Patents by Inventor Eric R. Moellering

Eric R. Moellering 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: 12385022
    Abstract: The invention involves the provision of recombinant algal mutants that have a genetic modification to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a trehalose biosynthetic enzyme, and/or a genetic modification to a nucleic acid encoding an RNA binding domain And in some embodiments either of these algal mutants can further have a genetic mutation to a nucleic acid sequence encoding an SGI1 polypeptide. Attenuation of one, two, or all three of these genes results in a mutant organism with increased lipid productivity. It was also discovered that one, two, three, or more genetic mutations can be accumulated or “stacked” in a particular mutant cell or organism to result in further increases in the production of lipid products. The lipid products of these mutants are useful as biofuels or for other specialty chemical products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: Viridos, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric R. Moellering, Saheed Imam, Luke Peach, Ryan Kalb, Sarah Potts
  • Patent number: 12077747
    Abstract: The invention provides recombinant algal organisms that have a genetic modification to a gene or nucleic acid sequence encoding an RNA binding domain. In some embodiments the genetic modification can be a functional deletion or attenuation of the gene. The genetic modification results in a mutant organism with increased lipid productivity and/or higher biomass productivity. The lipid products of these mutants can be utilized as biofuels or to manufacture other specialty products. The recombinant mutants can also, optionally, have a genetic modification to a gene encoding an SGI1 polypeptide. Methods of making and using the recombinant algal mutants and methods of producing lipids are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Viridos, Inc.
    Inventors: Saheed Imam, Eric R. Moellering, Luke Peach, William F. Lambert, Jessica Weir
  • Publication number: 20240247290
    Abstract: The invention provides recombinant algal mutants that have a genetic modification to a gene or nucleic acid sequence encoding a WD40 repeat containing protein or domain. The genetic modification of one or more nucleic acid sequences encoding a WD40 repeat containing protein or domain results in a mutant organism with increased lipid productivity and/or higher biomass productivity (as measured by total organic carbon). The genetic modification can be a gene attenuation or functional deletion. The lipid products of these mutants can be utilized as biofuels or for other specialty chemical products. Methods of making and using the recombinant algal mutants and methods of producing lipids are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Saheed Imam, Eric R. Moellering, Luke Peach, Wiilliam F. Lambert, Kathleen Kwok
  • Patent number: 11976315
    Abstract: The invention provides recombinant algal mutants that have a genetic modification to a gene or nucleic acid sequence encoding a WD40 repeat containing protein or domain. The genetic modification of one or more nucleic acid sequences encoding a WD40 repeat containing protein or domain results in a mutant organism with increased lipid productivity and/or higher biomass productivity (as measured by total organic carbon). The genetic modification can be a gene attenuation or functional deletion. The lipid products of these mutants can be utilized as biofuels or for other specialty chemical products. Methods of making and using the recombinant algal mutants and methods of producing lipids are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Viridos, Inc.
    Inventors: Saheed Imam, Eric R. Moellering, Luke Peach, William F. Lambert, Kathleen Kwok
  • Publication number: 20240124858
    Abstract: The invention involves the provision of recombinant algal mutants that have a genetic modification to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a trehalose biosynthetic enzyme, and/or a genetic modification to a nucleic acid encoding an RNA binding domain And in some embodiments either of these algal mutants can further have a genetic mutation to a nucleic acid sequence encoding an SGI1 polypeptide. Attenuation of one, two, or all three of these genes results in a mutant organism with increased lipid productivity. It was also discovered that one, two, three, or more genetic mutations can be accumulated or “stacked” in a particular mutant cell or organism to result in further increases in the production of lipid products. The lipid products of these mutants are useful as biofuels or for other specialty chemical products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Eric R. Moellering, Saheed Imam, Luke Peach, Ryan Kalb, Sarah Potts
  • Publication number: 20240052001
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are mutant photosynthetic microorgnaisms having an attenuated SGI1 gene. The mutants have reduced chlorophyll and increased productivity with respect to wild type cells. Also disclosed are methods of using such mutants for producing biomass or bioproducts, and methods of screening for such mutants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Eric R. Moellering, Nicholas Bauman, Randor R. Radakovits, Roberto Spreafico, Fedor Kuzminov, Imad Ajjawi, Saheed Imam, Andrew Schultz, Kathleen Kwok, Moena Aqui, Jennifer Nominati, John Verruto, Shaun Bailey
