Patents by Inventor Michael J. McCulloch

Michael J. McCulloch 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: 6303779
    Abstract: The present invention features a method for isolating and purifying vitamins and sugars from a plant host which is applicable on a large scale. Moreover, the present invention provides a more efficient method for isolating vitamins and sugars than those methods described in the prior art. In general, the present method of isolating vitamins and sugars comprises the steps of homogenizing a plant to produce a green juice, adjusting the pH of and heating the green juice, separating the target species, either vitamins or sugars, from other components of the green juice by one or more cycles of centrifugation, resuspension, and ultrafiltration, and finally purifying vitamins or sugars by such procedure as PEG-precipitation, chromatography and/or salt precipitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Large Scale Biology Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Garger, R. Barry Holtz, Michael J. McCulloch, Thomas H. Turpen
  • Patent number: 6284875
    Abstract: A method for extracting proteins from the intercellular space of plants is provided. The method is applicable to the large scale isolation of many active proteins of interest synthesized by plant cells. The method may be used commercially to recover recombinantly produced proteins from plant hosts thereby making the large scale use of plants as sources for recombinant protein production feasible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Large Scale Biology Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Turpen, Stephen J. Garger, Michael J. McCulloch, Terri I. Cameron, Michelle L. Samonek-Potter, R. Barry Holtz
  • Patent number: 6037456
    Abstract: The present invention features a method for isolating and purifying viruses, proteins and peptides of interest from a plant host which is applicable on a large scale. Moreover, the present invention provides a more efficient method for isolating viruses, proteins and peptides of interest than those methods described in the prior art. In general, the present method of isolating viruses, proteins and peptides of interest comprises the steps of homogenizing a plant to produce a green juice, adjusting the pH of and heating the green juice, separating the target species, either virus or protein/peptide, from other components of the green juice by one or more cycles of centrifugation, resuspenion, and ultrafiltration, and finally purifying virus particles by such procedure as PEG-precipitation or purifying proteins and peptides by such procedures as chromatography and/or salt precipitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Biosource Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Garger, R. Barry Holtz, Michael J. McCulloch, Thomas H. Turpen
  • Patent number: 6033895
    Abstract: The present invention features a method for isolating and purifying viruses, proteins and peptides of interest from a plant host which is applicable on a large scale. Moreover, the present invention provides a more efficient method for isolating viruses, proteins and peptides of interest than those methods described in the prior art. In general, the present method of isolating viruses, proteins and peptides of interest comprises the steps of homogenizing a plant to produce a green juice, adjusting the pH of and heating the green juice, separating the target species, either virus or protein/peptide, from other components of the green juice by one or more cycles of centrifugation, resuspension, and ultrafiltration, and finally purifying virus particles by such procedure as PEG-precipitation or purifying proteins and peptides by such procedures as chromatography and/or salt precipitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Biosource Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Garger, R. Barry Holtz, Michael J. McCulloch, Thomas H. Turpen
  • Patent number: 5934012
    Abstract: This invention relates to a submerged fermentation process for producing high biomass levels of mushrooms mycelia in liquid media suitable for semi-continuous or continuous mushroom spawn production. The process provides a sterile, log phase inoculum for a solid substrate that, when based on biomass, exceeds normal inoculation levels by several thousand fold mycelia substrate production. The liquid inoculum so produced can be aseptically transferred to bulk sterilizer to inoculate a sterilizer grain or sawdust substrate for commercial mushroom production. The liquid inoculum may also be inoculated directly onto the mushroom compost. This invention further relates to microcapsules used to enhance the fermentation process and the equipment used to conduct such process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: HPS Biotechnologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Barry Holtz, Michael J. McCulloch
  • Patent number: 5486351
    Abstract: A process for the in vitro production of chemically modified polyphenolic polymer (PPP). First, stable, highly active extracellular tyrosinase is produced from genetically transformed microorganism such as Streptomyces antibioticus. The tyrosinase is then incubated with a reaction substrate such as 1-tyrosine, hydrolyzed protein, or an oligopeptide in combination with 1-tyrosine. The ratio of the oligopeptide/tyrosine combination as well as variation in the concentration of tyrosinase can be used to modify the color, the molecular size, and the spectral absorbance properties of the PPP produced. Alternatively, or additionally, oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide or hypochlorite can be used to modify the color of the PPP, regardless of the method used to produce the PPP, and the PPP can subsequently be fractionated using molecular weight cut-off ultrafiltration. Organic solvents can also be used in the method of making PPP to produce PPPs having variable but reproducible physical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Biosource Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy R. della-Cioppa, Stephen J. Garger, Jr., Richard B. Holtz, Michael J. McCulloch, Genadie G. Sverlow
  • Patent number: 5466592
    Abstract: A process for the in vitro production of chemically modified polyphenolic polymer (PPP). First, stable, highly active extracellular tyrosinase is produced from genetically transformed microorganism such as Streptomyces antibioticus. The tyrosinase is then incubated with a reaction substrate such as l-tyrosine, hydrolyzed protein, or an oligopeptide in combination with l-tyrosine. The ratio of the oligopeptide/tyrosine combination as well as variation in the concentration of tyrosinase can be used to modify the color, the molecular size, and the spectral absorbance properties of the PPP produced. Alternatively, or additionally, oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide or hypochlorite can be used to modify the color of the PPP, regardless of the method used to produce the PPP, and the PPP can subsequently be fractionated using molecular weight cut-off ultrafiltration. Organic solvents can also be used in the method of making PPP to produce PPPs having variable but reproducible physical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Biosource Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy R. della-Cioppa, Stephen J. Garger, Jr., Richard B. Holtz, Michael J. McCulloch, Genadie G. Sverlow
  • Patent number: 5340734
    Abstract: A process for the in vitro production of chemically modified polyphenolic polymer (PPP). First, stable, highly active extracellular tyrosinase is produced from genetically transformed microorganism such as Streptomyces antibioticus. The tyrosinase is then incubated with a reaction substrate such as l-tyrosine, hydrolyzed protein, or an oligopeptide in combination with l-tyrosine. The ratio of the oligopeptide/tyrosine combination as well as variation in the concentration of tyrosinase can be used to modify the color, the molecular size, and the spectral absorbance properties of the PPP produced. Alternatively, or additionally, oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide or hypochlorite can be used to modify the color of the PPP, regardless of the method used to produce the PPP, and the PPP can subsequently be fractionated using molecular weight cut-off ultrafiltration. Organic solvents can also be used in the method of making PPP to produce PPPs having variable but reproducible physical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Biosource Genetics Corporation
    Inventors: Guy R. della-Cioppa, Stephen J. Garger, Jr., Richard B. Holtz, Michael J. McCulloch, Genadie G. Sverlow