Patents by Inventor Brian F. Pfleger

Brian F. Pfleger 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).

  • Patent number: 11866744
    Abstract: Unnatural, mutated thioesterases having an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to SEQ. ID. NO: 1 and having substitutions at one or more of amino acid positions I107, R108, L109, S122, M141, E142, Y145, and L146, gene constructs encoding and configured to express the mutated thioesterases in a transformed host cell and host cells transformed to contain the gene constructs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignees: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Brian F. Pfleger, Nestor Jose Hernandez-Lozada, Costas Maranas, Matthew Grisewood
  • Publication number: 20230183759
    Abstract: Recombinant cells and methods for producing methyl ketones, such as medium-chain methyl ketones. The recombinant cells include recombinant acyl-ACP thioesterase genes, recombinant ?-ketoacyl-CoA thioesterase genes, and recombinant acyl-CoA synthetase genes, in addition to other modifications. The methods include culturing the recombinant cells to produce the methyl ketones and isolating the produced methyl ketones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Brian F. Pfleger, Qiang Yan, Trevor R. Simmons, Nestor Hernandez-Lozada
  • Publication number: 20220348972
    Abstract: Mutant thioesterases having enhanced medium chain substrate activity, polynucleotides encoding and configured to express the mutant thioesterases in a transformed host cell, host cells transformed to contain the polynucleotides, and methods of using same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Brian F Pfleger, Nestor Hemandez-Lozada, Rung-Yi Lai
  • Patent number: 11408014
    Abstract: Mutant thioesterases having enhanced medium chain substrate activity, polynucleotides encoding and configured to express the mutant thioesterases in a transformed host cell, host cells transformed to contain the polynucleotides, and methods of using same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Brian F. Pfleger, Nestor Hernandez-Lozada, Rung-Yi Lai
  • Publication number: 20210292720
    Abstract: Unnatural, mutated thioesterases having an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to SEQ. ID. NO: 1 and having substitutions at one or more of amino acid positions I107, R108, L109, S122, M141, E142, Y145, and L146, gene constructs encoding and configured to express the mutated thioesterases in a transformed host cell, and host cells transformed to contain the gene constructs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicants: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION, The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Brian F. Pfleger, Nestor Jose HERNANDEZ-LOZADA, Costas MARANAS, Matthew GRISEWOOD
  • Patent number: 11053480
    Abstract: Unnatural, mutated thioesterases having an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to SEQ. ID. NO: 1 and having substitutions at one or more of amino acid positions I107, R108, L109, S122, M141, E142, Y145, and L146, gene constructs encoding and configured to express the mutated thioesterases in a transformed host cell and host cells transformed to contain the gene constructs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignees: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION, THE PENN STATE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Brian F. Pfleger, Nestor Jose Hernandez-Lozada, Costas Maranas, Matthew Grisewood
  • Publication number: 20210040516
    Abstract: Mutant thioesterases having enhanced medium chain substrate activity, polynucleotides encoding and configured to express the mutant thioesterases in a transformed host cell, host cells transformed to contain the polynucleotides, and methods of using same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Brian F. Pfleger, Nestor Hernandez-Lozada, Rung-Yi Lai
  • Patent number: 10844410
    Abstract: Mutant thioesterases having enhanced medium chain substrate activity, polynucleotides encoding and configured to express the mutant thioesterases in a transformed host cell, host cells transformed to contain the polynucleotides, and methods of using same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Brian F. Pfleger, Nestor Hernandez-Lozada, Rung-Yi Lai
  • Publication number: 20200339966
    Abstract: Unnatural, mutated thioesterases having an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to SEQ. ID. NO: 1 and having substitutions at one or more of amino acid positions I107, R108, L109, S122, M141, E142, Y145, and L146, gene constructs encoding and configured to express the mutated thioesterases in a transformed host cell and host cells transformed to contain the gene constructs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicants: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION, The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Brian F. Pfleger, Nestor Jose HERNANDEZ-LOZADA, Costas MARANAS, Matthew GRISEWOOD
  • Patent number: 10689631
    Abstract: Unnatural, mutated thioesterases having an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO:1 and having substitutions at one or more of amino acid positions I107, R108, L109, S122, M141, E142, Y145, and L146, gene constructs encoding and configured to express the mutated thioesterases in a transformed host cell, and host cells transformed to contain the gene constructs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignees: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION, THE PENN STATE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Brian F. Pfleger, Nestor Jose Hernandez-Lozada, Costas Maranas, Matthew Grisewood
  • Publication number: 20190390180
