Patents by Inventor Ryan Skinner

Ryan Skinner 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).

  • Publication number: 20260146255
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns recombinant yeast host cells having a first genetic modification for downregulating a first metabolic pathway that converts NADP+ to NADPH, as well as a second genetic modification for upregulating a second metabolic pathway that converts NADP+ to NADPH. The second genetic modification allows the expression of a glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase lacking phosphorylating activity, which can, in some embodiments, be from enzyme commission 1.2.1.9 or 1.2.1.90. The second pathway is distinct from the first metabolic pathway. The present disclosure also concerns a process for making and improving the yield of a fermented product, such as ethanol, using the recombinant yeast host cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2025
    Publication date: May 28, 2026
    Inventors: Ryan Skinner, Aaron Argyros, Adam Simard, Trisha Barrett
  • Publication number: 20250270569
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns recombinant yeast host cells expressing cell-associated heterologous food and/or feed enzymes which are expressed during the propagation phase of the recombinant yeast hosts cells. The recombinant yeast host cells can be used in a subsequent production process to make food and/or feed products, for example, baked products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2025
    Publication date: August 28, 2025
    Inventors: Aaron Argyros, Michelle Oeser, Erin Wiswall, Janet Fisher, Johannes Van Eijk, J. Kevin Kraus, Kevin Wenger, Brooks Henningsen, Ryan Skinner
  • Publication number: 20250236875
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a yeast strain, or strains, secreting a full suite, or any subset of that full suite, of enzymes to hydrolyze corn starch, corn fiber, lignocellulose, (including enzymes that hydrolyze linkages in cellulose, hemicellulose, and between lignin and carbohydrates) and to utilize pentose sugars (xylose and arabinose). The invention is also directed to the set of proteins that are well expressed in yeast for each category of enzymatic activity. The resulting strain, or strains can be used to hydrolyze starch and cellulose simultaneously. The resulting strain, or strains can be also metabolically engineered to produce less glycerol and uptake acetate. The resulting strain, or strains can also be used to produce ethanol from granular starch without liquefaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2024
    Publication date: July 24, 2025
    Inventors: Elena BREVNOVA, John E. MCBRIDE, Erin WISWALL, Kevin S. WENGER, Nicky CAIAZZA, Heidi HAU, Aaron ARGYROS, Frank AGBOGBO, Charles F. RICE, Trisha BARRETT, John S. BARDSLEY, Abigail FOSTER, Anne K. WARNER, Mark MELLON, Ryan Skinner, Indraneel SHIKHARE, Riaan Den HAAN, Chhayal V. GANDHI, Alan BELCHER, Vineet B. RAJGARHIA, Allan C. FROEHLICH, Kristen M. DELEAULT, Emily STONEHOUSE, Shital A. TRIPATHI, Jennifer GOSSELIN, Yin-Ying CHIU, Haowen XU
  • Patent number: 12344847
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns recombinant yeast host cells expressing cell-associated heterologous food and/or feed enzymes which are expressed during the propagation phase of the recombinant yeast hosts cells. The recombinant yeast host cells can be used in a subsequent production process to make food and/or feed products, for example, baked products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: DANSTAR FERMENT AG
    Inventors: Aaron Argyros, Michelle Oeser, Erin Wiswall, Janet Fisher, Johannes Van Eijk, J. Kevin Kraus, Kevin Wenger, Brooks Henningsen, Ryan Skinner
  • Publication number: 20250179537
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to recombinant yeast host cells having (i) a first genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce glycerol or regulating glycerol synthesis and/or allowing the production of an heterologous glucoamylase and (ii) a second genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce trehalose or regulating trehalose synthesis and/or allowing the expression of an heterologous trehalase. The recombinant yeast host cells can be used to limit the production of (yeast-produced) trehalose (particularly extracellular trehalose) during fermentation and, in some embodiments, can increase the production of a fermentation product (such as, for example, ethanol).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2025
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Charles F. Rice, Ryan Skinner, Trisha Barrett, Aaron Argyros
  • Publication number: 20250179458
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns an enzyme combination comprising at least one archaeal alpha-amylase and at least one bacterial alpha-amylase that can be used for the hydrolysis of a starchy biomass as well as the production of a fermentation product. The present disclosure also concerns variant polypeptides having alpha-amylase activity exhibiting higher enzymatic activity, lower dependence on the presence of a metallic ion, higher thermostability and/or higher resistance to chelation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Charles F. Rice, Christopher J. Freeman, Hannah Green, Aaron Argyros, Alexandra-Elena Panaitiu, Ryan Skinner, Anne K. Woodbrey
  • Patent number: 12258606
