Patents by Inventor Kevin Michael Croker

Kevin Michael Croker 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).

  • Host cell modifications that improve peptide production and downstream processing
    Patent number: 7915011
    Abstract: Disrupting the expression of endogenous Escherichia host cell genes gcvA and spr provides mutant host cells having increased heterologous peptide production. The addition of a genetic modification to the coding region of gene yejM further enhances peptide production and facilitates easier downstream processing. Recombinant Escherichia host cells are provided as well as methods of using such host cells for heterologous peptide production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Qi Chen, Qiong Cheng, Kevin Michael Croker, Thomas Eduard Friedmann, Kristin Ruebling-Jass
  • Use of tetracysteine tags in fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis of prokaryotic cells producing peptides or proteins
    Patent number: 7794963
    Abstract: A process of in vivo labeling and identifying recombinantly produced peptides or proteins within an unpermeabilized prokaryotic host cell. Recombinant prokaryotic cells expressing a fusion peptide comprising at least one tetracysteine tag were labeled in vivo using a biarsenical labeling reagent. A fluorescent activated cell sorter was used to identify and select subpopulations of fluorescent cells wherein the amount of fusion peptide in the cell was proportional to the amount of fluorescence detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Qiong Cheng, Kevin Michael Croker, Stephen R. Fahnestock, Tanja Maria Gruber, Kristin Ruebling-Jass, Jianzhong Zhang
  • HOST CELL MODIFICATIONS THAT IMPROVE PEPTIDE PRODUCTION AND DOWNSTREAM PROCESSING
    Publication number: 20100227361
    Abstract: Disrupting the expression of endogenous Escherichia host cell genes gcvA and spr provides mutant host cells having increased heterologous peptide production. The addition of a genetic modification to the coding region of gene yejM further enhances peptide production and facilitates easier downstream processing. Recombinant Escherichia host cells are provided as well as methods of using such host cells for heterologous peptide production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: QI CHEN, Qiong Cheng, Kevin Michael Croker, Thomas Eduard Friedmann, Kristin Ruebling-Jass
  • GENES THAT INCREASE PEPTIDE PRODUCTION
    Publication number: 20100159513
    Abstract: Several endogenous genes have been identified in Escherichia coli, the overexpression of which increases recombinant peptide production. Increasing the copy number of aroB, aroK, proB, or crl increases the amount of a recombinant peptide produced by a host cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPNAY
    Inventors: Qiong Cheng, Kevin Michael Croker, Kristin Ruebling-Jass, Hong Wang, Jianzhong Zhang
  • Gene knockout mutations that increase peptide production
    Patent number: 7662587
    Abstract: Disrupting the expression of endogenous Escherichia host cell genes gcvA and spr provides mutant host cells having increased heterologous peptide production relative to control Escherichia host cells. Recombinant Escherichia host cells are provided as well as methods of using such host cells for heterologous peptide production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Qiong Cheng, Kevin Michael Croker, Kristin Ruebling-Jass, Hong Wang
  • Nanoparticle composite-coated glass microspheres for use in bioassays
    Patent number: 7572643
    Abstract: A microsphere for use in a bioassay comprising a glass core coated with a nanoparticle composite comprising a bioactive probe is provided. The nanoparticle composite coating enhances the density of bioprobe loading on the surface of the microspheres, resulting in enhanced dynamic range and sensitivity in bioassays. The particle may be used in detection systems where resonant light scattering properties of the particle are useful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Kevin Michael Croker, Michael B. Damore, Kostantinos Kourtakis, Michael P. Perry, James M. Prober, Paul Douglas Stull
  • USE OF TETRACYSTEINE TAGS IN FLUORESCENCE-ACTIVATED CELL SORTING ANALYSIS OF PROKARYOTIC CELLS PRODUCING PEPTIDES OR PROTEINS
    Publication number: 20090117609
    Abstract: A process of in vivo labeling and identifying recombinantly produced peptides or proteins within an unpermeabilized prokaryotic host cell. Recombinant prokaryotic cells expressing a fusion peptide comprising at least one tetracysteine tag were labeled in vivo using a biarsenical labeling reagent. A fluorescent activated cell sorter was used to identify and select subpopulations of fluorescent cells wherein the amount of fusion peptide in the cell was proportional to the amount of fluorescence detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: E. I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Qiong Cheng, Kevin Michael Croker, Stephen R. Fahnestock, Tanja Maria Gruber, Kristin Ruebling-Jass, Jianzhong Zhang