Patents Assigned to Pfenex Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140162279
    Abstract: This invention is a process for improving the production levels of recombinant proteins or peptides or improving the level of active recombinant proteins or peptides expressed in host cells. The invention is a process of comparing two genetic profiles of a cell that expresses a recombinant protein and modifying the cell to change the expression of a gene product that is upregulated in response to the recombinant protein expression. The process can improve protein production or can improve protein quality, for example, by increasing solubility of a recombinant protein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: PFENEX INC.
    Inventors: THOMAS M. RAMSEIER, HONGFAN JIN, CHARLES H. SQUIRES
  • Publication number: 20140051093
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of recombinant toxin protein production in bacterial hosts. In particular, the present invention relates to production processes for obtaining high levels of a recombinant CRM197, Diphtheria Toxin, Pertussis Toxin, Tetanus Toxoid Fragment C, Cholera Toxin B, Cholera holotoxin, and Pseudomonas Exotoxin A, from a bacterial host.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Pfenex Inc.
    Inventors: Diane M. Retallack, Lawrence Chew
  • Publication number: 20140051841
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for purifying high-quality recombinant Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein at high yields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: PFENEX INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen, Greg Cantin, Ryan Haverstock
  • Patent number: 8603824
    Abstract: This invention is a process for improving the production levels of recombinant proteins or peptides or improving the level of active recombinant proteins or peptides expressed in host cells. The invention is a process of comparing two genetic profiles of a cell that expresses a recombinant protein and modifying the cell to change the expression of a gene product that is upregulated in response to the recombinant protein expression. The process can improve protein production or can improve protein quality, for example, by increasing solubility of a recombinant protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Pfenex, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Ramseier, Hongfan Jin, Charles H. Squires
  • Patent number: 8569015
    Abstract: An optimized synthetic polynucleotide encoding a Bacillus anthracis protective antigen and an anthrax vaccine based on the encoded protective antigen. Furthermore, heterologous expression in a host Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria of an optimized polynucleotide sequence encoding a Bacillus anthracis protective antigen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Pfenex Inc.
    Inventors: Lada L. Rasochova, Philip P. Dao, Jamie P. Phelps
  • Patent number: 8530171
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of recombinant toxin protein production in bacterial hosts. In particular, the present invention relates to production processes for obtaining high levels of a recombinant CRM197, Diphtheria Toxin, Pertussis Toxin, Tetanus Toxoid Fragment C, Cholera Toxin B, Cholera holotoxin, and Pseudomonas Exotoxin A, from a bacterial host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Pfenex Inc.
    Inventors: Diane M. Retallack, Lawrence Chew, Hongfan Jin, Henry W. Talbot
  • Patent number: 8455218
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of recombinant protein production in bacterial hosts. It further relates to expression of soluble, active recombinant protein by using secretion signals to direct the protein to the periplasmic space of a bacterial cell. In particular, the present invention relates to a production process for obtaining soluble hG-CSF protein from a bacterial host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Pfenex, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongfan Jin, Lawrence Chew
  • Patent number: 8318481
    Abstract: Provided herein are improved copy number plasmids, particularly those plasmids capable of replication in a bacterial cell. The improved copy number plasmid contain a deletion, insertion, or substitution in the replication control region, particularly a Pseudomonas-specific replication control region, that results in an increase in plasmid copy number in comparison to a control plasmid. Also provided are host cells containing the improved copy number plasmids, as well as methods of using the improved copy number plasmids for the recombinant production of a protein of interest. Further provided are methods for generating plasmids with improved copy number. The methods disclosed herein involve the reiterative selection of improved copy number plasmids by the growth and selection of plasmids capable of growth under increasing selective pressure, wherein the selective pressure is applied utilizing a selection agent to which the control plasmid confers resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Pfenex Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence C. Chew, Stacey L. Lee
  • Patent number: 8288127
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved expression system for the production of recombinant polypeptides utilizing auxotrophic selectable markers. In addition, the present invention provides improved recombinant protein production in host cells through the improved regulation of expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Pfenex, Inc
    Inventors: Jane C. Schneider, Lawrence C. Chew, Anne Kathryn Badgley, Thomas Martin Ramseier
  • Publication number: 20110287443
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of recombinant toxin protein production in bacterial hosts. In particular, the present invention relates to production processes for obtaining high levels of a recombinant CRM197, Diphtheria Toxin, Pertussis Toxin, Tetanus Toxoid Fragment C, Cholera Toxin B, Cholera holotoxin, and Pseudomonas Exotoxin A, from a bacterial host.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Pfenex Inc.