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to recombinant yeast host cells having (i) a first genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce glycerol or regulating glycerol synthesis and/or allowing the production of an heterologous glucoamylase and (ii) a second genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce trehalose or regulating trehalose synthesis and/or allowing the expression of an heterologous trehalase. The recombinant yeast host cells can be used to limit the production of (yeast-produced) trehalose (particularly extracellular trehalose) during fermentation and, in some embodiments, can increase the production of a fermentation product (such as, for example, ethanol).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: DANSTAR FERMENT AG
    Inventors: Charles F. Rice, Ryan Skinner, Trisha Barrett, Aaron Argyros
  • Patent number: 12168768
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a yeast strain, or strains, secreting a full suite, or any subset of that full suite, of enzymes to hydrolyze corn starch, corn fiber, lignocellulose, (including enzymes that hydrolyze linkages in cellulose, hemicellulose, and between lignin and carbohydrates) and to utilize pentose sugars (xylose and arabinose). The invention is also directed to the set of proteins that are well expressed in yeast for each category of enzymatic activity. The resulting strain, or strains can be used to hydrolyze starch and cellulose simultaneously. The resulting strain, or strains can be also metabolically engineered to produce less glycerol and uptake acetate. The resulting strain, or strains can also be used to produce ethanol from granular starch without liquefaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignees: DANSTAR FERMENT AG, STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Elena Brevnova, John E. McBride, Erin Wiswall, Kevin S. Wenger, Nicky Caiazza, Heidi Hau, Aaron Argyros, Frank Agbogbo, Charles F. Rice, Trisha Barrett, John S. Bardsley, Abigail Foster, Anne K. Warner, Mark Mellon, Ryan Skinner, Indraneel Shikhare, Riaan Den Haan, Chhayal V. Gandhi, Alan Belcher, Vineet B. Rajgarhia, Allan C. Froehlich, Kristen M. Deleault, Emily Stonehouse, Shital A. Tripathi, Jennifer Gosselin, Yin-Ying Chiu, Haowen Xu
  • Publication number: 20230265463
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to recombinant yeast host cells having (i) a first genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce glycerol or regulating glycerol synthesis and/or allowing the production of an heterologous glucoamylase and (ii) a second genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce trehalose or regulating trehalose synthesis and/or allowing the expression of an heterologous trehalase. The recombinant yeast host cells can be used to limit the production of (yeast-produced) trehalose (particularly extracellular trehalose) during fermentation and, in some embodiments, can increase the production of a fermentation product (such as, for example, ethanol).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Charles F. Rice, Ryan Skinner, Trisha Barrett, Aaron Argyros
  • Patent number: 11634734
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to recombinant yeast host cells having (i) a first genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce glycerol or regulating glycerol synthesis and/or allowing the production of an heterologous glucoamylase and (ii) a second genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce trehalose or regulating trehalose synthesis and/or allowing the expression of an heterologous trehalase. The recombinant yeast host cells can be used to limit the production of (yeast-produced) trehalose (particularly extracellular trehalose) during fermentation and, in some embodiments, can increase the production of a fermentation product (such as, for example, ethanol).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Lallemand Hungary Liquidity Management LLC
    Inventors: Charles F. Rice, Ryan Skinner, Trisha Barrett, Aaron Argyros
  • Patent number: 11572576
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to recombinant yeast host cells having (i) a first genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce glycerol or regulating glycerol synthesis and/or allowing the production of an heterologous glucoamylase and (ii) a second genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce trehalose or regulating trehalose synthesis and/or allowing the expression of an heterologous trehalase. The recombinant yeast host cells can be used to limit the production of (yeast-produced) trehalose (particularly extracellular trehalose) during fermentation and, in some embodiments, can increase the production of a fermentation product (such as, for example, ethanol).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Lallemand Hungary Liquidity Management LLC
    Inventors: Charles F. Rice, Ryan Skinner, Trisha Barrett, Aaron Argyros
  • Publication number: 20230028975
