Patents by Inventor Nikos C. Pagratis

Nikos C. Pagratis 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).

  • Recombinant DNA and methods for producing thermostable enzymes
    Patent number: 6350591
    Abstract: We have developed a new gene transfer system for extreme thermophiles of the genus Thermus, including Thermus flavus., using a chromosomal gene, and a thermostable derivative of the kanamycin-resistance gene (kantr2). A plasmid mediated gene-replacement process is used to insert it into the chromosome resulting in the production of Leu−Kmr transformants. This system not only allows stable, single-copy gene insertion into the chromosome of an extreme thermophile, but can be used in the thermo-genetic process described here to generate thermo-stabilized enzymes and proteins for industrial processes. This host-vector environment makes it possible to generate further thermo-stabilizing mutations in the kan gene beyond those levels previously reported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Thermogen, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Mark Weber, David C. Demirjian, Malcolm J. Casadaban, Veronika Vonstein, Nikos C. Pagratis
  • Thermophile gene transfer
    Patent number: 5872238
    Abstract: We have developed a new gene transfer system for extreme thermophiles of the genus Thermus, including Thermus flavus., using a chromosomal gene, and a thermostable derivative of the kanamycin-resistance gene (kan.sup.tr2). A plasmid mediated gene-replacement process is used to insert it into the chromosome resulting in the production of Leu.sup.- Km.sup.r transformants. This system not only allows stable, single-copy gene insertion into the chromosome of an extreme thermophile, but can be used in the thermo-genetic process described here to generate thermo-stabilized enzymes and proteins for industrial processes. This host-vector environment makes it possible to generate further thermo-stabilizing mutations in the kan gene beyond those levels previously reported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Thermogen, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Mark Weber, David C. Demirjian, Malcolm J. Casadaban, Veronika Vonstein, Nikos C. Pagratis
  • Thermophile gene transfer
    Patent number: 5786174
    Abstract: We have developed a new gene transfer system for extreme thermophiles of the genus Thermus, including Thermus flavus., using a chromosomal gene, and a thermostable derivative of the kanamycin-resistance gene (kan.sup.tr2). A plasmid mediated gene-replacement process is used to insert it into the chromosome resulting in the production of Leu.sup.- Km.sup.r transformants. This system not only allows stable, single-copy gene insertion into the chromosome of an extreme thermophile, but can be used in the thermo-genetic process described here to generate thermo-stabilized enzymes and proteins for industrial processes. This host-vector environment makes it possible to generate further thermo-stabilizing mutations in the kan gene beyond those levels previously reported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Thermogen, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Mark Weber, David C. Demirjian, Malcolm J. Casadaban, Nikos C. Pagratis, Veronika Vonstein