    Inventors: Diane M. Retallack, Lawrence Chew, Hongfan Jin, Henry W. Talbot
  • Publication number: 20110245474
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of recombinant protein production in bacterial hosts. It further relates to expression of soluble, active recombinant protein by using secretion signals to direct the protein to the periplasmic space of a bacterial cell. In particular, the present invention relates to a production process for obtaining soluble hG-CSF protein from a bacterial host.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Pfenex Inc.
    Inventors: Hongfan Jin, Lawrence Chew
  • Patent number: 8017355
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for producing recombinant peptides in a bacterial host utilizing a mannitol, arabitol, glucitol, or glycerol-inducible promoter, wherein the host bacterial cell that produces the peptide has been rendered incapable of degrading or metabolizing mannitol, arabitol, or glucitol, or derivatives or analogues thereof. The present invention provides bacterial cells that have been genetically altered to inhibit the metabolism or degradation of mannitol, glucitol, or arabitol, or derivatives or analogues thereof. The present invention utilizes mannitol, arabitol, glucitol, or glycerol to induce expression of a target polypeptide from an inducible promoter, allowing for the use of an inexpensive and stable carbon source inducer in the fermentation processes for the production of recombinant peptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Pfenex, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Carrie Schneider, Bettina Rosner
  • Publication number: 20110217784
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of recombinant protein production in bacterial hosts. It further relates to extraction of soluble, active recombinant protein from an insoluble fraction without the use of denaturation and without the need for a refolding step. In particular, the present invention relates to a production process for obtaining high levels a soluble recombinant Type 1 interferon protein from a bacterial host.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Pfenex, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen, Ping-Hua Feng, Anant Patkar, Keith L. Haney, Lawrence Chew, Lei Lei Phokham Sengchanthalangsy
  • Patent number: 7985564
    Abstract: Improved methods and prokaryotic expression systems for producing recombinant proteins using Sec-system secretion signal peptides are described using Pseudomonas fluorescens Sec secretion systems. Specific novel Sec-system secretion signal peptides are described, as are fusion proteins and coding sequences for improved secretion of recombinant proteins and peptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Pfenex, Inc.
    Inventors: Diane M. Retallack, Jane C. Schneider, Thomas Martin Ramseier
  • Publication number: 20110111977
    Abstract: Methods of identifying and expressing an antibody variant are disclosed wherein the method comprises identifying a binding region in an antibody, fusing the binding region to a plurality of scaffolds of antibody constant regions to obtain antibody fragment variants, expressing the antibody fragment variants in organisms to form constructs and expressing the constructs carried by the organisms to form induced cultures, wherein the organisms are expressed in HTP mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: Pfenex, Inc.
    Inventor: Diane Retallack
  • Publication number: 20110020868
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for improving expression and/or secretion of a polypeptide of interest in a host cell are provided. Compositions including a coding sequence for a bacterial secretion signal peptide are provided. The compositions of the invention are useful for increasing accumulation of properly processed proteins in the periplasmic space of a host cell, or for increasing secretion of properly processed proteins. In particular, isolated secretion signal peptide-encoding nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the nucleic acid molecules are encompassed. The present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules including nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24, and the nucleotide sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, and 23, as well as variants and fragments thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: PFENEX, INC.
    Inventors: Russell J. Coleman, Diane Retallack, Stacey L. Lee, Charles D. Hershberger
  • Patent number: 7833752
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for improving expression and/or secretion of a polypeptide of interest in a host cell are provided. Compositions including a coding sequence for a bacterial secretion signal peptide are provided. The compositions of the invention are useful for increasing accumulation of properly processed proteins in the periplasmic space of a host cell, or for increasing secretion of properly processed proteins. In particular, isolated secretion signal peptide-encoding nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the nucleic acid molecules are encompassed. The present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules including nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24, and the nucleotide sequences set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, and 23, as well as variants and fragments thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Pfenex, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell J. Coleman, Diane M. Retallack, Stacey L. Lee, Charles D. Hershberger
  • Patent number: 7794972
    Abstract: Novel benzoate- or anthranilate-inducible promoters, and novel tandem promoters, and variants and improved mutants thereof, useful for commercial prokaryotic fermentation systems, nucleic acid constructs containing the promoters, expression systems using them, methods for expressing proteins by use thereof, and proteins expressed thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Pfenex Inc.
    Inventors: Diane M. Retallack, Venkiteswaran Subramanian