Patents by Inventor Aaron Argyros

Aaron Argyros has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220002661
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns recombinant yeast host cells having a first genetic modification for increasing formate production, when compared to a corresponding native yeast host cell as well as a source of formate dehydrogenase activity. The source of formate can be an internal source of formate dehydrogenase activity and/or the recombinant yeast host call can be supplemented by an external source of formate dehydrogenase activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Trisha Barrett, Ryan Skinner, Aaron Argyros
  • Patent number: 11198881
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns recombinant yeast host cell for saccharification of a biomass. The recombinant yeast host cell has a genetic modification for expressing a heterologous polypeptide having glucoamylase activity (Rasamsonia emersonii glucoamylase). In some embodiments, the heterologous polypeptide comprises the signal sequence associated with the alpha-mating 1 factor. The present disclosure also concerns a process for saccharification of a biomass using the recombinant yeast host cell as well as a process for fermenting the saccharified biomass into a fermentation product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignees: Lallemand Hungary Liquidity Management LLC, BASF SE
    Inventors: Aaron Argyros, Alexandra Panaitiu, Charles Rice, Kenneth Barrett
  • Publication number: 20210380989
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns recombinant yeast host cells having a first genetic modification for downregulating a first metabolic pathway that converts NADP+ to NADPH, as well as a second genetic modification for upregulating a second metabolic pathway that converts NADP+ to NADPH. The second genetic modification allows the expression of a glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase lacking phosphorylating activity, which can, in some embodiments, be from enzyme commission 1.2.1.9 or 1.2.1.90. The second pathway is distinct from the first metabolic pathway. The present disclosure also concerns a process for making and improving the yield of a fermented product, such as ethanol, using the recombinant yeast host cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Ryan Skinner, Aaron Argyros, Adam Simard, Trisha Barrett
  • Patent number: 11193130
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a yeast strain, or strains, secreting a full suite, or any subset of that full suite, of enzymes to hydrolyze corn starch, corn fiber, lignocellulose, (including enzymes that hydrolyze linkages in cellulose, hemicellulose, and between lignin and carbohydrates) and to utilize pentose sugars (xylose and arabinose). The invention is also directed to the set of proteins that are well expressed in yeast for each category of enzymatic activity. The resulting strain, or strains can be used to hydrolyze starch and cellulose simultaneously. The resulting strain, or strains can be also metabolically engineered to produce less glycerol and uptake acetate. The resulting strain, or strains can also be used to produce ethanol from granular starch without liquefaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignees: Lallemand Hungary Liquidity Management LLC, Stellenbosch University
    Inventors: Elena Brevnova, John E. McBride, Erin Wiswall, Kevin S. Wenger, Nicky Caiazza, Heidi Hau, Aaron Argyros, Frank Agbogbo, Charles F. Rice, Trisha Barrett, John S. Bardsley, Abigail Foster, Anne K. Warner, Mark Mellon, Ryan Skinner, Indraneel Shikhare, Riaan Den Haan, Chhayal V. Gandhi, Alan Belcher, Vineet B. Rajgarhia, Allan C. Froehlich, Kristen M. Deleault, Emily Stonehouse, Shital A. Tripathi, Jennifer Gosselin, Yin-Ying Chiu, Haowen Xu
  • Publication number: 20210348145
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a recombinant yeast host cell exhibiting higher stability and, in some embodiments, higher fermentation performance. The recombinant yeast host cell stability has a limited ability to express an hydrolase during its propagation phase. In return, this limits the cleavage of a yeast cellular component during or after propagation which may be detrimental to the stability and/or fermentation performances. The recombinant yeast host cell expresses a heterologous hydrolase under the control of a heterologous promoter (for limiting the expression of the heterologous hydrolase during propagation and favoring the expression of the heterologous hydrolase during fermentation).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Trisha Barrett, Aaron Argyros
  • Patent number: 11162125
    Abstract: The present invention provides for novel metabolic pathways to convert biomass and other carbohydrate sources to malonyl-CoA derived products, such as hydrocarbons and other bioproducts, under anaerobic conditions and with the net production of ATP. More specifically, the invention provides for a recombinant microorganism comprising one or more native and/or heterologous enzymes that function in one or more engineered metabolic pathways to achieve conversion of a carbohydrate source to, e.g., long-chain hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon derivatives, wherein the one or more native and/or heterologous enzymes is activated, upregulated, downregulated, or deleted. The invention also provides for processes to convert biomass to malonyl-CoA derived products which comprise contacting a carbohydrate source with a recombinant microorganism of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Lallemand Hungary Liquidity Management LLC