  • Patent number: 11859218
    Abstract: The invention involves the provision of recombinant algal mutants that have a genetic modification to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a trehalose biosynthetic enzyme, and/or a genetic modification to a nucleic acid encoding an RNA binding domain. And in some embodiments either of these algal mutants can further have a genetic mutation to a nucleic acid sequence encoding an SGI1 polypeptide. Attenuation of one, two, or all three of these genes results in a mutant organism with increased lipid productivity. It was also discovered that one, two, three, or more genetic mutations can be accumulated or “stacked” in a particular mutant cell or organism to result in further increases in the production of lipid products. The lipid products of these mutants are useful as biofuels or for other specialty chemical products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Viridos, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric R. Moellering, Saheed Imam, Luke Peach, Ryan Kalb, Sarah Potts
  • Patent number: 11787843
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are mutant photosynthetic microorganisms having an attenuated SGI1 gene. The mutants have reduced chlorophyll and increased productivity with respect to wild type cells. Also disclosed are methods of using such mutants for producing biomass or bioproducts, and methods of screening for such mutants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Viridos, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric R. Moellering, Nicholas Bauman, Randor R. Radakovits, Roberto Spreafico, Fedor Kuzminov, Imad Ajjawi, Saheed Imam, Andrew Schultz, Kathleen Kwok, Moena Aqui, Jennifer Nominati, John Verruto, Shaun Bailey
  • Patent number: 11332764
    Abstract: The present invention provides mutant microorganism that have higher lipid productivity than the wild type microorganisms from which they are derived while biomass at levels that are within approximately 50% of wild type biomass productivities under nitrogen replete conditions. Particular mutants produce at least twice as much FAME lipid as wild type while producing at least 75% of the biomass produced by wild type cells under nitrogen replete conditions. Also provided are methods of producing lipid using the mutant strains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Viridos, Inc.
    Inventors: Imad Ajjawi, Eric R. Moellering, Leah Soriaga, Moena Aqui
  • Publication number: 20220136017
    Abstract: The invention provides recombinant algal mutants that have a genetic modification to a gene or nucleic acid sequence encoding a WD40 repeat containing protein or domain. The genetic modification of one or more nucleic acid sequences encoding a WD40 repeat containing protein or domain results in a mutant organism with increased lipid productivity and/or higher biomass productivity (as measured by total organic carbon). The genetic modification can be a gene attenuation or functional deletion. The lipid products of these mutants can be utilized as biofuels or for other specialty chemical products. Methods of making and using the recombinant algal mutants and methods of producing lipids are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Saheed Imam, Eric R. Moellering, Luke Peach, William F. Lambert, Kathleen Kwok
  • Publication number: 20220090002
    Abstract: The invention provides recombinant algal organisms that have a genetic modification to a gene or nucleic acid sequence encoding an RNA binding domain. In some embodiments the genetic modification can be a functional deletion or attenuation of the gene. The genetic modification results in a mutant organism with increased lipid productivity and/or higher biomass productivity. The lipid products of these mutants can be utilized as biofuels or to manufacture other specialty products. The recombinant mutants can also, optionally, have a genetic modification to a gene encoding an SGI1 polypeptide. Methods of making and using the recombinant algal mutants and methods of producing lipids are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Saheed Imam, Eric R. Moellering, Luke Peach, William F. Lambert, Jessica Weir
  • Patent number: 11046979
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mutant algal microorganism that has a mutation that causes attenuated expression of TrifuncB and/or TrifuncA and as a result produces more lipids than a control algal microorganism. The mutant algal microorganism can further include a mutation in a gene encoding a peroxisomal beta-oxidation pathway protein, such as an ACO1 or PXA1 gene, or a glyoxylate pathway protein, such as an ICL1 gene, that results in attenuated expression and further increased lipid production. Furthermore, provided herein are methods of producing lipids using the mutant algal microorganisms and methods of making the mutant microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Synthetic Genomics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric R. Moellering, Tom Carlson
  • Publication number: 20210188924
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are mutant photosynthetic microorganisms having an attenuated SGI1 gene. The mutants have reduced chlorophyll and increased productivity with respect to wild type cells. Also disclosed are methods of using such mutants for producing biomass or bioproducts, and methods of screening for such mutants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Eric R. Moellering, Nicholas Bauman, Randor R. Radakovits, Roberto Spreafico, Fedor Kuzminov, Imad Ajjawi, Saheed Imam, Andrew Schultz, Kathleen Kwok, Moena Aqui, Jennifer Nominati, John Verruto, Shaun Bailey
