Patents by Inventor Leonardo De Maria

Leonardo De Maria 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: 8101391
    Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides having phytase activity. These polypeptides have an amino acid sequence which has at least 70% identity to either of three phytases derived from the bacterium Buttiauxella, and which comprises at least one of the following amino acids at the position indicated: 119N, 120L, and/or 121E. These phytases have an improved specific activity. Additional specific amino acid substitutions are also disclosed which characterize and distinguish additional phytases of the invention having improved properties such as temperature and/or pH stability, pH activity profile, temperature activity profile, substrate profile, improved performance in animal feed in vitro or in vivo. The invention also relates to isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Carsten Sjoeholm, Soeren Flensted Lassen, Lars Kobberoe Skov, Leonardo De Maria
  • Publication number: 20110258714
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a phytase which has at least 74% identity to a phytase derived from Citrobacter braakii and comprises at least one alteration as compared to this phytase. These phytase variants have amended, preferably improved, properties, such as thermostability, temperature profile, pH profile, specific activity, performance in animal feed, reduced protease sensitiliby, and/or an amended glycosylation pattern. The invention also relates to DNA encoding these phytases, methods of their production, as well as the use thereof, e.g. in animal feed and animal feed additives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Leonardo De Maria, Carsten Andersen, Lars Kobberoee Skov, Mikael Blom Soerensen
  • Publication number: 20110124084
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel class of serine proteases of peptidase family S2A or S1E that are stable in the presence of copper (Cu2+) and/or inhibited by copper only to a limited extent. Structural features of potential relevance for this effect are also disclosed. This class of proteases includes proteases derived from Brachysporiella gayana, Nocardiopsis dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei, Nocardiopsis prasina, and Nocardiopsis alba, but excludes the known proteases derived from Metarhizium anisopliae and Nocardiopsis sp. NRRL 18262. The invention also relates to DNA encoding such proteases, the expression thereof in a host cell, including animal and plant cells, as well as to the use thereof, e.g., in animal feed and in detergents. In particular, the invention relates to animal feed and animal feed additives, such as premix, incorporating these proteases together with 1-500 ppm Cu (in-feed-concentration).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Peter Rahbek Oestergaard, Leonardo De Maria
  • Publication number: 20110097445
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel 3D structure encoding a Nocardiopsis protease, as well as to variants of parent protease homologous to Nocardiopsis proteases, preferably of improved thermostability and/or with an amended temperature activity profile. The invention also relates to DNA sequences encoding such variants, their production in a recombinant host cell, as well as methods of using the variants, in particular within the field of animal feed and detergents. The invention furthermore relates to methods of generating and preparing protease variants of amended properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Leonardo De Maria, Carsten Andersen, Lars Lehmann Hylling Christensen, Søren Flensted Lassen, Peter Rahbek Østergaard
  • Publication number: 20110091934
    Abstract: The present invention relates to variants of a parent laccase. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variant laccases and to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides, and methods of using the variant enzymes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Lars Henrik Oestergaard, Leonardo De Maria, Miguel Duarte Toscano
  • Patent number: 7906310
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel class of serine proteases of peptidase family S2A or S1E that are stable in the presence of copper (Cu2+) and/or inhibited by copper only to a limited extent. Structural features of potential relevance for this effect are also disclosed. This class of proteases includes proteases derived from Brachysporiella gayana, Nocardiopsis dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei, Nocardiopsis prasina, and Nocardiopsis alba, but excludes the known proteases derived from Metarhizium anisopliae and Nocardiopsis sp. NRRL 18262. The invention also relates to DNA encoding such proteases, the expression thereof in a host cell, including animal and plant cells, as well as to the use thereof, e.g., in animal feed and in detergents. In particular, the invention relates to animal feed and animal feed additives, such as premix, incorporating these proteases together with 1-500 ppm Cu (in-feed-concentration).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Peter Rahbek Oestergaard, Leonardo De Maria
  • Patent number: 7892808
