Patents by Inventor Douglas A. Higgins

Douglas A. Higgins 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).

  • Engineered microorganisms having resistance to ionic liquids
    Patent number: 10370418
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of genetically modifying microorganisms to enhance resistance to ionic liquids using a yeast Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS), or a Salmonella MFS SmvA Pump or SmvR Regulator, a Small Multidrug Resistance Family (SMR), or Saccharomyces cerevisiae YDR090C, polypeptide, host cells genetically modified in accordance with the methods, and methods of using the host cells in a reaction comprising biomass that has been pretreated with ionic liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Michael P. Thelen, Douglas A. Higgins, Thomas L. Ruegg
  • Engineered Microorganisms Having Resistance to Ionic Liquids
    Publication number: 20160090405
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of genetically modifying microorganisms to enhance resistance to ionic liquids using a yeast Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS), or a Salmonella MFS SmvA Pump or SmvR Regulator, a Small Multidrug Resistance Family (SMR), or Saccharomyces cerevisiae YDR090C, polypeptide, host cells genetically modified in accordance with the methods, and methods of using the host cells in a reaction comprising biomass that has been pretreated with ionic liquids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Michael P. Thelen, Douglas A. Higgins, Thomas L. Ruegg
  • Identification of bacterial autoinducer and use in treating bacterial pathogenicity
    Patent number: 8535689
    Abstract: A bacterial autoinducer, CAI-1, was purified and its structure identified. Methods for synthesis of the autoinducer and its analogues were elucidated. Methods of using the autoinducer or its analogues for treating bacterial pathogenicity and bio film formation are described. Methods for prevention and treatment of cholera are described. Synthetic (S)-3-hydroxytridecan-4-one functions as well as natural CAI-1 in repressing production of the virulence factor toxin co-regulated pilus (TCP). Strategies are described to manipulate bacterial quorum sensing in the clinical arena.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University
    Inventors: Bonnie Bassler, Martin Semmelhack, Douglas A. Higgins, Megan Eileen Bolitho, Kristina M. Kraml, Wai-Leung Ng
  • IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIAL AUTOINDUCER AND USE IN TREATING BACTERIAL PATHOGENICITY
    Publication number: 20100273890
    Abstract: A bacterial autoinducer, CAI-1, was purified and its structure identified. Methods for synthesis of the autoinducer and its analogues were elucidated. Methods of using the autoinducer or its analogues for treating bacterial pathogenicity and bio film formation are described. Methods for prevention and treatment of cholera are described. Synthetic (S)-3-hydroxytridecan-4-one functions as well as natural CAI-1 in repressing production of the virulence factor toxin co-regulated pilus (TCP). Strategies are described to manipulate bacterial quorum sensing in the clinical arena.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Bonnie L. Bassler, Martin Semmelhack, Douglas A. Higgins, Megan A. Pomianek, Kristina M. Kraml, Wai-Leung Ng