Patents Examined by Irene Marx
  • Probiotic strains for pets
    Patent number: 8771675
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel strains of probiotics for use in the gastrointestinal tract of a pet. The probiotics of the present invention are capable of fermenting starch to produce lactic acid and/or hydrogen peroxide anti-pathogenic metabolites. The present invention also provides a novel method for identifying the effectiveness of a pet probiotic in vitro. The method simulates the introduction of a probiotic candidate in the gastrointestinal tract of a pet and measures the anti-pathogenic effectiveness of the probiotic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Ralf Zink, Roberto Reniero, Florence Rochat, Christoph Cavadini, Thierry Von Der Weid, Eduardo Schiffrin, Jalil Benyacoub, Virginie Rousseau, Pablo Perez, Ruth Knorr
  • Equol-producing lactic acid bacteria-containing composition
    Patent number: 8765445
    Abstract: The present invention provides an equol-producing lactic acid bacteria-containing composition comprising, as an essential component thereof, a lactic acid bacterial strain belonging to the genus Lactococcus having an ability to utilize at least one daidzein compound selected from the group consisting of daidzein glycosides, daidzein, and dihydrodaidzein to produce equol. Such a composition is effective for the prevention and alleviation of malaise inclusive of climacteric disturbance in middle-aged and elderly women for which no effective prophylactic method or alleviating means has heretofore been available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeto Uchiyama, Tomomi Ueno, Toshimi Suzuki
  • Protease that decomposes proteins recalcitrant to proteolysis
    Patent number: 8765441
    Abstract: The invention provides novel biologically pure cultures of microorganisms high in protease activity and capable of decomposing proteins recalcitrant to proteolysis as contained in garbage, waste water, organic waste liquids, industrial wastes and the like, a protease produced by such microorganisms and capable of decomposing proteins recalcitrant to proteolysis, and a method of utilizing the same. The novel culture is of a soil-derived microorganism belonging to Streptomyces sp., or a strain derived therefrom, which produces a protease capable of efficiently decomposing proteins recalcitrant to proteolysis as contained in waste water, organic waste liquids, industrial wastes and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Microbial Chemistry Research Foundation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Doi, Naoko Kinoshita, Tatsuzo Oka, Zhao Hui
  • Microorganism having gastric-juice promoting activity, and its secretory product
    Patent number: 8748158
    Abstract: Designed to afford a novel microorganism promoting gastric juice secretion and having platelet increasing activity, and to afford a pharmaceutical agent composed of a product secreted by the novel microorganism. The novel microorganism, international deposit number: NITE BP-295, belongs to the species Bacillus pumilus, and is characterized by taking either form of coccus and bacillus, and makes figure-eight movement. The novel microorganism of the present invention is the novel microorganism having the gene represented by SEQ ID No: 1, and an object of the present invention is to afford the microorganism and a gastric juice secretion-promoting composition composed of the product secreted by the novel microorganism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Inventor: Yoshichika Kameyama
  • Strain conferring anti-disease properties to host and bacterial cell composition
    Patent number: 8728794
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel bacterial cell composition which comprises cells of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens having the ability to produce butyric acid, a cultured material thereof or an extract thereof, and a method for inhibiting carcinogenesis, a method for immunostimulating, a method for preventing or treating a pathogen, a method for preventing or treating an inflammatory bowel disease and a method for preventing or treating an allergic disease, which use the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiro Miwa, Hiroshi Watanabe, Mamoru Ishihara, Tsuneo Hino, Narito Asanuma
  • Tiacumicin production
    Patent number: 8728796
    Abstract: Methods, processes and materials for the production and recovery of Tiacumicins produced by culturing a microorganism belonging to the species Dactylosporangium aurantiacum subspecies hamdenensis having the ability to produce and accumulate one or more Tiacumicin in a nutrient medium comprising a carbon source, a nitrogen source, trace elements such as inorganic salts, and an adsorbent, wherein said nitrogen source comprises fish powder, and wherein said Tiacumicin is produced in a yield greater than about 50 mg/L broth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Youe-Kong Shue, Chi-Jen Frank Du, Ming-His Chiou, Mei-Chiao Wu, Yuan-Ting Chen, Franklin W. Okumu, Jonathan James Duffield
  • Enzymatic demethylation of flavonoids
    Patent number: 8709764
    Abstract: The invention discloses the demethylation of 5-methoxyflavonoids by bacterial enzymes, the use of these enzymes in the production of phytoestrogens in vitro, and in pharmaceutical compositions in combination with a source of methylated 5-methoxyprenylflavonoids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Sam Possemiers, Willy Verstraete, Arne Heyerick, Denis De Keukeleire