    Inventors: William Ryan Sillers, Shital A. Tripathi, Arthur J. Shaw, IV, Aaron Argyros, David A. Hogsett
  • Publication number: 20210292688
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns recombinant yeast host cells expressing heterologous enzymes for hydrolyzing flavor compounds glycosidically bound to a sugar molecule. The recombinant yeast host cells can be used in a subsequent production process to make alcoholic beverage products such as wines and beers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Charles F. Rice, Aaron Argyros
  • Publication number: 20210292776
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns recombinant yeast host cell for saccharification of a biomass. The recombinant yeast host cell has a genetic modification for expressing a heterologous polypeptide having glucoamylase activity (Penicillum oxalicum glucoamylase). In some embodiments, the heterologous polypeptide can comprise a signal sequence. The present disclosure also concerns a process for saccharification of a biomass using the recombinant yeast host cell as well as a process for fermenting the saccharified biomass into a fermentation product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Aaron Argyros, Alexandra-Elena Panaitiu
  • Patent number: 11034967
    Abstract: The present invention provides for novel metabolic pathways to reduce or eliminate glycerol production and increase product formation. More specifically, the invention provides for a recombinant microorganism comprising a deletion of one or more native enzymes that function to produce glycerol and/or regulate glycerol synthesis and one or more native and/or heterologous enzymes that function in one or more engineered metabolic pathways to convert a carbohydrate source, such as lignocellulose, to a product, such as ethanol, wherein the one or more native and/or heterologous enzymes is activated, upregulated, or downregulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Lallemand Hungary Liquidity Management LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Argyros, William Ryan Sillers, Trisha Barrett, Nicky Caiazza, Arthur J. Shaw, IV
  • Publication number: 20210163998
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to recombinant yeast host cells having (i) a first genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce glycerol or regulating glycerol synthesis and/or allowing the production of an heterologous glucoamylase and (ii) a second genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce trehalose or regulating trehalose synthesis and/or allowing the expression of an heterologous trehalase. The recombinant yeast host cells can be used to limit the production of (yeast-produced) trehalose (particularly extracellular trehalose) during fermentation and, in some embodiments, can increase the production of a fermentation product (such as, for example, ethanol).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Charles F. Rice, Ryan Skinner, Trisha Barrett, Aaron Argyros
  • Publication number: 20210163967
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns recombinant yeast host cell for saccharification of a biomass. The recombinant yeast host cell has a genetic modification for expressing a heterologous polypeptide having glucoamylase activity (Rasamsonia emersonii glucoamylase). In some embodiments, the heterologous polypeptide comprises the signal sequence associated with the alpha-mating 1 factor. The present disclosure also concerns a process for saccharification of a biomass using the recombinant yeast host cell as well as a process for fermenting the saccharified biomass into a fermentation product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Aaron Argyros, Alexandra Panaitiu, Charles Rice, Kenneth Barrett
  • Publication number: 20210163995
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a process for fermenting a biomass with a reduced dose of a purified exogenous enzyme (which can be, for example a purified exogenous glucoamylase). The process comprises contacting a biomass (which may comprise starch) with a recombinant yeast host cell. The recombinant yeast host cell has a genetic modification for expressing a heterologous polypeptide having starch or dextrin hydrolase activity (which may be, for example, from a glucoamylase). The nucleic acid molecule encoding the heterologous polypeptide having starch or dextrin hydrolase activity comprises allowing the secretion of the heterologous polypeptide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Aaron Argyros, Alexandra Panaitiu, Charles Rice, Matthew B. Richards, Tera Stoughtenger, Kenneth Barrett
  • Publication number: 20210163999
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to recombinant yeast host cells having (i) a first genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce glycerol or regulating glycerol synthesis and/or allowing the production of an heterologous glucoamylase and (ii) a second genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce trehalose or regulating trehalose synthesis and/or allowing the expression of an heterologous trehalase. The recombinant yeast host cells can be used to limit the production of (yeast-produced) trehalose (particularly extracellular trehalose) during fermentation and, in some embodiments, can increase the production of a fermentation product (such as, for example, ethanol).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Charles F. Rice, Ryan Skinner, Trisha Barrett, Aaron Argyros
  • Publication number: 20210147882
