Patents by Inventor Ka Yiu On

Ka Yiu On 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).

  • Publication number: 20140227745
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a metabolic transistor in bacteria where a competitive pathway is introduced to compete with a product pathway for available carbon so as to control the carbon flux in the bacteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu SAN, George N. BENNETT, Hui WU
  • Patent number: 8795991
    Abstract: Improved bacteria for making succinate and other 4 carbon dicarboxylates from the Krebs cycle have modifications to reduce acetate, lactate, EtOH and formate, as well as turn on the glyoxylate shunt, produce more NADH and overexpress In one embodiment, the bacteria are ?adhE?ldhA?iclR?ack-pta plus PYC+ and NAD+-dependant FDH+.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George Bennett, Grant Balzer, Jiangfeng Zhu, Chandresh Thakker, Ailen Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20140212935
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an engineered bacteria for producing short chain fatty acid with the overexpression of a long chain (>C12) acyl-ACP thioesterases (long-TE) and a short chain (?C12) acyl-ACP thioesterases (short-TE).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu SAN, Songi HAN
  • Publication number: 20140193867
    Abstract: Engineered bacteria that produce a predominance of odd-chain free fatty acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu SAN, Hui WU
  • Patent number: 8709753
    Abstract: This invention is metabolically engineer bacterial strains that provide increased intracellular NADPH availability for the purpose of increasing the yield and productivity of NADPH-dependent compounds. In the invention, native NAD-dependent GAPDH is replaced with NADP-dependent GAPDH plus overexpressed NADK. Uses for the bacteria are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George N. Bennett, Yipeng Wang
  • Publication number: 20140093921
    Abstract: There is provided a recombinant bacterium comprising at least one overexpressed acyl-ACP thioesterase gene, and wherein at least one gene from the tricarboxylic acid cycle or glycolysis or both is inactivated. There is also provided a method for producing fatty acids, said method comprising culturing bacteria comprising at least one overexpressed acyl-ACP thioesterase gene in a growth medium in a container having walls; allowing said bacteria to secrete fatty acids; and collecting said fatty acids. Acid supplementation is also shown to increase productivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, Mai Li, Xiujun Zhang
  • Publication number: 20130203137
    Abstract: Improved bacteria for making succinate and other 4 carbon dicarboxylates from the Krebs cycle have modifications to reduce acetate, lactate, EtOH and formate, as well as turn on the glyoxylate shunt, produce more NADH and overexpress In one embodiment, the bacteria are ?adhE?ldhA?iclR?ack-pta plus PYC+ and NAD+-dependant FDH+.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George N. Bennett, Grant J. Balzer, Jiangfeng Zhu, Chandresh Thakker, Ailen M. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 8486686
    Abstract: A new culture method for producing high levels of a metabolite, such as succinic acid uses oxygen rich culture without pH adjustment to increase the biomass, acclimation in under oxygen lean conditions having <5% partial pressure of oxygen, and the production of high levels of succinate under oxygen deprived conditions. The method can be performed in a single reactor, and is amenable to efficient scale up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Laurent Segueilha, Ka-Yiu San, George Bennett, Irene Martinez
  • Publication number: 20130052705
    Abstract: Bacteria optimized to produce succinate and other feedstocks by growing on low cost carbon sources, such as sucrose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George N. Bennett, Jian Wang
  • Patent number: 8236525
    Abstract: A method of producing biological products using bacteria with an inactivated ptsHI and wild type err and no added glucose transport activity and which consumes nearly all glucose in the media is described. The ?ptsHI bacteria produce large quantities of recombinant protein without producing significant amounts of acetate. The bacteria grow well on standard LB broth without additional supplementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George N. Bennett, Thomas Bryce Causey, Matthew Sing Wong, Steven Wu
  • Patent number: 8207313
    Abstract: New and useful compounds C. roseus cultured hairy roots are provided, by Isolating flavone glycosides together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. This is accomplished by immersing powdered the hairy roots in methanol to produce an extract, concentrating the extract, resuspending the extract in water, extracting the compound with organic solvent, and isolating the compound from the organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, Ill-Min Chung, Ateeque Ahmad
  • Patent number: 8143035
