Patents by Inventor Howard Chou

Howard Chou 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: 11781163
    Abstract: Provided microorganisms genetically modified to overexpress an imine/enamine deaminase to enhance the production of lysine and lysine derivatives by the microorganism. Also provided a method of generating such microorganism, and methods of producing lysine and lysine derivatives using the genetically modified microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignees: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Ling Chen, Xiucai Liu
  • Publication number: 20230295602
    Abstract: This invention provides acid decarboxylase-prion subunit fusion polypeptides, nucleic acid sequences, expression vectors, and host cells expression such fusion polypeptides to produce various amino acids and derivatives of the amino acids such as polyamines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Ling Chen, Wenqiang Lu, Xiucai Liu
  • Patent number: 11753629
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of preparing a long chain dicarboxylic acid producing strain by using directed evolution and homologous recombination, a strain obtained by this method that is capable of producing a long chain dicarboxylic acid under an acidic condition and the use of the strain. In particular, the invention is directed to a method of preparing a long chain dicarboxylic acid producing strain by using directed evolution of CYP52A12 gene and homologous recombination, a strain obtained by this method that is capable of producing a long chain dicarboxylic acid under an acidic condition and the use of the strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo Liu, Min Xu, Howard Chou, Xiucai Liu
  • Publication number: 20220380816
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of long-chain dibasic acid impurity of shorter carbon chain, to the preparation of a long-chain dibasic acid producing strain by directed evolution of POX gene and homologous recombination, and to the production of a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of long-chain dibasic acid impurity of shorter carbon chain by using the strain. The present invention also relates to a strain containing a mutated promoter, wherein, when a long-chain dibasic acid is produced by fermentation of this strain, the content of the acid impurity of shorter carbon chain in the fermentation product is significantly reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Wenbo LIU, Min XU, Chen YANG, Howard CHOU, Xiucai LIU
  • Patent number: 11512302
    Abstract: The invention provides CadA polypeptides with mutations that increase activity in alkaline pH compared to the wild-type lysine decarboxylase. The invention also provides methods of generating such mutant polypeptides, microorganisms genetically modified to overexpress the mutant polypeptides, and methods of generating such microorganism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignees: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Wenqiang Lu, Ling Chen, Lijun Yu, Xiucai Liu
  • Patent number: 11485986
    Abstract: The invention provides microorganisms genetically modified to overexpress biofilm dispersal related polypeptides to enhance the production of lysine and lysine derivatives by the microorganism, method of generating such microorganism, and methods of producing lysine and lysine derivatives using the genetically modified microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Ling Chen, Yunfeng Lei, Xiucai Liu
  • Patent number: 11434510
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of long-chain dibasic acid impurity of shorter carbon chain, to the preparation of a long-chain dibasic acid producing strain by directed evolution of POX gene and homologous recombination, and to the production of a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of long-chain dibasic acid impurity of shorter carbon chain by using the strain. The present invention also relates to a strain containing a mutated promoter, wherein, when a long-chain dibasic acid is produced by fermentation of this strain, the content of the acid impurity of shorter carbon chain in the fermentation product is significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignees: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo Liu, Min Xu, Chen Yang, Howard Chou, Xiucai Liu
  • Patent number: 11261217
    Abstract: One aspect provided herein relates to lysine decarboxylase polypeptides comprising mutants of SEQ ID NO: 2 (i.e., mutants of Klebsiella oxytoca (K. oxytoca) Ldc) and/or fragments thereof. In certain embodiments, the mutants or fragments thereof may have at least about 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2. Another aspect provided herein relates to a DNA polynucleotide comprising one or more lysine decarboxylase nucleotide sequences of mutants of SEQ ID NO: 1 (i.e., mutants of K. oxytoca ldc), fragments thereof, or fragments of SEQ ID NO: 1 (i.e., fragments of K. oxytoca ldc). In certain embodiments, the DNA polynucleotide as disclosed herein may encode one or more lysine decarboxylase polypeptides provided herein. In certain embodiments, the DNA polynucleotide as disclosed herein may encode SEQ ID NO: 2, mutants, and/or fragments thereof. In certain embodiments, the lysine decarboxylase nucleotide sequences provided herein may have at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignees: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Naiqiang Li, Xiucai Liu
  • Patent number: 11225677
    Abstract: The invention relates to a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of monobasic acid impurity and a production method thereof, in particular to the preparation of a long-chain dibasic acid producing strain by means of directed evolution and homologous recombination, and to the production of a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of monobasic acid impurity by fermentation of said strain. The invention relates to a mutated CYP52A12 gene, homologous gene or variant thereof, which, relative to GenBank Accession Number AY230498 and taking the first base upstream of the start codon ATG as ?1, comprises a mutation. The invention relates to a strain comprising said mutated CYP52A12 gene, homologous gene or variant thereof wherein when the strain is fermented to produce a long-chain dibasic acid, the content of monobasic acid impurity in the fermentation product is significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignees: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo Liu, Min Xu, Chen Yang, Howard Chou, Xiucai Liu
  • Publication number: 20210340506
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of preparing a long chain dicarboxylic acid producing strain by using directed evolution and homologous recombination, a strain obtained by this method that is capable of producing a long chain dicarboxylic acid under an acidic condition and the use of the strain. In particular, the invention is directed to a method of preparing a long chain dicarboxylic acid producing strain by using directed evolution of CYP52A12 gene and homologous recombination, a strain obtained by this method that is capable of producing a long chain dicarboxylic acid under an acidic condition and the use of the strain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicants: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo LIU, Min XU, Howard CHOU, Xiucai LIU
  • Patent number: 11155840
