Patents by Inventor Danilo Porro

Danilo Porro 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: 11697831
    Abstract: Disclosed is the production by fermentation of poly D-lactic acid (PDLA) and poly L-lactic acid (PLLA). In particular, there is provided engineered (prokaryotic or eukaryotic) cells for the direct synthesis of PLLA polymers and engineered eukaryotic cells for the direct synthesis of PDLA polymers starting from a carbon source, including residual biomasses of the different production chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignees: UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI MILANO-BICOCCA, GALATEA BIOTECH S.R.L.
    Inventors: Danilo Porro, Paola Branduardi, Stefano Bertacchi, Nadia Maria Berterame
  • Publication number: 20210324429
    Abstract: Disclosed is the production by fermentation of poly D-lactic acid (PDLA) and poly L-lactic acid (PLLA). In particular, there is provided engineered (prokaryotic or eukaryotic) cells for the direct synthesis of PLLA polymers and engineered eukaryotic cells for the direct synthesis of PDLA polymers starting from a carbon source, including residual biomasses of the different production chains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Danilo PORRO, Paola BRANDUARDI, Stefano BERTACCHI, Nadia Maria BERTERAME
  • Publication number: 20150240225
    Abstract: It is disclosed a non-naturally occurring microbial organism comprising at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme, or a portion thereof, selected from the group of ammonia lyase. Preferably, the enzyme is PAL3, and the at least one exogenous nucleic acid is obtained from Arabidopsis thaliana. The non-naturally occurring microbial organism has an increased resistance to biochemical stress compared to the starting microbial organism, as induced for instance by oxidative stress or organic acid stress. Preferably, the non-naturally occurring microbial organism is a yeast and it may be used for fermenting a carbon source obtained from a ligno-cellulosic feedstock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Biochemtex S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paola Branduardi, Danilo Porro
  • Publication number: 20110104769
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of organic acids with yeasts that overexpress at least one sugar transporter. The yeast might express further genes related to the production of the desired organic acid. The organic acid is produced by cultivation of the yeast overexpressing a sugar transporter in an adequate culture medium, whereupon the desired organic acid is accumulated in the culture medium and subsequently purified to the desired degree by techniques known in the art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: UNIVERSITA' DEGLI STUDI DI MILANO-BICOCCA
    Inventors: Danilo Porro, Paola Branduardi, Michael Sauer
  • Patent number: 7579171
    Abstract: Herein is disclosed a method of generating ascorbic acid from yeast. In one embodiment, the yeast is a Zygosaccharomyces spp. or a Kluyveromyces spp. growing in a medium comprising an ascorbic acid precursor. In a second embodiment the yeast is a recombinant yeast growing in a medium comprising an ascorbic acid precursor. Preferably the recombinant yeast is transformed with a coding region encoding an enzyme selected from L-galactose dehydrogenase (LGDH), L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (AGD), D-arabinose dehydrogenase (ARA), D-arabinono-1,4-lactone oxidase (ALO) or L-gulono-1,4-lactone oxidase (RGLO). The ascorbic acid precursor is preferably D-glucose, L-galactose, L-galactono-1,4-lactone, or L-gulono-1,4-lactone. In another preferred embodiment the ascorbic acid is accumulated in the medium at levels greater than background. Preferably, the yield of the conversion of the precursor to ascorbic acid is preferably at least about 35%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Universita Degli Studi Di Milano, Bicocca
    Inventors: Danilo Porro, Michael Sauer
  • Publication number: 20090081793
    Abstract: A method for increasing tolerance in yeast to organic acids and low pH comprising functionally transforming a yeast with at least one copy of a nucleotide sequence encoding a plasma membrane H+-ATPase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Danilo Porro, Laura Dato, Paola Branduardi
  • Patent number: 7473540