  • Strains of
    Patent number: 8703472
    Abstract: New strains of Lactobacillus paracasei which can be used as probiotics in dairy products and which are characterized in surviving the gastrointestinal passage and giving a palatable cheese product when used as an adjunct in cheese manufacturing. The invention especially refers to the new strains Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2, DSM 13434, and Lactobacillus paracasei 02A, DSM 13432. The invention also refers to dairy food products, such as cheese, containing said strains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Probi AB
    Inventors: Martin Antonsson, Goran Molin
  • Lactic acid bacteria strain and its use for the protection of food products
    Patent number: 8697422
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a strain of Lactobacillus curvatusbacteria deposited in the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zellkulturen GmBH (DSMZ) under the accession number DSM 18775, as well as to compositions, cultures and food products comprising thereof. The strain of the invention is useful for preserving food products, especially under refrigerated conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: CHR. Hansen A/S
    Inventors: Louise Heller Stahnke, Tina Hornbaek, Birthe Jelle
  • Composite yeast suitable for high concentration alcohol fermentation
    Patent number: 8697425
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite yeast for high concentration alcohol fermentation, which includes thermostable Saccharomyces cerevisiae, acid protease, phytase, cellulose, ?-glucanase, and pectinase, and is suitable for the high concentration alcohol fermentation for various raw materials. In addition to normal fermentation, the composite yeast of the present invention can degrade the raw materials, increase the nutrient ingredients in the mash, promote the growth of yeast and provide stress tolerance protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Angel Yeast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xuefeng Yu, Zhihong Li, Minghua Yu, Juan Yao, Zhijun Li, Daiwu Liu
  • sp. nov. and use for control of insect pests
    Patent number: 8691219
    Abstract: Chromobacterium subtsugae sp. nov., a new species of the genus Chromobacterium which possesses insecticidal activity, is described. The invention also relates to insecticidally-active metabolites obtained from the strain and to insecticidal compositions comprising cultures of the strain and/or supernatants, filtrates, and extracts obtained from the strain, and use thereof to control insect pests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Phyllis A. W. Martin, Ashaki D. S. Shropshire, Dawn E. Gundersen-Rindal, Michael B. Blackburn
  • Agent for the anti-adhesion of skin pathogenic flora
    Patent number: 8685389
    Abstract: Bacterial agents for preparing compositions which are for cosmetic, pharmaceutical or veterinary use and which are intended to stabilize and/or regulate the cutaneous ecosystem of mammals. These bacterial agents are extracts of a bacterium, or a bacterium and are selected for their adhesion to skin cells and anti-adhesion to pathogens of the cutaneous system. The invention also relates to compositions containing such agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Markus Baur, Ralf Zink, Isabelle Auzanneau, Karine Buffard
  • Solid phase glycerolysis
    Patent number: 8663628
    Abstract: An enzymatic solid phase reaction for preparing a solid having greater than 40% monoglyceride from a reaction mixture; wherein the reaction mixture comprises: (i) lipase; (ii) at least 14 weight % glycerol; and (iii) glyceride; and optionally (iv) lecithin; such that if (iv) is not present then the glyceride (iii) has an iodine value of between about 5 and about 35, and a solid fat content of more than about 75% at 20° C. The present invention further relates to a process of preparing an enzymatic solid phase reaction mixture for preparing a solid having greater than 40% monoglyceride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Dupont Nutrition Biosciences APS
    Inventor: Jorn B. Soe
  • Methods for increasing the production of ethanol from microbial fermentation
    Patent number: 8647851
    Abstract: A stable continuous method for producing ethanol from the anaerobic bacterial fermentation of a gaseous substrate containing at least one reducing gas involves culturing in a fermentation bioreactor anaerobic, acetogenic bacteria in a liquid nutrient medium; supplying the gaseous substrate to the bioreactor; and manipulating the bacteria in the bioreactor by reducing the redox potential, or increasing the NAD(P)H TO NAD(P) ratio, in the fermentation broth after the bacteria achieves a steady state and stable cell concentration in the bioreactor. The free acetic acid concentration in the bioreactor is maintained at less than 5 g/L free acid. This method allows ethanol to be produced in the fermentation broth in the bioreactor at a productivity of greater than 10 g/L per day. Both ethanol and acetate are produced in a ratio of ethanol to acetate ranging from 1:1 to 20:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ineos Bio Limited
    Inventors: James L. Gaddy, Dinesh K. Arora, Ching-Whan Ko, John Randall Phillips, Rahul Basu, Carl V. Wikstrom, Edgar C. Clausen