    Abstract: The invention provides microorganisms genetically modified to overexpress thermophilic lysine decarboxylase polypeptides in a mesophilic host to enhance the production of lysine and lysine derivatives by the microorganism, method of generating such microorganism, and methods of producing lysine and lysine derivatives using the genetically modified microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignees: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT America Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Xiucai Liu
  • Patent number: 11136596
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of hydroxyl acid impurity and a production method thereof, in particular to a method for producing a long-chain dibasic acid with low content of hydroxyl acid impurity by fermenting a long-chain dibasic acid producing strain prepared by homologous recombination method. The present invention relates to a recombinant long-chain dibasic acid producing microorganism, having increased alcohol dehydrogenase activity and optionally decreased acyl-CoA oxidase activity. The present invention also relates to a method of producing a long-chain dibasic acid by the recombinant long-chain dibasic acid producing microorganism and use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignees: CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo Liu, Min Xu, Chen Yang, Howard Chou, Xiucai Liu
  • Patent number: 11118201
    Abstract: The invention provides microorganisms genetically modified to co-overexpress a carbohydrate binding module and lysine decarboxylase polypeptides in a mesophilic host to enhance the production of lysine derivatives by the microorganism, method of generating such microorganism, and methods of producing lysine derivatives using the genetically modified microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignees: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT America Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Ling Chen, Xiucai Liu
  • Patent number: 11098329
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to a mutant polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of Escherichia coli tetracycline efflux pump A (TetA). Another aspect of the invention relates to a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of TetA, a fragment thereof, or a mutant thereof. Another aspect of the invention relates to a first expression plasmid vector comprising one or more first polynucleotides encoding a first polypeptide comprising a tetracycline efflux pump polypeptide, a fragment thereof or a mutant thereof, one or more second polynucleotides independently selected from the group consisting of a third polynucleotide encoding a third polypeptide comprising a lysine decarboxylase polypeptide, a fragment thereof or a mutant thereof, and a fourth polynucleotide encoding a fourth polypeptide comprising a lysine biosynthesis polypeptide, a fragment thereof or a mutant thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignees: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Xiucai Liu
  • Patent number: 11091742
    Abstract: The invention relates to the directed evolution of CYP52A12 gene and the use thereof for the production of a dicarboxylic acid. In particular, it relates to a method of preparing a long chain dicarboxylic acid producing strain by using directed evolution and homologous recombination, a strain obtained by the method that is capable of producing a long chain dicarboxylic acid under an acidic condition and the use thereof. In particular, the invention relates to a method of preparing a long chain dicarboxylic acid producing strain by directed evolution of CYP52A12 gene and homologous recombination, a strain obtained by the method that is capable of producing a long chain dicarboxylic acid under an acidic condition and the use thereof. By directed evolution of CYP52A12 gene, one strain which has a base mutation at the promoter region of said gene and is capable of producing a long chain dicarboxylic acid under an acidic condition in a shortened fermentation time is screened out in the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignees: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo Liu, Min Xu, Howard Chou, Xiucai Liu
  • Patent number: 11078473
    Abstract: The invention provides CadA polypeptides with mutations that increase activity in alkaline pH compared to the wild-type lysine decarboxylase. The invention also provides methods of generating such mutant polypeptides, microorganisms genetically modified to overexpress the mutant polypeptides, and methods of generating such microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Ling Chen, Wenqiang Lu, Xiucai Liu
  • Patent number: 11041177
    Abstract: The invention provides CadA polypeptides with mutations that increase activity in alkaline pH compared to the wild-type lysine decarboxylase. The invention also provides methods of generating such mutant polypeptides, microorganisms genetically modified to overexpress the mutant polypeptides, and methods of generating such microorganism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignees: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Wenqiang Lu, Ling Chen, Xiucai Liu
  • Publication number: 20210180032
    Abstract: The invention relates to the directed evolution of CYP52A12 gene and the use thereof for the production of a dicarboxylic acid. In particular, it relates to a method of preparing a long chain dicarboxylic acid producing strain by using directed evolution and homologous recombination, a strain obtained by the method that is capable of producing a long chain dicarboxylic acid under an acidic condition and the use thereof. In particular, the invention relates to a method of preparing a long chain dicarboxylic acid producing strain by directed evolution of CYP52A12 gene and homologous recombination, a strain obtained by the method that is capable of producing a long chain dicarboxylic acid under an acidic condition and the use thereof. By directed evolution of CYP52A12 gene, one strain which has a base mutation at the promoter region of said gene and is capable of producing a long chain dicarboxylic acid under an acidic condition in a shortened fermentation time is screened out in the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicants: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo LIU, Min XU, Howard CHOU, Xiucai LIU
  • Publication number: 20210164003
    Abstract: Provided microorganisms genetically modified to overexpress an imine/enamine deaminase to enhance the production of lysine and lysine derivatives by the microorganism. Also provided a method of generating such microorganism, and methods of producing lysine and lysine derivatives using the genetically modified microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicants: CATHAY BIOTECH INC., CIBT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Howard CHOU, Ling CHEN, Xiucai LIU
  • Publication number: 20210155962
    Abstract: The invention provides CadA polypeptides with mutations that increase activity in alkaline pH compared to the wild-type lysine decarboxylase. The invention also provides methods of generating such mutant polypeptides, microorganisms genetically modified to overexpress the mutant polypeptides, and methods of generating such microorganism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Howard Chou, Wenqiang Lu, Ling Chen, Lijun Yu, Xiucai Liu