Patents Examined by Kagnew H. Gebreyesus
  • Patent number: 9856466
    Abstract: The present invention provides serine protease variants, more specifically subtilisin variants produced there from. Specifically, the present invention provides serine protease variants, more specifically subtilisin variants having one or more substitutions as compared to a reference serine protease. In addition, the present invention provides compositions comprising these serine protease variants, more specifically subtilisin variants. In some embodiments, the present invention provides cleaning compositions comprising at least one of these serine protease variants, more specifically subtilisin variants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: DANISCO US INC.
    Inventors: Neelam S. Amin, Katherine Augustyn, Joshua R. Basler, Luis G. Cascao-Pereira, Katherine D. Collier, Edward M. Concar, David A. Estell, James T. Kellis, Jr., Euan John Magennis, Alexander Pisarchik, Ayrookaran J. Poulose, Philip Frank Souter, Glenn Steven Ward, Jian Yao
  • Patent number: 9850296
    Abstract: Peptides that specifically bind erythrocytes are described. These are provided as peptidic ligands having sequences that specifically bind, or as antibodies or fragments thereof that provide specific binding, to erythrocytes. The peptides may be prepared as molecular fusions with therapeutic agents, tolerizing antigens, or targeting peptides. Immunotolerance may be created by use of the fusions and choice of an antigen on a substance for which tolerance is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Stéphane Kontos, Karen Y. Dane
  • Patent number: 9828595
    Abstract: The present invention relates to asparaginase variants. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants. The invention further relates to a process of producing a fermentation product, comprising: liquefying a starch-containing material to dextrins with an alpha-amylase in the presence of an asparaginase of the invention; saccharifying the dextrins to a sugar with a glucoamylase; and fermenting the sugar using a fermenting organism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Tomoko Matsui, Aki Tomiki, Allan Svendsen, Hanne Vang Hendriksen, Mary Ann Stringer, Keiichi Ayabe
  • Patent number: 9822353
    Abstract: The present invention provides PEGylated aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (DRS) polypeptides, compositions comprising the same, and methods of using such polypeptides and compositions for treating or diagnosing a variety of conditions. The PEGylated DRS polypeptides of the invention have improved controlled release properties, stability, half-life, and other pharmacokinetic properties compared to non-PEGylated DRS polypeptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: aTyr Pharma, Inc.
    Inventors: Ying Ji Buechler, Chi-Fang Wu, Jeffrey Greve, John D. Mendlein
  • Patent number: 9822392
    Abstract: A method for measuring expression of autoregulatory molecules within living cells is provided. An autoregulatory molecule and marker construct is expressed in vivo, where the marker is cleaved from the construct during translation. The method comprises the expression of a construct having an autoregulatory molecule bound to a measurable expression marker by a cleavable linker. The cleavable linker is the substrate of a protease, which acts on its substrate in vivo during translation. Cleavage during translation, allows the autoregulatory molecule to fold normally as it would in its native form. The measurable marker is released and available for detection upon cleavage by the protease. As a result, the concentration of the measurable marker is directly related to the level of expression of the autoregulatory molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Jie Xiao, Zachary Hensel
  • Patent number: 9816084
    Abstract: The present invention provides aspartyl-tRNA synthetase derived proteins (DRS polypeptides) with altered cysteine content, compositions comprising the same, and methods of using such polypeptides and compositions for treating or diagnosing a variety of conditions. The DRS polypeptides of the invention have immunomodulatory properties, and exhibit improved activity and stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: aTyr Pharma, Inc.
    Inventors: Ying Ji Buechler, Chi-Fang Wu, Ryan Andrew Adams, Kristi Helen Piehl, Jeffrey Greve, John D. Mendlein
  • Patent number: 9814780
    Abstract: Peptides that specifically bind erythrocytes are described. These are provided as peptidic ligands having sequences that specifically bind, or as antibodies or fragments thereof that provide specific binding, to erythrocytes. The peptides may be prepared as molecular fusions with therapeutic agents, tolerizing antigens, or targeting peptides. Immunotolerance may be created by use of the fusions and choice of an antigen on a substance for which tolerance is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Stephan Kontos, Karen Y. Dane
  • Patent number: 9797908
    Abstract: This invention provides compositions and methods for producing translational components that expand the number of genetically encoded amino acids in eukaryotic cells. The components include orthogonal tRNAs, orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, orthogonal pairs of tRNAs/synthetases and unnatural amino acids. Proteins and methods of producing proteins with unnatural amino acids in eukaryotic cells are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: The Scripps Research Institute
    Inventors: Alexander Deiters, T. Ashton Cropp, Jason W. Chin, J. Christopher Anderson, Peter G. Schultz
  • Patent number: 9796972
    Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising newly identified protein fragments of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, polynucleotides that encode them and complements thereof, related agents, and methods of use thereof in diagnostic, drug discovery, research, and therapeutic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: aTyr Pharma, Inc., Pangu BioPharma Limited
    Inventors: Leslie Ann Greene, Kyle P. Chiang, Fei Hong, Alain P. Vasserot, Wing-Sze Lo, Jeffry D. Watkins, Cheryl L. Quinn, John D. Mendlein
  • Patent number: 9790533
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to methods of preventing and eliminating trisulfide bonds in proteins such as antibodies. In one embodiment, trisulfide bonds in proteins are converted to disulfide bonds as part of chromatographic purification procedures. In another embodiment, the formation of trisulfide bonds in proteins is inhibited by implementation of methods described herein during the cell culture production of such proteins. In another embodiment, monoclonal antibodies are produced by the methods described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Biogen MA Inc.
