Patents Examined by William W. Moore
  • Patent number: 9434919
    Abstract: The present invention provides fungal proteases and improved fungal strains that are deficient in protease production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Codexis, Inc.
    Inventors: Lorand Szabo, Zsolt Molnar, Attila Laszlo Nemeth
  • Patent number: 9422541
    Abstract: An apparatus for the extracorporeal treatment of blood comprising an extracorporeal blood circuit (2), a pump (6) configured to provide fluid displacement within the extracorporeal blood circuit, and a reaction chamber (8) connected to the extracorporeal blood circuit and configured to receive blood or plasma from the circuit and treat the blood or plasma. The reaction chamber comprises an protease enzyme immobilized to a support, in which the protease enzyme is specific for, and capable of irreversibly cleaving, a human C5a present in the blood or plasma, wherein the abundance of the human C5a in the treated blood or plasma is less than that in the untreated blood or plasma. The apparatus finds utility in the extracorporeal treatment of blood from patients with inflammatory conditions, especially auto-immune disease and sepsis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: University of Limerick
    Inventors: Jakki Cooney, Todd Fumio Kagawa, Edmond Magner
  • Patent number: 9416355
    Abstract: The present invention relates to variants of a parent alpha-amylase. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants and to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides, and methods of using the variant enzymes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignees: NOVOZYMES NORTH AMERICA, INC., NOVOZYMES A/S
    Inventors: Carsten Andersen, Randall Deinhammer, Thomas Agersten Poulsen, Miguel Duarte Toscano, Peter Kamp Hansen, Henrik Friis-Madsen, Anders Viksoe-Nielsen, Signe Eskildsen Larsen, Lars L. H. Christensen
  • Patent number: 9410135
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to mutant thermostable glycosyl hydrolases family 7 enzymes, including mutant Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase I. In particular, the present disclosure relates to mutant thermostable enzymes, compositions containing the enzymes, and methods of use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Harshal Akshay Chokhawala, Tae-Wan Kim, Harvey W. Blanch, Douglas S. Clark
  • Patent number: 9410166
    Abstract: The invention relates to suitable candidate alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) enzymes for production of lower alkyl alcohols including isobutanol. The invention also relates to recombinant host cells that comprise such ADH enzymes and methods for producing lower alkyl alcohols in the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Sriram Satagopan, Daniel P. O'Keefe, Janardhan Gude
  • Patent number: 9388403
    Abstract: Improving wild nitrile hydratase enables the provision of a protein which has nitrile hydratase activity and which has further improved heat resistance, amide compound resistance and high temperature accumulation properties. Use protein (A) or (B), (A) being a protein characterized by having nitrile hydratase activity and by including an amino acid sequence in which a specific amino acid residue in an amino acid sequence in wild nitrile hydratase has been substituted by another amino acid residue, and (B) being a protein characterized by having nitrile hydratase activity and by including an amino acid sequence in which one or several amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence of protein (A), other than the abovementioned specific amino acid residue, is deleted, substituted and/or added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Watanabe, Takanori Ambo, Ai Hara
  • Patent number: 9382528
    Abstract: Improving wild nitrile hydratase enables the provision of a protein which has nitrile hydratase activity and which has further improved heat resistance, amide compound resistance and high temperature accumulation properties. Use protein (A) or (B), (A) being a protein characterised by having nitrile hydratase activity and by including an amino acid sequence in which a specific amino acid residue in an amino acid sequence in wild nitrile hydratase has been substituted by another amino acid residue, and (B) being a protein characterised by having nitrile hydratase activity and by including an amino acid sequence in which one or several amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence of protein (A), other than the abovementioned specific amino acid residue, is deleted, substituted and/or added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Watanabe, Takanori Ambo, Ai Hara
  • Patent number: 9359584
    Abstract: Provided in part herein are compositions that include isolated microbial enzymes, such as amylases, lipases, and proteases that are useful as detergent additives. Also provided are methods of isolating amylases, lipases, and proteases from microbes, as well as methods of using these enzymes as detergent additives, and for stain removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: WEST BENGAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Shaon Ray Chaudhuri
  • Patent number: 9339561
    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: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    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: 9333280
    Abstract: A medical device includes a base material having an immobilized enzyme and dextran sulfate. The dextran sulfate has a molecular weight that is less than 40 kilo dalton (kDa). The medical device is formed from at least a base material. An enzyme is immobilized on the base material. The enzyme is stabilized with a dextran sulfate having a molecular weight of less than 40 (kDa).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Teleflex Medical Incorporated
