Patents by Inventor Michael Koepke

Michael Koepke 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).

  • CRISPR/CAS SYSTEMS FOR C1-FIXING BACTERIA
    Publication number: 20170247710
    Abstract: The invention provides methods of genetically engineering a C1-fixing bacterium using a Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) (CRISPR/Cas) system. Preferably, the Cas protein is under the control of an inducible promoter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Shilpa Nagaraju, Michael Koepke
  • Recombinant microorganisms and methods of use thereof
    Patent number: 9745566
    Abstract: The present provides selection markers, methods, nucleic acids, and vectors of use in the preparation of recombinant Clostridium spp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: David Jeffrey Fraser Walker, Shilpa Nagaraju, Michael Koepke, Alexander Paul Mueller
  • Genetically engineered bacterium comprising energy-generating fermentation pathway
    Patent number: 9738875
    Abstract: The invention relates to a genetically engineered bacterium comprising an energy-generating fermentation pathway and methods related thereto. In particular, the invention provides a bacterium comprising a phosphate butyryltransferase (Ptb) and a butyrate kinase (Buk) (Ptb-Buk) that act on non-native substrates to produce a wide variety of products and intermediates. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to the introduction of Ptb-Buk into a C1-fixing microoorgansim capable of producing products from a gaseous substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Rasmus Overgaard Jensen, James Bruce Yarnton Haycock Behrendorff, Ryan Edward Hill
  • MICROORGANISM WITH MODIFIED HYDROGENASE ACTIVITY
    Publication number: 20170183690
    Abstract: The invention provides genetically engineered microorganisms with modified hydrogenase activity and methods related thereto. Typically, the microorganisms are C1-fixing microorganisms with one or more disruptive mutations in a hydrogenase enzyme or a hydrogenase accessory enzyme. The microorganisms may have improved tolerance to toxins, such as acetylene, isocyanide, ammonium, or nitric oxide, improved production of products, such as ethanol, 2,3-butanediol, and isopropanol, and/or improved fixation of carbon, such as carbon derived from CO or CO2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Shilpa Nagaraju, Michael Koepke
  • ARGININE SUPPLEMENTATION TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY IN GAS FERMENTING ACETOGENS
    Publication number: 20170159083
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for improving efficiency of fermentation by arginine supplementation, and genetically modified bacterium for use therefor. More particularly the invention provides methods for (i) increasing the production ATP intensive products with arginine supplementation, (ii) increasing utilization of arginine by a C1-fixing bacterium; and (iii) providing C1-fixing bacterium with optimized arginine de-aminase pathways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Kaspar Valgepea, Michael Koepke, James Bruce Yarnton Haycock Behrendorff, Esteban Marcellin, Lars K. Nielsen, Renato de S.P. Lemgruber
  • GENETICALLY ENGINEERED BACTERIUM COMPRISING ENERGY-GENERATING FERMENTATION PATHWAY
    Publication number: 20170101631
    Abstract: The invention relates to a genetically engineered bacterium comprising an energy-generating fermentation pathway and methods related thereto. In particular, the invention provides a bacterium comprising a phosphate butyryltransferase (Ptb) and a butyrate kinase (Buk) (Ptb-Buk) that act on non-native substrates to produce a wide variety of products and intermediates. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to the introduction of Ptb-Buk into a C1-fixing microoorgansim capable of producing products from a gaseous substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Rasmus Overgaard Jensen, James Bruce Yarnton Haycock Behrendorff, Ryan Edward Hill
  • Enzyme-altered metabolite activity
    Patent number: 9550979
    Abstract: The present invention relates to mutant alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes, microorganisms comprising the mutant alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes, and methods for the production of products by microbial fermentation using the microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Lanza Tech New Zealand Limited
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Wayne Michael Patrick, Danielle Joan Maddock, Monica Gerth
  • VITAMIN PROTOTROPHY AS A SELECTABLE MARKER
    Publication number: 20170016007
    Abstract: One or more genes in a biosynthesis pathway for a vitamin or other essential nutrient which is needed for the survival of a microorganism can be used as an effective selective marker to identify cells transformed with an exogenous nucleic acid. The microorganism does not naturally contain or express the one or more gene. This permits genetic manipulations to be performed. It permits lower cost fermentations to be performed. It permits production of the essential nutrient for subsequent commodity use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Bakir Al-Sinawi
  • RECOMBINANT MICROORGANISMS AND USES THEREFOR
    Publication number: 20160376615
    Abstract: The invention provides recombinant microorganisms and methods for the production of acetone from gaseous substrates. For example, the recombinant microorganism may be modified to express an exogenous thiolase, an exogenous CoA transferase, and an exogenous decarboxylase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Sean Simpson, Fungmin Liew, Wendy Yiting Chen
  • GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MICROORGANISMS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CHORISMATE-DERIVED PRODUCTS
    Publication number: 20160348087
    Abstract: The invention provides genetically engineered microorganisms and methods for producing chorismate-derived products, such as para-hydroxybenzoic acid, salicylate, 2-aminobenzoate, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate, and 4-hydroxycyclohexane carboxylic acid. Typically, the microorganism comprises at least one of (a) an exogenous chorismate pyruvate lyase, (b) an exogenous isochorismate synthase, (c) an exogenous isochorismate pyruvate lyase, and (d) a prephenate synthase comprising a disruptive mutation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: James Bruce Yarnton Haycock Behrendorff, Michael Koepke, Loan Phuong Tran, Wyatt Eric Allen
  • RECOMBINANT ACETOGENIC BACTERIUM FOR THE CONVERSION OF METHANE TO PRODUCTS
    Publication number: 20160244785