    Abstract: The invention relates to the synthesis of polyketides in Actinomycetes by overexpression of pantothenate kinase and supplementation with pantothenic acid. This results in increasing in vivo CoA production and thereby drives increased production of secondary metabolites, such as polyketides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Rice University
    Inventors: Hei Chan Lee, Jae Kyung Sohng, Ka-Yiu San
  • Patent number: 7988344
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus useable with a bicycle or other manually operated vehicle includes first and second housings, as well as a connection mechanism by which the first and second housings are attachable to and detachable from each other. A central processing unit and at least one power source are receivable within the first housing, while the second housing includes a light emitting element that is adjustable to multiple angular positions relative to the first housing to provide illumination at different emission angles. The second housing constitutes one of a plurality of second housings that are interchangeable to provide for varied lighting conditions. The connection mechanism allows relative pivotal movement between the first and second housings and permits electrical communication between the light emitting element and the power source when the first and second housings are attached to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Acumen, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheuk Nam Ma, Kwok Ming Au, Ka Yiu Sham
  • Patent number: 7935511
    Abstract: Methods of increasing yields of succinate using aerobic culture methods and a multi-mutant E. coli strain are provided. Also provided is a mutant strain of E. coli that produces high amounts of succinic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George N. Bennett, Henry Lin
  • Patent number: 7927859
    Abstract: The invention relates to increasing the yield of succinate in bacteria by increasing the intracellular availability of cofactors such as NADH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George N. Bennett, Ailen Sánchez
  • Patent number: 7901924
    Abstract: Methods of increasing the cellular pool of A-CoA and thus driving the metabolic pathways in the direction of A-CoA containing metabolites by overexpressing rate limiting enzymes in A-CoA synthesis. Methods of increasing intracellular levels of CoA and A-CoA through genetic engineering of bacterial strains in conjunction with supplementation with precursor molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George Nelson Bennett, Ravishankar V. Vadali
  • Publication number: 20100246199
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus useable with a bicycle or other manually operated vehicle includes first and second housings, as well as a connection mechanism by which the first and second housings are attachable to and detachable from each other. A central processing unit and at least one power source are receivable within the first housing, while the second housing includes a light emitting element that is adjustable to multiple angular positions relative to the first housing to provide illumination at different emission angles. The second housing constitutes one of a plurality of second housings that are interchangeable to provide for varied lighting conditions. The connection mechanism allows relative pivotal movement between the first and second housings and permits electrical communication between the light emitting element and the power source when the first and second housings are attached to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Acumen, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheuk Nam MA, Kwok Ming Au, Ka Yiu Sham
  • Patent number: 7790416
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mutant strain of bacteria, which either lacks or contains mutant genes for several key metabolic enzymes, and which produces high amounts of succinic acid under anaerobic conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George N. Bennett, Ailen Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20100196958
    Abstract: A method of producing biological products using bacteria with an inactivated ptsHI and wild type err and no added glucose transport activity and which consumes nearly all glucose in the media is described. The ?ptsHI bacteria produce large quantities of recombinant protein without producing significant amounts of acetate. The bacteria grow well on standard LB broth without additional supplementation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, George N. Bennett, Thomas Bryce Causey, Matthew Sing Wong, Steven Wu
  • Publication number: 20100184195
    Abstract: The present invention describes a novel recombinant NADH recycling system that is used as a process for producing reduced compounds. In a specific embodiment, the reduced compounds include ethanol, succinate, lactate, a vitamin, a pharmaceutical and a biodegraded organic molecule. The NADH recycling system effects metabolic flux of reductive pathways in aerobic and anaerobic environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Rice University
    Inventors: Ka-Yiu San, Susana J. Berrios-Rivera, George N. Bennett