    Abstract: Unnatural, mutated thioesterases having an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO:1 and having substitutions at one or more of amino acid positions I107, R108, L109, S122, M141, E142, Y145, and L146, gene constructs encoding and configured to express the mutated thioesterases in a transformed host cell, and host cells transformed to contain the gene constructs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicants: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION, The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Brian F. Pfleger, Nestor Jose HERNANDEZ-LOZADA, Costas MARANAS, Matthew GRISEWOOD
  • Patent number: 10421951
    Abstract: Unnatural, mutated thioesterases having an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to SEQ. ID. NO: 1 and having substitutions at one or more of amino acid positions I107, R108, L109, S122, M141, E142, Y145, and L146, gene constructs encoding and configured to express the mutated thioesterases in a transformed host cell and host cells transformed to contain the gene constructs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignees: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION, THE PENN STATE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Brian F. Pfleger, Nestor Jose Hernandez-Lozada, Costas Maranas, Matthew Grisewood
  • Publication number: 20190284588
    Abstract: Mutant thioesterases having enhanced medium chain substrate activity, polynucleotides encoding and configured to express the mutant thioesterases in a transformed host cell, host cells transformed to contain the polynucleotides, and methods of using same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: BRIAN F. PFLEGER, NESTOR HERNANDEZ-LOZADA, RUNG-YI LAI
  • Patent number: 10370690
    Abstract: Recombinant microorganisms configured for increased glycogen production. The recombinant microorganisms comprise a recombinant nucleic acid configured to express or overexpress a glucose-1-phosphate adenylyltransferase. The recombinant microorganisms produce an increased amount of glycogen compared to a corresponding microorganism not comprising the recombinant nucleic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Brian F. Pfleger, Andrew L. Markley
  • Publication number: 20190093138
    Abstract: Recombinant microorganisms configured for increased glycogen production. The recombinant microorganisms comprise a recombinant nucleic acid configured to express or overexpress a glucose-1-phosphate adenylyltransferase. The recombinant microorganisms produce an increased amount of glycogen compared to a corresponding microorganism not comprising the recombinant nucleic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: BRIAN F. PFLEGER, ANDREW L. MARKLEY
  • Patent number: 10184141
    Abstract: Recombinant microorganisms configured for increased glycogen production. The recombinant microorganisms comprise a recombinant nucleic acid configured to express or overexpress a glucose-1-phosphate adenylyltransferase. The recombinant microorganisms produce an increased amount of glycogen compared to a corresponding microorganism not comprising the recombinant nucleic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Brian F. Pfleger, Andrew L. Markley
  • Publication number: 20170369858
    Abstract: Unnatural, mutated thioesterases having an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to SEQ. ID. NO: 1 and having substitutions at one or more of amino acid positions I107, R108, L109, S122, M141, E142, Y145, and L146, gene constructs encoding and configured to express the mutated thioesterases in a transformed host cell and host cells transformed to contain the gene constructs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Brian F. Pfleger, Nestor Jose Hernandez-Lozada, Costas Maranas, Matthew Grisewood
  • Patent number: 9708630
    Abstract: Recombinant cells and methods for improved yield of fatty alcohols. The recombinant cells harbor a recombinant thioesterase gene, a recombinant acyl-CoA synthetase gene, and a recombinant acyl-CoA reductase gene. In addition, a gene product from one or more of an acyl-CoA dehydrogenase gene, an enoyl-CoA hydratase gene, a 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase gene, and a 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase gene in the recombinant cells is functionally deleted. Culturing the recombinant cells produces fatty alcohols at high yields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Brian F. Pfleger, J. Tyler Youngquist
  • Patent number: 8617856
    Abstract: Described are hosts for overproducing a fatty acid product such as a fatty acid. The hosts include an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a thioesterase and, optionally, an exogenous nucleic acid encoding an acetyl-CoA carboxylase, wherein an acyl-CoA synthetase in the hosts are functionally deleted. The hosts preferably include the nucleic acid encoding the thioesterase at an intermediate copy number. The hosts are preferably recombinantly stable and growth-competent at 37° C. Methods of producing a fatty acid product comprising culturing such hosts at 37° C. are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Brian F. Pfleger, Rebecca M. Lennen
  • Patent number: 8114645
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods of increasing production of an isoprenoid or an isoprenoid precursor in a host cell, the methods generally involving modulating the level of activity of a fatty acid biosynthetic pathway enzyme in the host cell and/or culturing the host cell in a culture medium comprising a fatty acid or a compound that can be metabolized in a cell or broken down in the medium to yield a fatty acid and/or culturing the host cell in a culture medium having increased osmolarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Douglas J. Pitera, Jack D. Newman, Jeffrey Lance Kizer, Jay D. Keasling, Brian F. Pfleger