  • Publication number: 20210180036
    Abstract: The invention involves the provision of recombinant algal mutants that have a genetic modification to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a trehalose biosynthetic enzyme, and/or a genetic modification to a nucleic acid encoding an RNA binding domain. And in some embodiments either of these algal mutants can further have a genetic mutation to a nucleic acid sequence encoding an SGI1 polypeptide. Attenuation of one, two, or all three of these genes results in a mutant organism with increased lipid productivity. It was also discovered that one, two, three, or more genetic mutations can be accumulated or “stacked” in a particular mutant cell or organism to result in further increases in the production of lipid products. The lipid products of these mutants are useful as biofuels or for other specialty chemical products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Eric R. Moellering, Saheed Imam, Luke Peach, Ryan Kalb, Sarah Potts
  • Patent number: 10968259
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are mutant photosynthetic microorgnaisms having an attenuated SGI1 gene. The mutants have reduced chlorophyll and increased productivity with respect to wild type cells. Also disclosed are methods of using such mutants for producing biomass or bioproducts, and methods of screening for such mutants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Synthetic Genomics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric R. Moellering, Nicholas Bauman, Randor R. Radakovits, Roberto Spreafico, Fedor Kuzminov, Imad Ajjawi, Saheed Imam, Andrew Schultz, Kathleen Kwok, Moena Aqui, Jennifer Nominati, John Verruto, Shaun Bailey
  • Publication number: 20210040515
    Abstract: The present invention provides mutant microorganism that have higher lipid productivity than the wild type microorganisms from which they are derived while biomass at levels that are within approximately 50% of wild type biomass productivities under nitrogen replete conditions. Particular mutants produce at least twice as much FAME lipid as wild type while producing at least 75% of the biomass produced by wild type cells under nitrogen replete conditions. Also provided are methods of producing lipid using the mutant strains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Imad Ajjawi, Eric R. Moellering, Leah Soriaga, Moena Aqui
  • Patent number: 10689676
    Abstract: The present invention provides mutant microorganism that have higher lipid productivity than the wild type microorganisms from which they are derived while producing biomass at levels that are at least 45% of wild type biomass productivity under nitrogen replete conditions. Particular mutants produce at least 50% as much FAME lipid as wild type while producing at least the amount of biomass produced by wild type cells under nitrogen replete conditions. Also provided are methods of producing lipid using the mutant strains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Synthetic Genomics, Inc.
    Inventors: Imad Ajjawi, Leah Soriaga, Moena Aqui, Eric R. Moellering
  • Publication number: 20200172943
    Abstract: The present invention provides mutant microorganism that have higher lipid productivity than the wild type microorganisms from which they are derived while biomass at levels that are within approximately 50% of wild type biomass productivities under nitrogen replete conditions. Particular mutants produce at least twice as much FAME lipid as wild type while producing at least 75% of the biomass produced by wild type cells under nitrogen replete conditions. Also provided are methods of producing lipid using the mutant strains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Imad Ajjawi, Eric R. Moellering, Leah Soriaga, Moena Aqui
  • Patent number: 10563232
    Abstract: The present invention provides mutant microorganism that have higher lipid productivity than the wild type microorganisms from which they are derived while biomass at levels that are within approximately 50% of wild type biomass productivities under nitrogen replete conditions. Particular mutants produce at least twice as much FAME lipid as wild type while producing at least 75% of the biomass produced by wild type cells under nitrogen replete conditions. Also provided are methods of producing lipid using the mutant strains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Synthetic Genomics, Inc.
    Inventors: Imad Ajjawi, Eric R. Moellering, Leah Soriaga, Moena Aqui
  • Publication number: 20190233855
    Abstract: The present invention provides mutant microorganism that have higher lipid productivity than the wild type microorganisms from which they are derived while biomass at levels that are within approximately 50% of wild type biomass productivities under nitrogen replete conditions. Particular mutants produce at least twice as much FAME lipid as wild type while producing at least 75% of the biomass produced by wild type cells under nitrogen replete conditions. Also provided are methods of producing lipid using the mutant strains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Imad Ajjawi, Eric R. Moellering, Leah Soriaga, Moena Aqui