatically active in the continuous presence of their substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVERSITEIT GENT
    Inventors: An Cerdobbel, Tom Desmet, Wim Soetaert
  • Publication number: 20120311741
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transporter protein involved in the transport of sophorolipids. More specifically, it relates to a Candida bombicola sophorolipid transporter protein, and the use of this transporter to modulate the secretion and/or production of glycolipids, preferably sophorolipids in organisms, preferably in fungi.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Wim Soetaert, Inge Van Bogaert
  • Patent number: 8278073
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel lactose phosphorylase enzymes and the uses thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to lactose phosphorylase enzymes created by mutation of a cellobiose phosphorylase from Cellulomonas uda. By introducing mutations in this enzyme, the activity can be switched from cellobiose phosphorylase into lactose phosphorylase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Tom Desmet, Manu De Groeve, Wim Soetaert