    Inventors: Rashmi Rohit Kshirsagar, Alan Gilbert
  • Patent number: 9790530
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for degrading or converting a cellulosic material and for producing substances from the cellulosic material under high temperature conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Novozymes, Inc.
    Inventors: Tarana Shaghasi, Brett McBrayer
  • Patent number: 9790482
    Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising newly identified protein fragments of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, polynucleotides that encode them and complements thereof, related agents, and methods of use thereof in diagnostic, drug discovery, research, and therapeutic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignees: aTyr Pharma, Inc., Pangu BioPharma Limited
    Inventors: Leslie Ann Greene, Kyle P. Chiang, Fei Hong, Alain P. Vasserot, Wing-Sze Lo, Jeffry D. Watkins, Cheryl L. Quinn, John D. Mendlein
  • Patent number: 9783566
    Abstract: Disclosed are steviol glycosides referred to as rebaudioside V and rebaudioside W. Also disclosed are methods for producing rebaudioside M (Reb M), rebausoside G (Reb G), rebaudioside KA (Reb KA), rebaudioside V (Reb V) and rebaudioside (Reb W).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Conagen Inc.
    Inventors: Guohong Mao, Xiaodan Yu
  • Patent number: 9783798
    Abstract: Compositions and methods of producing components of protein biosynthetic machinery that include orthogonal tRNAs, orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and orthogonal pairs of tRNAs/synthetases, which incorporate redox active amino acids into proteins are provided. Methods for identifying these orthogonal pairs are also provided along with methods of producing proteins with redox active amino acids using these orthogonal pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: The Scripps Research Institute
    Inventors: Lital Alfonta, Peter G. Schultz, Zhiwen Zhang
  • Patent number: 9783832
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing 2,3-butanediol using improved strains of Raoultella planticola, and to novel mutant strains obtained by random mutagenesis from the bacterial species Raoultella planticola CECT843, that can be used in the industrial production of 2,3-butanediol from glycerol. The invention preferably relates to the Raoultella planticola strains designated IA1 and IIIA3 and deposited in the Spanish Type Culture Collection (CECT) under deposit number CECT8158 (corresponding to the strain designated IA1) and deposit number CECT8159 (corresponding to the strain designated IIIA3). The invention also relates to a method for producing 2,3-butanediol from glycerol by means of a biotechnological process using the novel strains of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignees: Biopolis, S.L., Universidad Complutense de Madrid
    Inventors: Antonia Maria Rojas Martinez, Silvia Segarra Manzano, Alejandro Montesinos Paes, Marta Tortajada Serra, Daniel Ramon Vidal, Victoria Eugenia Santos Mazorra, Miguel Ladero Galan, Felix Garcia-Ochoa Soria, Vanessa Ripoll Morales, Alberto Rodriguez Martín
  • Patent number: 9777300
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a system for converting CO2 and H2 to one or more biologically derived compounds. In some embodiments, the system comprises a host cell comprising one or more nucleic acids encoding genes for a recombinant surface display protein which is capable of tethering an electrocatalyst molecule, such as a cobalt(II) complex supported by tetradentate polypyridyl ligand 2-bis(2-pyridyl)(methoxy)methyl-6-pyridylpyridine (PY4), and enzymes for synthesizing a biologically derived compound, such as an alkane, alcohol, fatty acid, ester, or isoprenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Yi-Chun Yeh, Steven W. Singer, Swapnil R. Chhabra, Harry R. Beller, Jana Mueller
  • Patent number: 9777309
    Abstract: A method of conducting an enzymatic reaction assay involving adenosine 5?-monophosphate (AMP) comprising the steps of reacting one or more compounds and producing AMP, deaminating the AMP to produce IMP, and oxidating the IMP by NAD+ to produce XMP and NADH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
    Inventors: Eric A First, Charles J Richardson
  • Patent number: 9771401
    Abstract: The present technology is directed to the nucleic acid molecule encoding novel fluorescent proteins, in particular, green fluorescent proteins (GFPs), such as those that may be isolated from an organism of genus Rhacostoma, as well as compositions comprising the same and methods for analyzing a physiologically active substance in a cell wherein the fluorescent proteins are expressed in the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Inventors: Michael R. Tota, William W. Ward
  • Patent number: 9757478
    Abstract: A polynucleotide encoding a biosensor polypeptide comprising a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase and a linker linking the C-terminal portion of the thermostable luciferase to the N-terminal portion of the thermostable luciferase. The modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase is modified relative to a parental circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase. The linker contains a sensor region capable of interacting with a target molecule in a cell. The modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase has an enhanced response after interaction of the biosensor with the target molecule relative to the parental circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase in the presence of the target molecule. Alternatively, the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase has an enhanced response after interaction of the biosensor with the target molecule relative to the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase in the absence of the target molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Promega Corporation
    Inventors: Brock Binkowski, Braeden Butler, Lance P. Encell, Frank Fan, Brad Hook, Paul Otto, Gediminas Vidugiris, Susan Wigdal, Kristopher Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 9752162
    Abstract: The invention features compositions and methods for the increased production of mevalonate, isoprene, isoprenoid precursor molecules, and/or isoprenoids in microorganisms via the heterologous expression of the mvaE and mvaS genes from the organisms Listeria grayi DSM 20601, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus gallinarum EG2, and Enterococcus casseliflavus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignees: Danisco US Inc., The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Zachary Q. Beck, Michael C. Miller, Caroline M. Peres, Yuliya A. Primak, Jeff P. Pucci, Derek H. Wells