    Inventor: Nisha Gupta
  • Patent number: 9328351
    Abstract: Genetically engineered microbial, e.g., Prototheca, cells provide microbial oil useful as a food additive and a source of renewable fuels and industrial chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: SOLAZYME, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Franklin, Shane Brubaker, George N. Rudenko, Jeffrey L. Moseley, Xinhua Zhao, Tina T. Huynh, Riyaz Bhat, Matthew Shoa-Azar, Trung H. Nguyen, Karen Espina, Aravind Somanchi
  • Patent number: 9322011
    Abstract: There is provided a fusion protein suitable for secretion of more than one polypeptide(s) of interest (POI) comprising a signal peptide, a POI, a passenger domain comprising a beta stem domain from an autotransporter protein, and a translocator domain from an autotransporter protein, wherein the beta stem-forming sequence of the passenger domain is essentially intact and the POI(s) is/are fused to the beta stem domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: ABERA BIOSCIENCE AB
    Inventors: Joen Luirink, Wouter S. P. Jong
  • Patent number: 9322010
    Abstract: This invention provides novel carbonic anhydrase (CAIX) nucleic acid and peptide sequences, as well as related methods and compositions, including anti-cancer immunogenic agent(s) (e.g. vaccines and chimeric molecules) that elicit an immune response specifically directed against cancer cells expressing a CAIX antigenic marker. The novel CAIX variant and related compositions are useful in a wide variety of treatment modalities including, but not limited to protein vaccination, DNA vaccination, adoptive immunotherapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Zhenhua Li, Arie Belldegrun
  • Patent number: 9307782
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mannanase produced from Celluosimicrobium sp. strain HY-13 and more particularly to a highly active novel mannanase produced from Cellulosimicrobium sp. strain HY-13 as separated from an invertebrate. The mannanase produced from the said Cellulosimicrobium sp. strain HY-13 can be used in the decomposition of a mannan found in hemicellulose contained in grains and plants and in enhancing the utility value of a hydrolysate, which uses the decomposed mannan, for the transformation of biomass or as an animal feed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology
    Inventors: Ho-Yong Park, Kwang-Hee Son, Do Young Kim, Dong-Ha Shin, Han-Young Cho
  • Patent number: 9290794
    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: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: PROMEGA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brock Binkowski, Braeden Butler, Lance P. Encell, Frank Fan, Brad Hook, Paul Otto, Kimberly Risma, Gediminas Vidugiris, Susan Wigdal, Kristopher Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 9290757
    Abstract: Methods for identifying modified proteases with modified substrate specificity or other properties are provided. The methods screen candidate and modified proteases by contacting them with a substrate, such as a serpin, an alpha macroglobulins or a p35 family protein or modified serpins and modified p35 family members or modified alpha macroglobulins, that, upon cleavage of the substrate, traps the protease by forming a stable complex. Also provided are modified proteases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Catalyst Biosciences, Inc.
    Inventor: Edwin L. Madison
  • Patent number: 9284544
    Abstract: The present invention relates to cleaning compositions comprising variants of an alpha-amylase and methods of treating surfaces such as textiles with aqueous liquor comprising such compositions, especially at low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Michelle Jackson, Philip Frank Souter, Lindsay Suzanne Bewick, Svend Kaasgaard, Jens Oebro, Signe Eskildsen Larsen, Allan Svendsen, Annette Helle Johansen, Michael Skjoet, Carsten Andersen, Lars Beier, Esben Peter Friis, Miguel Duarte Guilherme Pereira Toscano, Mads Bjoernvad, Frank Winther Rasmussen, Liv Spaangner Christiansen
  • Patent number: 9273296
    Abstract: An I-CreI variant, wherein one of the two I-CreI monomers has at least two substitutions, one in each of the two functional subdomains of the LAGLIDADG core domain situated respectively from positions 28 to 40 and 44 to 77 of I-CreI, said variant being able to cleave a DNA target sequence from the glutamine synthetase gene. Use of said variant and derived products for improving expression system for the production of recombinant protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: CELLECTIS
    Inventor: Julianne Smith
  • Patent number: 9248201
    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: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    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: 9249430
    Abstract: Described are recombinant microorganisms characterized by having phosphoketolase activity, having a diminished or inactivated Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway (EMPP) by inactivation of the gene(s) encoding phosphofructokinase or by reducing phosphofructokinase activity as compared to a non-modified microorganism and having a diminished or inactivated oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) by inactivation of the gene(s) encoding glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase or by reducing glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity as compared to a non-modified microorganism. These microorganisms can be used for the production of useful metabolites such as acetone, isobutene or propene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Scientist of Fortune, S.A.
    Inventor: Philippe Marliere