  • Bacterial isolate and methods for detoxification of trichothecene mycotoxins
    Patent number: 8642317
    Abstract: The invention provides a bacterial isolate defined by accession number 180507-1 filed with the International Depository Authority of Canada. The bacteria are capable of degrading trichothecene mycotoxins. Also provided are compositions comprising the bacteria and methods of preventing or treating food, foodstuffs, crops and harvested crops that are contaminated or susceptible to contamination with trichothecene mycotoxins. Kits are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
    Inventors: Ting Zhou, Jianhua Gong, Hai Yu, Xiu-Zhen Li
  • Methods for increasing the production of ethanol from microbial fermentation
    Patent number: 8642301
    Abstract: A stable continuous method for producing ethanol from the anaerobic bacterial fermentation of a gaseous substrate containing at least one reducing gas involves culturing in a fermentation bioreactor anaerobic, acetogenic bacteria in a liquid nutrient medium; supplying the gaseous substrate to the bioreactor; and manipulating the bacteria in the bioreactor by reducing the redox potential, or increasing the NAD(P)H TO NAD(P) ratio, in the fermentation broth after the bacteria achieves a steady state and stable cell concentration in the bioreactor. The free acetic acid concentration in the bioreactor is maintained at less than 5 g/L free acid. This method allows ethanol to be produced in the fermentation broth in the bioreactor at a productivity of greater than 10 g/L per day. Both ethanol and acetate are produced in a ratio of ethanol to acetate ranging from 1:1 to 20:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ineos Bio Limited
    Inventors: James L. Gaddy, Dinesh K. Arora, Ching-Whan Ko, John Randall Phillips, Rahul Basu, Carl V. Wilkstrom, Edgar C. Clausen
  • Methods for increasing the production of ethanol from microbial fermentation
    Patent number: 8642302
    Abstract: A stable continuous method for producing ethanol from the anaerobic bacterial fermentation of a gaseous substrate containing at least one reducing gas involves culturing in a fermentation bioreactor anaerobic, acetogenic bacteria in a liquid nutrient medium; supplying the gaseous substrate to the bioreactor; and manipulating the bacteria in the bioreactor by reducing the redox potential, or increasing the NAD(P)H TO NAD(P) ratio, in the fermentation broth after the bacteria achieves a steady state and stable cell concentration in the bioreactor. The free acetic acid concentration in the bioreactor is maintained at less than 5 g/L free acid. This method allows ethanol to be produced in the fermentation broth in the bioreactor at a productivity of greater than 10 g/L per day. Both ethanol and acetate are produced in a ratio of ethanol to acetate ranging from 1:1 to 20:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ineos Bio Limited
    Inventors: James L. Gaddy, Dinesh K. Arora, Ching-Whan Ko, John Randall Phillips, Rahul Basu, Carl V. Wilkstrom, Edgar C. Clausen
  • Antioxidant producing bacterium and uses thereof
    Patent number: 8617870
    Abstract: Bacterial strains are provided that can be isolated from the microflora of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), and that are capable of increasing the antioxidant content of their growth medium. The bacteria can be used, for example, to increase the antioxidant content of various foodstuffs, as probiotics or as additives to animal feed. Antioxidant-enriched compositions produced by fermentation processes utilizing the bacteria are also provided. The antioxidant-enriched compositions can be used in the preparation of cosmetics and nutritional supplements. The antioxidant-enriched compositions also have therapeutic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: University of Ottawa
    Inventors: Chantal Matar, Luc J. Martin
  • System for staining fungi and protozoa
    Patent number: 8609365
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the staining of fungi and microsporidia for observation with a light microscope based upon the presence of chitin in the composition of these organisms. With the method of the present invention a sample to be analyzed is treated with a solution of Ponceau S and Stains-all dye. The sample is then selectively decolorized and rinsed. The resulting sample is examined with a light microscope, or photographed for a permanent record, to identify the presence of a variety of microorganisms, to include fungi and microsporidia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventor: My Lien Dao
  • Method for preserving a microorganism
    Patent number: 8609397
    Abstract: A method for preservation of a microorganism capable of microbial production of a polyunsaturated fatty acid or a compound comprising a polyunsaturated fatty acid as a constituent fatty acid, which method comprises: (a) forming spores in a spore-forming medium at pH 4-7 containing a nutrient source comprising an inorganic salt and a saccharide; (b) suspending the spores obtained in (a) in sterilized water, or sterilized water containing a surfactant and/or an inorganic salt to prepare a spore suspension, and adding a cryoprotectant at 5-15% to prepare a cryopreserving spore suspension; and (c) preserving the cryopreserving spore suspension obtained in (b) at between ?100° C. and ?20° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Higashiyama