Patents Examined by Christian L. Fronda
  • Mutant microorganisms and methods of making and using
    Patent number: 11332763
    Abstract: This disclosure describes methods that allow for the uncoupling of microbial growth from product formation, which allows for maximal use of raw material and optimal end-product formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: NUtech Ventures
    Inventors: Raghuveer Singh, Derrick White, Paul Blum
  • Processes for producing a fermentation product
    Patent number: 11326187
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for reducing and/or preventing an increase in lactic acid levels in a fermentation product production process, such as especially ethanol production, wherein a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO) or an enzyme composition comprising an LPMO is added before or during saccharification and/or fermentation, or before or during propagation, to reduce and/or prevent an increase in lactic acid levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: NOVOZYMES A/S
    Inventors: Armindo Ribeiro Gaspar, Victor Gabriel Guadalupe Medina, Xin Li, Kelly Cristina Leite Mulder, Angela Shows
  • Method and consumer product composition having enzymes for cleaning a surface having soil comprising fatty acid
    Patent number: 11319510
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a surface having disposed thereon a soil comprising fatty acid, the method comprising contacting the soil with a consumer product composition comprising a surfactant and a soil transforming enzyme selected from the group consisting of hydroperoxy fatty acid producing enzymes, hydroperoxy fatty acid converting enzymes, multi-domain enzymes, hydroxy fatty acid producing enzymes, and mixtures thereof. The method further comprises converting the fatty acid of the soil into an active fatty acid derivative material selected from the group consisting of hydroperoxy fatty acids, hydroperoxy fatty acid derivatives, hydroxy fatty acids, and mixtures thereof. Consumer product compositions are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Juan Esteban Velasquez, Denis Alfred Gonzales, Jean-Luc Philippe Bettiol, Nicholas William Geary
  • Pichia stipitis strain, methods of using the same, and method of isolating a pichia stipitis strain
    Patent number: 11319558
    Abstract: A novel isolated Pichia stipitis strain is provided. The strain is capable of fermenting at least a pentose sugar in the presence of one or more inhibitory substances to produce ethanol. A method of utilizing the strain to produce ethanol is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: PROVINCE BRANDS
    Inventor: Erin Johnson
  • Method of producing an active-form mutant enzyme
    Patent number: 11312747
    Abstract: A method for producing an active-form mutant enzyme, by specifying a protein of which a native form exhibits an enzyme activity but which has 10% or less enzyme activity of the native form when a gene of the protein is expressed to provide an inactive-form enzyme; determining a sequence conservation of amino acid residues in an amino acid sequence of the inactive-form enzyme and specifying amino acid residue(s) for which sequence conservation in the inactive-form enzyme is lower than sequence conservation of other amino acid(s) of the same residue; preparing a gene having a base sequence that codes for the amino acid sequence of the inactive-form enzyme in which at least one said specified amino acid residue is substituted by another amino acid with a higher sequence conservation; and expressing the gene to obtain an enzyme that exhibits an enzyme activity of the native form protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Asano, Daisuke Matsui, Yuko Oku
  • Wood-Ljungdahl microorganisms that produce polyhydroxybutyrate
    Patent number: 11306333
    Abstract: The invention provides microorganisms and methods for the production of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from gaseous substrates. In particular, the invention provides a non-naturally occurring Wood-Ljungdahl microorganism comprising (a) an enzyme that converts acetyl-CoA to acetoacetyl-CoA, (b) an enzyme that converts acetoacetyl-CoA to 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, and (c) an enzyme that converts 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA to polyhydroxybutyrate, and methods related thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: LanzaTech, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Christopher Tappel, James Bruce Yarnton Haycock Behrendorff, Michael Koepke, Esteban Marcellin, Renato de Souza Pinto Lemgruber, Kaspar Valgepea, Lars Nielsen