    Abstract: A method of producing an organic acid by staining a yeast population with a stain capable of internal pH (pHi)-dependent fluorescence, to yield a stained yeast population; determining a gate pH and a corresponding fluorescence parameter of the stained yeast population; and sorting the cells of the stained yeast population such that the cells having a pHi above the gate pH are retained and the cells having a pHi below the gate pH are discarded, to yield a yeast population for the production of the organic acid. Also, a method of producing an organic acid by performing the above steps, followed by isolating individual cells of the yeast population, to yield individual yeast cells for the production of an organic acid; culturing an individual yeast cell, to yield a cloned yeast population for the production of an organic acid; and incubating the cloned yeast population for the production of an organic acid in a medium containing an organic acid precursor, to produce the organic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Minoska Valli, Michael Sauer, Danilo Porro, Paola Branduardi, Diethard Mattanovich
  • Patent number: 7326550
    Abstract: Yeast strains transformed with at least one copy of a gene coding for lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and further modified for the production of lactic acid with high yield and productivities, are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Danilo Porro, Michele Bianchi, Bianca Maria Ranzi, Laura Frontali, Marina Vai, Aaron Adrian Winkler, Lilia Alberghina
  • Publication number: 20070141687
    Abstract: A method of increasing stress tolerance in recombinant organisms that have been engineered for industrial production is described. Stress tolerance is increased by making L-ascorbic acid available to the recombinant organism, either by exogenous addition to the culture medium or by endogenous production from D-glucose by the recombinant organism. To enable endogenous production, the recombinant organism is transformed with a coding region encoding a mannose epimerase (ME), a coding region encoding an L-galactose dehydrogenase (LGDH), and a D-arabinono-1,4-lactone oxidase (ALO). The recombinant organism may be further transformed with a myoinositol phosphatase (MIP).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Danilo Porro, Paola Branduardi, Diethard Mattanovich, Michael Sauer
  • Publication number: 20070065899
    Abstract: A method of producing an organic acid by staining a yeast population with a stain capable of internal pH (pHi)-dependent fluorescence, to yield a stained yeast population; determining a gate pH and a corresponding fluorescence parameter of the stained yeast population; and sorting the cells of the stained yeast population such that the cells having a pHi above the gate pH are retained and the cells having a pHi below the gate pH are discarded, to yield a yeast population for the production of the organic acid. Also, a method of producing an organic acid by performing the above steps, followed by isolating individual cells of the yeast population, to yield individual yeast cells for the production of an organic acid; culturing an individual yeast cell, to yield a cloned yeast population for the production of an organic acid; and incubating the cloned yeast population for the production of an organic acid in a medium containing an organic acid precursor, to produce the organic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventors: Minoska Valli, Michael Sauer, Danilo Porro, Paola Branduardi, Diethard Mattanovich
  • Publication number: 20070065905
    Abstract: Herein is disclosed a method for the production of proteins. The protein is expressed by a yeast belonging to the species Zygosaccharomyces bailii. The yeast secretes the protein produced into the culture medium from where it is isolated, thereby simplifying the isolation process. Preferably the yeast is cultivated in chemically defined medium, thereby further simplifying the isolation process significantly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventors: Paola Branduardi, Danilo Porro, Minoska Valli, Lllia Alberghina
  • Publication number: 20060234360
    Abstract: Herein is disclosed a method of generating ascorbic acid from yeast transformed with a mannose epimerase. In a further embodiment, the yeast can be further transformed with a myoinositol phosphatase. In the method, the transformed yeast can produce L-ascorbic acid from D-glucose. The transformed yeast has been observed to have increased growth rate, cell density, or survival when cultured on appropriate media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Inventors: Paola Branduardi, Michael Sauer, Diethard Mattanovich, Danilo Porro
  • Publication number: 20060148050
    Abstract: Yeast strains transformed with at least one copy of a gene coding for lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and further modified for the production of lactic acid with high yield and productivities, are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: Danilo Porro, Michele Bianchi, Bianca Ranzi, Laura Frontali, Marina Vai, Aaron Winkler, Lilia Alberghina
  • Patent number: 7049108