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel 3D structure determined for a Nocardiopsis protease, as well as to variants of parent protease homologous to Nocardiopsis proteases, preferably of improved thermostability and/or with an altered temperature activity profile. The invention also relates to DNA sequences encoding such variants, their production in a recombinant host cell, as well as methods of using the variants, in particular within the field of animal feed and detergents. The invention further relates to methods of generating and preparing protease variants having different properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Norozymes A/S
    Inventors: Leonardo De Maria, Carsten Andersen, Lars Lehmann Hylling Christensen, Soren Flensted Lassen, Peter Rahbek Ostergaard
  • Publication number: 20110003333
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a protein of interest comprising: (a) cultivating a mutant cell under conditions conducive for production of the protein wherein the mutant has a reduced or no expression of an endogenous polypeptide shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 compared to a parent host cell grown under the same conditions; and optionally (b) recovering the protein of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Mogens Trier Hansen, Birthe Marie Ravn, Leonardo De Maria
  • Publication number: 20100285171
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides and isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding the polypeptides, as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides in animal feed. An example of a polypeptide of the invention is the so-called L12 protein from Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 14580 which improves the Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and/or acts as a gut microflora modulator. The invention furthermore relates to the probiotic use of strains of Bacillus which produce proteins related to L12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: NOVOZYMES A/S
    Inventors: PETER RAHBEK OESTERGAARD, LENE NONBOE ANDERSEN, AURELIA SEON, CARLOS SIMOES-NUNES, ANNA-MARIA KLÜNTER, LEONARDO DE MARIA, BJOERN EGGERT CHRISTENSEN
  • Publication number: 20100093633
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having antimicrobial activity. The invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides; and nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Leonardo De Maria, Hans-Henrik Kristensen Hoegenhaug, Dorthe Sandvang
  • Publication number: 20100083392
    Abstract: The present invention relates to phytases having at least 76% identity to a phytase derived from Hafnia alvei and comprises at least one modification in the amino acid sequence thereof. These phytase variants have modified, preferably improved, properties, such as, reduced protease sensibility, preferably they exhibit improved properties in respect of thermal performance, such as heat-stability (temperature stability, thermostability), steam stability, pelleting stability and/or temperature profile; and/or protease stability, in particular pepsin stability, pH profile, specific activity, substrate specificity, performance in animal feed (such as an improved release and/or degradation of phytate), susceptibility to glycation, and/or glycosylation pattern. The invention also relates to DNA encoding these phytases, methods of their production, as well as the use thereof, e.g., in animal feed and animal feed additives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Soeren Flensted Lassen, Leonardo De Maria, Esben Peter Friis, Tomoko Matsui, Allan Noergaard, Lars Kobberoee Skov, Jesper Vind
  • Publication number: 20100047836
    Abstract: Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation on the three-dimensional structure of Candida anrtarctica lipase B revealed two hitherto unknown lids with a marked mobility, and this discovery was used to design lipolytic enzyme variants with increased lipolytic enzyme activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Leonardo De Maria, Jesper Brask, Michael Skjot, Shamkant Anant Patkar, Kim Borch, Allan Svendsen
  • Publication number: 20090275083
    Abstract: The invention provides for isolated peptides having phospholipase inhibitory activity, polypeptides comprising phospholipase inhibitory activity and lipases capable of being inhibited by the isolated peptides and/or polypeptides comprising phospholipase inhibitory activity. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, recombinant expression vectors, and recombinant host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing and using the peptides and the polypeptides having lipase inhibitory activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Leonardo De Maria, Ming Li, Christian Isak Joergensen, Kim Borch, Tom Anton Busk Nielsen, Jesper Vind
  • Publication number: 20090238922