  • Process of producing omega-hydroxyl fatty acid from alkane
    Patent number: 11306334
    Abstract: Provided is a method of producing at least one omega-hydroxyl fatty acid, the method comprising: (a) contacting at least one alkane with at least one recombinant yeast cell in an aqueous medium, wherein the yeast cell is capable of oxidising the alkane to the corresponding omega-hydroxyl fatty acid and the yeast cell comprises a reduced fatty acid degradation capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Evonik Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Haas, Markus Poetter, Li Li, Guoqing Tao, Dong Cao
  • Converting lignocellulosic biomass to glucose using a low temperature sulfur dioxide pretreatment
    Patent number: 11299850
    Abstract: A process for converting lignocellulosic biomass to glucose or ethanol includes subjecting the lignocellulosic biomass to a SO2 pretreatment within the temperature range 110° C.-150° C. Good glucose yields have been achieved when the SO2 pretreatment is conducted for more than 90 minutes and when the total amount of SO2 available is greater than 20 wt % based on dry weight of lignocellulosic biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Iogen Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Foody, Jeffrey S. Tolan, Daniel G. MacDonald, Kristin Martens, Natacha Leduc, Douglas A. MacKenzie
  • Compositions and methods for robust dynamic metabolic control of mevalonate production
    Patent number: 11279956
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for rapid production of chemicals in genetically engineered microorganisms in a large scale. Also provided herein is a high-throughput metabolic engineering platform enabling the rapid optimization of microbial production strains. The platform, which bridges a gap between current in vivo and in vitro bio-production approaches, relies on dynamic minimization of the active metabolic network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Michael David Lynch, Zhixia Ye
  • Engineered thioesterase mutants and methods of using same to produce fatty acids
    Patent number: 11279937
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method of engineering a heterologous thioesterase (TE) enzyme to interact with endogenous acyl-ACP proteins in order to produce molecules of interest in a bacterial host. The method can identify amino acids at the binding interface between the heterologous TE and the endogenous acyl-ACP that can be substituted so that the heterologous TE can better interact with the endogenous acyl-ACP. Mutant heterologous TE enzymes with improved interactions with the endogenous acyl-ACP are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Pamela Peralta-Yahya, Stephen Sarria, Adam Verga, Michael D. Burkart
  • Gene encoding prenyltransferase and recombinant plasmid carrying the same
    Patent number: 11279918
    Abstract: A novel PSL family prenyltransferase has relaxed substrate specificity, which can use a variety of cyclic dipeptides and prenyl donors as substrates to produce various terpenylated diketopiperazines. An amino acid sequence of the prenyltransferase is SEQ ID NO:1. An application of the prenyltransferase is transferring different prenyl groups to Trp-containing cyclic dipeptides. The prenyltransferase catalyzes the formation of terpenylated diketopiperazines by assembling prenyl groups onto cyclic di peptides, which provides a new strategy for drug development of diketopiperazines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: OCEAN UNTVERSITY OF CHINA
    Inventors: Wenli Li, Tingting Yao, Jing Liu, Huayue Li, Tong Li
  • Yeast cells for glycerol free ethanol production
    Patent number: 11274310
    Abstract: The invention relates to a recombinant yeast comprising a nucleotide sequence allowing the expression of a glucoamylasey (EC 3.2.1.20 or 3.2.1.3). This cell can be used for the production of ethanol and advantageously produces little or no glycerol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: DSM IP ASSETS B.V.