    Abstract: Yeast strains transformed with at least one copy of a gene coding for lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and further modified for the production of lactic acid with high yield and productivities, are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Danilo Porro, Michele Bianchi, Bianca Maria Ranzi, Laura Frontali, Marina Vai, Aaron Adrian Winkler, Lilia Alberghina
  • Patent number: 7041477
    Abstract: The invention refers to the production of recombinant gene products from cultures of the yeast Zygosaccharomyces bailii strains transformed with expression vectors bearing the gene coding for said proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Luca Brambilla, Bianca Maria Ranzi, Marina Vai, Lilia Alberghina, Danilo Porro
  • Publication number: 20050260722
    Abstract: Herein is disclosed a method of generating ascorbic acid from yeast. In one embodiment, the yeast is a Zygosaccharomyces spp. or a Kluyveromyces spp. growing in a medium comprising an ascorbic acid precursor. In a second embodiment the yeast is a recombinant yeast growing in a medium comprising an ascorbic acid precursor. Preferably the recombinant yeast is transformed with a coding region encoding an enzyme selected from L-galactose dehydrogenase (LGDH), L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (AGD), D-arabinose dehydrogenase (ARA), D-arabinono-1,4-lactone oxidase (ALO) or L-gulono-1,4-lactone oxidase (RGLO). The ascorbic acid precursor is preferably D-glucose, L-galactose, L-galactono-1,4-lactone, or L-gulono-1,4-lactone. In another preferred embodiment the ascorbic acid is accumulated in the medium at levels greater than background. Preferably, the yield of the conversion of the precursor to ascorbic acid is preferably at least about 35%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventors: Danilo Porro, Michael Sauer
  • Publication number: 20050019879
    Abstract: Herein is disclosed a method of generating ascorbic acid from yeast. In one embodiment, the yeast is a Zygosaccharomyces spp. or a Kluyveromyces spp. growing in a medium comprising an ascorbic acid precursor. In a second embodiment the yeast is a recombinant yeast growing in a medium comprising an ascorbic acid precursor. Preferably the recombinant yeast is transformed with a coding region encoding an enzyme selected from L-galactose dehydrogenase (LGDH), L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (AGD), D-arabinose dehydrogenase (ARA), D-arabinono-1,4-lactone oxidase (ALO) or L-gulono-1,4-lactone oxidase (RGLO). The ascorbic acid precursor is preferably D-glucose, L-galactose, L-galactono-1,4-lactone, or L-gulono-1,4-lactone. In another preferred embodiment the ascorbic acid is accumulated in the medium at levels greater than background. Preferably, the yield of the conversion of the precursor to ascorbic acid is preferably at least about 35%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: Danilo Porro, Michael Sauer
  • Patent number: 6841378
    Abstract: The production of recombinant gene products from cultures of the yeast Zygosaccharomyces bailii strains transformed with expression vectors bearing the gene coding for the proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Biopolo S.C.R.L.
    Inventors: Luca Brambilla, Bianca Maria Ranzi, Marina Vai, Lilia Alberghina, Danilo Porro
  • Publication number: 20040146977
    Abstract: The invention refers to the production of recombinant gene products from cultures of the yeast Zygosaccharomyces bailii strains transformed with expression vectors bearing the gene coding for said proteins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: Biopolo S.C.a.R.L.
    Inventors: Luca Brambilla, Bianca Maria Ranzi, Marina Vai, Lilia Alberghina, Danilo Porro
  • Patent number: 6630330
    Abstract: Herein is disclosed a method of generating ascorbic acid from yeast. In one embodiment, the yeast is a Zygosaccharomyces spp. or a Kluyveromyces spp. growing in a medium comprising an ascorbic acid precursor. In a second embodiment the yeast is a recombinant yeast growing in a medium comprising an ascorbic acid precursor. Preferably the recombinant yeast is transformed with a coding region encoding an enzyme selected from L-galactose dehydrogenase (LGDH), L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (AGD), D-arabinose dehydrogenase (ARA), D-arabinono-1,4-lactone oxidase (ALO) or L-gulono-1,4-lactone oxidase (RGLO). The ascorbic acid precursor is preferably D-glucose, L-galactose, L-galactono-1,4-lactone, or L-gulono-1,4-lactone. In another preferred embodiment the ascorbic acid is accumulated in the medium at levels greater than background. Preferably, the yield of the conversion of the precursor to ascorbic acid is preferably at least about 35%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Biopolo S.C.a.R.L.
    Inventors: Danilo Porro, Michael Sauer