Patents Assigned to KUEHNLE AGROSYSTEMS, INC.
  • Patent number: 11377675
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for synthesizing a product of interest by culturing a microalgal cell obtained from a subterranean habitat for producing the product of interest. The microalgal cell obtained from a subterranean habitat can be cultured in the dark, in light, in low nutrition, or nutrient rich conditions for at least a portion of production cycle. A combination of these conditions can be used to specifically manipulate a microalgal cell culture to produce a product of interest. The product of interest can be a water-soluble carotenoid, for example, a water-soluble carotenoid produced by culturing an algae belonging to the genus Haematococcus or a capsular exopolysaccharide produced by culturing an algae belonging to the genus Parachlorella. Compositions containing the water-soluble carotenoid, for example, as sunscreen and compositions containing the exopolysaccharide, for example, as moisturizing cream are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Kuehnle AgroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Adelheid R. Kuehnle, Robert J. Schurr, Michael C. Perez, Norie Anne B. Nolasco
  • Patent number: 11034968
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for synthesizing a product of interest by culturing a microalgal cell producing the product of interest in the dark in a culture medium comprising an organic acid as a fixed carbon source, wherein the microalgal cell is a facultative heterotroph. The product of interest can be a microalgal biomass, a pigment, terpene, recombinant molecule, biogas, or a precursor thereof. In an embodiment, the culture medium comprises urea as a primary source of nitrogen. In one embodiment, the microalgal cell belongs to the order Chlamydomonadales. A method of identifying and isolating a microalgal cell having a preferred characteristic that is suitable for synthesis of a product of interest is also provided, the method comprising identifying and isolating a non-mutagenized or recombinant microalgal cell from a microalgal culture using a fluorescence activated cell sorting technique and/or a phototaxic response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Kuehnle AgroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Schurr, Adelheid R. Kuehnle
  • Patent number: 9487790
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide, for example, vectors, expression cassettes, and cells useful for transgenic expression of nucleic acid sequences. In various embodiments, vectors can contain nuclear-based sequences of unicellular photosynthetic bioprocess organisms for the production of food- and feed-stuffs, oils, biofuels, starches, raw materials, pharmaceuticals or fine chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Kuehnle AgroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michele M. Champagne, Adelheid R. Kuehnle
  • Patent number: 9120686
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved wastewater treatment systems and methods. In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes microbial consortia and the final effluent of the treated wastewater is remarkably clean, and has low levels of hazardous chemicals, unwanted nutrient values and/or total solids. Advantageously, the wastewater treatment system and method of the present invention reduces the use of chemical compounds in the treatment process. Further, valuable biomasses can be produced from the wastewater using the treatment process of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Kuehnle AgroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Adelheid R. Kuehnle, Martin Johnson, Robert J. Schurr
  • Publication number: 20150001149
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved wastewater treatment systems and methods. In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes microbial consortia and the final effluent of the treated wastewater is remarkably clean, and has low levels of hazardous chemicals, unwanted nutrient values and/or total solids. Advantageously, the wastewater treatment system and method of the present invention reduces the use of chemical compounds in the treatment process. Further, valuable biomasses can be produced from the wastewater using the treatment process of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: KUEHNLE AGROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: ADELHEID R. KUEHNLE, MARTIN JOHNSON, ROBERT J. SCHURR
  • Patent number: 8748161
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to novel methods for treating microbial biomass and uses thereof. In particular, this invention provides methods for production of lipids using hydrophobic ionic liquid solutions, and subsequent uses of biomass components in food, biofuels, and as chemical precursors. Further, this invention provides methods for recovering the ionic liquids using an antisolvent, thus enabling subsequent reuse of the ionic liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Kuehnle AgroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Adelheid R. Kuehnle, Norie Anne B. Nolasco
  • Patent number: 8735140
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and uses of a novel Dunaliella salina HT04 microorganism. In addition, the present invention relates to novel methods for culturing harvesting, preservation, storage, and production of algae seedstock and uses thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Kuehnle AgroSystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Adelheid R. Kuehnle
  • Publication number: 20120225472
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and uses of a novel Dunaliella salina HT04 microorganism. In addition, the present invention relates to novel methods for culturing harvesting, preservation, storage, and production of algae seedstock and uses thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: KUEHNLE AGROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: ADELHEID R. KUEHNLE
  • Publication number: 20120094385
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to Gene Positioning technology for biosynthesis of one or more products of interest via plastid transformation of plants or algae, such as for example tobacco, Lemna, Rhodomonas and Cryptomonas, with pseudogene vectors containing polynucleotides encoding one or more products of interest. The present invention is also directed to transgenic plants or algae, containing pseudogene vectors integrated into a desired locus in the plastid genome, allowing simultaneous expression of multiple transgenes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: KUEHNLE AGROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Adelheid R. Kuehnle, Michele Champagne
  • Publication number: 20090176272
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide, for example, vectors, expression cassettes, and cells useful for transgenic expression of nucleic acid sequences. In various embodiments, vectors can contain plastid-based sequences of unicellular photosynthetic bioprocess organisms for the production of food- and feed-stuffs, oils, biofuels, pharmaceuticals or fine chemicals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: KUEHNLE AGROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Michele M. Champagne, Adelheid R. Kuehnle
  • Patent number: PP34488
    Abstract: A novel variety of the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis (syn. H. lacustris), named ‘KAS1601-WG7’ is primarily characterized by a yellow and motile cell body during propagation transitioning to a red and motile cell body under pigment accumulation conditions. The cells contain negligible chlorophyll. It has fast growth under heterotrophic cultivation for ease of propagation and shows high carotenogenesis under dark heterotrophic cultivation. The highly pigmented non-encysted cells are attractive for ease of extraction and for high digestibility, including as whole cells, to release a mixture of oils, proteins, pigments, and other components desirable for use in food, feeds, cosmetics and dietary supplements, and excellent storage as biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Kuehnle AgroSystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Schurr