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel class of serine proteases of peptidase family S2A or S1E that are stable in the presence of copper (Cu2+) and/or inhibited by copper only to a limited extent. Structural features of potential relevance for this effect are also disclosed. This class of proteases includes proteases derived from Brachysporiella gayana, Nocardiopsis dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei, Nocardiopsis prasina, and Nocardiopsis alba, but excludes the known proteases derived from Metarhizium anisopliae and Nocardiopsis sp. NRRL 18262. The invention also relates to DNA encoding such proteases, the expression thereof in a host cell, including animal and plant cells, as well as to the use thereof, e.g., in animal feed and in detergents. In particular, the invention relates to animal feed and animal feed additives, such as premix, incorporating these proteases together with 1-500 ppm Cu (in-feed-concentration).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Peter Rahbek Oestergaard, Leonardo De Maria
  • Patent number: 7588926
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel class of serine proteases of peptidase family S2A or S1E that are stable in the presence of copper (Cu2+) and/or inhibited by copper only to a limited extent. Structural features of potential relevance for this effect are also disclosed. This class of proteases includes proteases derived from Brachysporiella gayana, Nocardiopsis dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei, Nocardiopsis prasina, and Nocardiopsis alba. The invention also relates to DNA encoding such proteases and the expression thereof in a host cell, animal and plant cells, as well as to the use thereof in animal feed and in detergents. In particular, the invention relates to animal feed and animal feed additives, such as premix, incorporating these proteases together with 1-500 ppm Cu (in-feed-concentration).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Peter Rahbek Oestergaard, Leonardo De Maria
  • Publication number: 20090203106
    Abstract: The present invention relates to variants of Glycoside Hydrolase family 53 galactanases, e.g., variants of the galactanases from strains of Yersinia, Aspergillus, Humicola, Meripilus, Myceliophthora, Thermomyces, Bacillus, Bifidobacterium, Cellvibrio, Clostridium, Pseudomonas, Thermotoga, or Xanthomonas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Leonardo De Maria, Allan Svendsen, Torben Vedel Borchert, Lars Lehmann Hylling Christensen, Carsten Ryttergaard, Sine Larsen
  • Publication number: 20090142802
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides and isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding the polypeptides, as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides in animal feed. An example of a polypeptide of the invention is the so-called L12 protein from Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 14580 which improves the Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and/or acts as a gut microflora modulator. The invention furthermore relates to the probiotic use of strains of Bacillus which produce proteins related to L12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Peter Rahbek Oestergaard, Lene Nonboe Andersen, Aurelia Seon, Carlos Simoes-Nunes, Anna-Maria Klunter, Leonardo De Maria, Bjorn Eggert Christensen
  • Patent number: 7537921
    Abstract: Variants of Glycoside Hydrolase family 53 galactanases, e.g. variants of the galactanases from strains of Yersinia, Aspergillus, Humicola, Meripilus, Myceliophthora, Thermomyces, Bacillus, Bifidobacterium, Cellvibrio, Clostridium, Pseudomonas, Thermotoga, or Xanthomonas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Leonardo De Maria, Allan Svendsen, Torben Vedel Borchert, Lars Lehmann Hylling Christensen, Sine Larsen, Carsten Ryttersgaard
  • Publication number: 20090047387
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel 3D structure encoding a Nocardiopsis protease, as well as to variants of parent protease homologous to Nocardiopsis proteases, preferably of improved thermostability and/or with an amended temperature activity profile. The invention also relates to DNA sequences encoding such variants, their production in a recombinant host cell, as well as methods of using the variants, in particular within the field of animal feed and detergents. The invention furthermore relates to methods of generating and preparing protease variants of amended properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Leonardo De Maria, Carsten Andersen, Lars Lehmann Hylling Christensen, Soren Flensted Lassen, Peter Rahbek Ostergaard
  • Publication number: 20080222740
    Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides having phytase activity. These polypeptides have an amino acid sequence which has at least 70% identity to either of three phytases derived from the bacterium Buttiauxella, and which comprises at least one of the following amino acids at the position indicated: 119N, 120L, and/or 121E. These phytases have an improved specific activity. Additional specific amino acid substitutions are also disclosed which characterize and distinguish additional phytases of the invention having improved properties such as temperature and/or pH stability, pH activity profile, temperature activity profile, substrate profile, improved performance in animal feed in vitro or in vivo. The invention also relates to isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: NOVOZYMES A/S
    Inventors: Carsten Sjoeholm, Soeren Flensted Lassen, Lars Kobberoee Skov, Leonardo De Maria