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a mechanism to completely replace the electron accepting function of glycerol formation with an alternative pathway to ethanol formation, thereby reducing glycerol production and increasing ethanol production. In some embodiments, the invention provides for a recombinant microorganism comprising a down-regulation in one or more native enzymes in the glycerol-production pathway. In some embodiments, the invention provides for a recombinant microorganism comprising an up-regulation in one or more enzymes in the ethanol-production pathway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Arthur J. Shaw, IV, Aaron Argyros, Trisha Barrett
  • Patent number: 10947568
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to recombinant yeast host cells having (i) a first genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce glycerol or regulating glycerol synthesis and/or allowing the production of an heterologous glucoamylase and (ii) a second genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce trehalose or regulating trehalose synthesis and/or allowing the expression of an heterologous trehalase. The recombinant yeast host cells can be used to limit the production of (yeast-produced) trehalose (particularly extracellular trehalose) during fermentation and, in some embodiments, can increase the production of a fermentation product (such as, for example, ethanol).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Lallemand Hungary Liquidity Management LLC
    Inventors: Charles F. Rice, Ryan Skinner, Trisha Barrett, Aaron Argyros
  • Publication number: 20210024909
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to chimeric polypeptides for improving the hydrolysis of starch. The chimeric polypeptides has an alpha-amylase linked to a starch binding domain. The chimeric polypeptides can be provided in a purified form and/or can be expressed from 5 a recombinant host cell. The present disclosure also provides a population of recombinant host cells expressing the chimeric polypeptides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Ryan Skinner, Charles F. Rice, Aaron Argyros
  • Publication number: 20200407758
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to alpha-amylases for use in combination with glucoamylases for improving the hydrolysis of a raw starch. The alpha-amylases can be provided in a purified form and/or can be expressed from a recombinant host cell. The present disclosure also provides a population of recombinant host cells expressing the alpha-amylases to be used in combination with recombinant host cells expressing the glucoamylases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Ryan Skinner, Charles F. Rice, Aaron Argyros
  • Patent number: 10767196
    Abstract: The present invention provides for the manipulation of cofactor usage in a recombinant host cell to increase the formation of desirable products. In some embodiments, the invention provides for a recombinant microorganism comprising a mutation in one or more native enzymes such that their cofactor specificity is altered in such a way that overall cofactor usage in the cell is balanced for a specified pathway and there is an increase in a specific product formation within the cell. In some embodiments, endogenous enzymes are replaced by enzymes with an alternate cofactor specificity from a different species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Enchi Corporation, Dartmouth College, UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Lo, Adam M. Guss, Johannes P. Van Dijken, Arthur J. Shaw, IV, Daniel G. Olson, Christopher D. Herring, D. Aaron Argyros, Nicky Caiazza
  • Publication number: 20200270657
    Abstract: The present invention provides for novel metabolic pathways to convert biomass and other carbohydrate sources to malonyl-CoA derived products, such as hydrocarbons and other bioproducts, under anaerobic conditions and with the net production of ATP. More specifically, the invention provides for a recombinant microorganism comprising one or more native and/or heterologous enzymes that function in one or more engineered metabolic pathways to achieve conversion of a carbohydrate source to, e.g., long-chain hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon derivatives, wherein the one or more native and/or heterologous enzymes is activated, upregulated, downregulated, or deleted. The invention also provides for processes to convert biomass to malonyl-CoA derived products which comprise contacting a carbohydrate source with a recombinant microorganism of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: William Ryan Sillers, Shital A. Tripathi, Arthur J. Shaw, IV, Aaron Argyros, David A. Hogsett
  • Publication number: 20200231991
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to recombinant yeast host cells having (i) a first genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce glycerol or regulating glycerol synthesis and/or allowing the production of an heterologous glucoamylase and (ii) a second genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce trehalose or regulating trehalose synthesis and/or allowing the expression of an heterologous trehalase. The recombinant yeast host cells can be used to limit the production of (yeast-produced) trehalose (particularly extracellular trehalose) during fermentation and, in some embodiments, can increase the production of a fermentation product (such as, for example, ethanol).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Charles F. Rice, Ryan Skinner, Trisha Barrett, Aaron Argyros