    Abstract: The invention provides a recombinant, acetogenic bacterium that consumes a substrate comprising CH4 and converts at least a portion of the CH4 to a product. In particular, the bacterium of may comprise one or more of exogenous methane monooxygenase (MMO), exogenous nitrite reductase (NIR), and exogenous nitric oxide dismutase (NOD). The invention further provides a method for producing a product comprising providing a substrate comprising CH4 to a culture comprising a recombinant, acetogenic bacterium, whereby the bacterium converts at least a portion of the CH4 to a product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Peter Dürre
  • Recombinant microorganisms comprising NADPH dependent enzymes and methods of production therefor
    Patent number: 9422565
    Abstract: The invention provides a recombinant carboxydotrophic Clostridia microorganism with increased overall utilization of NADPH relative to a parent microorganism. Further, the invention provides a method of producing a recombinant carboxydotrophic Clostridia microorganism which exhibits increased NADPH utilization relative to a parental microorganism. In particular, the invention relates to increasing the overall utilization of NADPH in a recombinant carboxydotrophic Clostridia microorganism in order to increase the production of at least one fermentation product by the microorganism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Alexander Paul Mueller, Michael Koepke
  • Recombinant microorganisms and uses therefor
    Patent number: 9410130
    Abstract: The invention provides, inter alia, methods for the production of acetone, isopropanol and/or precursors of acetone and/or isopropanol by microbial fermentation of substrates comprising CO, genetically modified microorganisms of use in such methods, nucleic acids suitable for preparation of genetically modified microorganisms, a novel alcohol dehydrogenase and nucleic acids encoding same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Sean Simpson, FungMin Liew, Wendy Chen
  • Fermentation process for producing isopropanol using a recombinant microorganism
    Patent number: 9365868
    Abstract: The invention provides, inter alia, methods for the production of acetone, isopropanol and/or precursors of acetone and/or isopropanol by microbial fermentation of substrates comprising CO, genetically modified microorganisms of use in such methods, nucleic acids suitable for preparation of genetically modified microorganisms, a novel alcohol dehydrogenase and nucleic acids encoding same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Sean Simpson, Fungmin Liew, Wendy Chen
  • Genetically engineered bacterium with altered carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH) activity
    Patent number: 9365873
    Abstract: The invention provides genetically engineered microorganisms with altered carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH) activity and methods related thereto. In particular, the invention provides a genetically engineered carboxydotrophic acetogenic bacterium having decreased or eliminated activity of CODH1 and/or CODH2. In certain embodiments, the bacterium may also have increased activity of CODH/ACS. The invention further provides a method for producing a product by culturing the bacterium in the presence of a gaseous substrate comprising one or more of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Fungmin Liew
  • RECOMBINANT MICROORGANISMS EXHIBITING INCREASED FLUX THROUGH A FERMENTATION PATHWAY
    Publication number: 20160160223
    Abstract: The invention provides a recombinant, carboxydotrophic Clostridium bacterium that expresses one or more of pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (EC 1.2.7.1), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), and acetolactate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.5). The invention further provides a method of producing a fermentation product by fermenting the recombinant bacterium in the presence of a gaseous substrate comprising CO to produce one or more of ethanol, butanol, isopropanol, isobutanol, higher alcohols, butanediol, 2,3-butanediol, succinate, isoprenoids, fatty acids, biopolymers, and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Alexander Paul Mueller, Loan Phuong Tran
  • Recombinant microorganism and methods of production thereof
    Patent number: 9359611
    Abstract: The invention relates, inter alia, to novel genetically modified microorganisms capable of using CO to produce 1-butanol and/or a precursor thereof, novel methyltransferases and nucleic acids encoding same, methods for producing genetically modified microorganisms using said novel methyltransferases, and methods of producing 1-butanol and/or a precursor thereof by microbial fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Sean Dennis Simpson, FungMin Liew
  • Recombinant microorganisms that make biodiesel
    Patent number: 9347076
    Abstract: A carboxydotrophic acetogenic recombinant microorganism is modified so that it produces biodiesel and optionally one or more other products by fermentation of a substrate comprising CO. Biodiesel is produced by microbial fermentation of a substrate comprising CO. The recombinant microorganism is modified to express one or more exogenous enzymes in the biodiesel biosynthesis pathway not present in a parental microorganism from which the recombinant microorganism is derived. The one or more enzymes comprise a nonspecific acyltransferase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: FungMin Liew, Michael Koepke
  • MULTI-STAGE BIOREACTOR PROCESSES
    Publication number: 20160115505
    Abstract: Multi-stage, biological processes and systems for converting a C1 carbon source to desired end products are described. The processes comprise dividing a gaseous C1-containing substrate, in parallel, among multiple bioreactor stages. Liquid products are successively fed, in series, from a first bioreactor stage to downstream bioreactor stages. Operation can be simplified by avoiding the requirement for microorganism separation and recycle at each stage. In addition, overall vapor-liquid mass transfer for the combined stages is very favorable, leading to high end product productivity with comparably low byproduct metabolite productivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Simon Richard Trevethick, Jason Carl Bromley, Guy William Waters, Michael Koepke, Loan Phuong Tran, Rasmus Jensen Overgaard
  • Method of producing a recombinant microorganism
    Patent number: 9315830
    Abstract: The invention provides a genetic tool to insert, replace, delete, or otherwise manipulate a nucleic acid sequence in a microorganism to produce a recombinant microorganism. Notably, the invention makes use of homologous recombination, a type of genetic recombination in which nucleotide sequences are exchanged between two similar or identical molecules of DNA. Since the invention involves three homologous recombination events, it is referred to as a “triple cross” method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: LanzaTech New Zealand Limited
    Inventors: David Jeffrey Fraser Walker, Michael Koepke