    Inventors: Hans Marinus Charles Johannes De Bruijn, Paulus Petrus De Waal, Ingrid Maria Vugt-Van Lutz
  • Polyphosphate-dependent glucokinase and method for producing glucose 6-phosphate using same
    Patent number: 11274326
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel thermophilic and thermoresistant polyphosphate-dependent glucokinase having excellent stability, a composition comprising the same, and a method for producing glucose 6-phosphate using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: CJ CHEILJEDANG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sung Jae Yang, Young Mi Lee, Seong Bo Kim, Seung Won Park, Hyun Kug Cho
  • Glycerol-free formulations for reverse transcriptases
    Patent number: 11268084
    Abstract: Glycerol-free enzyme formulations are described. In some embodiments, a glycerol-free enzyme formulation is stabilized by high salt concentration. The glycerol free enzyme formulation may comprise a reverse transcriptase enzyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific Baltics, UAB
    Inventors: Juozas Siurkus, Darius Kavaliauskas, Daumantas Matulis, Lina Baranauskiene
  • Compositions of beta-glucuronidase enzyme blends with enhanced enzymatic activity and methods of preparation thereof
    Patent number: 11268079
    Abstract: Blends of enzymes of the same enzyme class (same EC number), such as beta-glucuronidase enzyme blends, are provided that exhibit synergistic levels of activity across a range of substrates as compared to the activity levels of each enzyme in the blend individually. The blends also may exhibit a greater effective substrate range, as well as greater effective pH and/or temperature ranges as compared to single enzyme preparations. Predictive methods for determining optimal enzyme blends, methods for preparing enzyme blends, enzyme blend compositions, enzyme blend formulations and methods of using such enzyme blends are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: INTEGRATED MICRO-CHROMATOGRAPHY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: John Tomashek, Caleb Reece Schlachter, Pongkwan Sitasuwan, Lim Andrew Lee
  • Methods and materials for the enzymatic conversion of a non-3-enal to azelaic acid
    Patent number: 11268110
    Abstract: This document describes biochemical pathways for producing pimeloyl-CoA using a polypeptide having the enzymatic activity of a hydroperoxide lyase to form non-3-enal and 9-oxononanoate from 9-hydroxyperoxyoctadec-10,12-dienoate. Non-3-enal and 9-oxononanoate can be enzymatically converted to pimeloyl-CoA or a salt thereof using one or more polypeptides having the activity of a dehydrogenase, a CoA ligase, an isomerase, a reductase, a thioesterase, a monooxygenase, a hydratase, and/or a thiolase. Pimeloyl-CoA can be enzymatically converted to pimelic acid, 7-aminoheptanoic acid, 7-hydroxyheptanoic acid, heptamethylenediamine, or 1,7-heptanediol, or corresponding salts thereof. This document also describes recombinant microorganisms producing pimeloyl-CoA, as well as pimelic acid, 7-aminoheptanoic acid, 7-hydroxyheptanoic acid, heptamethylenediamine, and 1,7-heptanediol, or corresponding salts thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: INV Nylon Chemicals Americas, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Van Eck Conradie, Adriana L. Botes, Alexander Brett Foster, Changlin Chen
  • Compositions and methods for robust dynamic metabolic control of a biofermentation process
    Patent number: 11268111
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for rapid production of chemicals in genetically engineered microorganisms in a large scale. Also provided herein is a high-throughput metabolic engineering platform enabling the rapid optimization of microbial production strains. The platform, which bridges a gap between current in vivo and in vitro bio-production approaches, relies on dynamic minimization of the active metabolic network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: DUKE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Michael David Lynch, Zhixia Ye
  • Fixed-bed bioreactor with constant-flow pump / tubing system
    Patent number: 11261416
    Abstract: We have modified a commercially-available adherent cell culture bioreactor in several ways to increase productivity of cultured cells, while decreasing contamination risk. We found that modifying a commercially-available adherent cell culture bioreactor to provide for slower cell culture medium flow unexpectedly and dramatically increases the productivity of the cultured adherent cells. We also developed a new sampling manifold configuration and new way of taking samples, to reduce contamination risk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Trizell Ltd.
    Inventors: Piia Kristiina Valonen, Hanna P. Lesch, Eva Kristiina Rasanen, Tarja Hannele Tuunanen, Minna Kristiina Karhinen, Seppo Yla-Herttuala
  • ADAMTS13 protein cell culture supernatant
    Patent number: 11254921
    Abstract: The present invention provides culture mediums that are useful for the expression of ADAMTS proteins, such as ADAMTS13. Methods for the expression and purification of ADAMTS proteins are also provided. In some embodiments, the mediums and methods of the invention are useful for the expression of ADAMTS proteins having high specific activities. Also provided are ADAMTS, e.g., ADAMTS13, protein compositions with high specific activities, which are expressed and purified according to the methods provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
    Inventors: Leopold Grillberger, Alexandra Spenger, Meinhard Hasslacher, Rana Grillberger, Manfred Reiter
  • Increasing ornithine accumulation to increase high mannose glycoform content of recombinant proteins
    Patent number: 11254963
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manipulating the high mannose glycoform content of recombinant glycoproteins by regulating ornithine metabolism during cell culture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Amgen Inc.
    Inventors: Sohye Kang, Chung Huang, Jr., Hedieh Barkhordarian, Pavel Bondarenko, Zhongqi Zhang