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a yeast strain, or strains, secreting a full suite, or any subset of that full suite, of enzymes to hydrolyze corn starch, corn fiber, lignocellulose, (including enzymes that hydrolyze linkages in cellulose, hemicellulose, and between lignin and carbohydrates) and to utilize pentose sugars (xylose and arabinose). The invention is also directed to the set of proteins that are well expressed in yeast for each category of enzymatic activity. The resulting strain, or strains can be used to hydrolyze starch and cellulose simultaneously. The resulting strain, or strains can be also metabolically engineered to produce less glycerol and uptake acetate. The resulting strain, or strains can also be used to produce ethanol from granular starch without liquefaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Elena Brevnova, John E. McBride, Erin Wiswall, Kevin S. Wenger, Nicky Caiazza, Heidi Hau, Aaron Argyros, Frank Agbogbo, Charles F. Rice, Trisha Barrett, John S. Bardsley, Abigail Foster, Anne K. Warner, Mark Mellon, Ryan Skinner, Indraneel Shikhare, Riaan Den Haan, Chhayal V. Gandhi, Alan Belcher, Vineet B. Rajgarhia, Allan C. Froehlich, Kristen M. Deleault, Emily Stonehouse, Shital A. Tripathi, Jennifer Gosselin, Yin-Ying Chiu, Haowen Xu
  • Publication number: 20220220487
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a recombinant yeast host cell having a first genetic modification for expressing an heterologous trehalase, and a second genetic modification for increasing trehalose production. The present disclosure also concerns a process using the recombinant yeast host cell for making a fermented product, such as ethanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Trisha Barrett, Ryan Skinner, Aaron Argyros
  • Patent number: 11332728
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to recombinant yeast strains capable of maintaining their robustness at high temperature as well as recombinant proteins expressed therefrom. The present disclosure also provides methods for using the recombinant yeast strain for making a fermentation product. The present disclosure further process a process for making recombinant yeast strains capable of maintaining their robustness at high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Lallemand Hungary Liquidity Management LLC
    Inventors: Charles F. Rice, Ryan Skinner, Trisha Barrett, Aaron Argyros
  • Publication number: 20220127564
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns recombinant yeast host cells expressing cell-associated heterologous proteins which are expressed during the propagation phase of the recombinant yeast host cells and processes for propagating same. The recombinant yeast host cells can be 5 used to make a yeast composition or a yeast product enriched in the heterologous proteins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Aaron Argyros, Michelle Oeser, Erin Wiswall, Janet Fisher, Johannes Van Eijk, J. Kevin Kraus, Kevin Wenger, Brooks Henningsen, Ryan Skinner
  • Publication number: 20220002661
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns recombinant yeast host cells having a first genetic modification for increasing formate production, when compared to a corresponding native yeast host cell as well as a source of formate dehydrogenase activity. The source of formate can be an internal source of formate dehydrogenase activity and/or the recombinant yeast host call can be supplemented by an external source of formate dehydrogenase activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Trisha Barrett, Ryan Skinner, Aaron Argyros
  • Publication number: 20210380989
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns recombinant yeast host cells having a first genetic modification for downregulating a first metabolic pathway that converts NADP+ to NADPH, as well as a second genetic modification for upregulating a second metabolic pathway that converts NADP+ to NADPH. The second genetic modification allows the expression of a glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase lacking phosphorylating activity, which can, in some embodiments, be from enzyme commission 1.2.1.9 or 1.2.1.90. The second pathway is distinct from the first metabolic pathway. The present disclosure also concerns a process for making and improving the yield of a fermented product, such as ethanol, using the recombinant yeast host cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Ryan Skinner, Aaron Argyros, Adam Simard, Trisha Barrett
  • Patent number: 11193130
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a yeast strain, or strains, secreting a full suite, or any subset of that full suite, of enzymes to hydrolyze corn starch, corn fiber, lignocellulose, (including enzymes that hydrolyze linkages in cellulose, hemicellulose, and between lignin and carbohydrates) and to utilize pentose sugars (xylose and arabinose). The invention is also directed to the set of proteins that are well expressed in yeast for each category of enzymatic activity. The resulting strain, or strains can be used to hydrolyze starch and cellulose simultaneously. The resulting strain, or strains can be also metabolically engineered to produce less glycerol and uptake acetate. The resulting strain, or strains can also be used to produce ethanol from granular starch without liquefaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignees: Lallemand Hungary Liquidity Management LLC, Stellenbosch University
    Inventors: Elena Brevnova, John E. McBride, Erin Wiswall, Kevin S. Wenger, Nicky Caiazza, Heidi Hau, Aaron Argyros, Frank Agbogbo, Charles F. Rice, Trisha Barrett, John S. Bardsley, Abigail Foster, Anne K. Warner, Mark Mellon, Ryan Skinner, Indraneel Shikhare, Riaan Den Haan, Chhayal V. Gandhi, Alan Belcher, Vineet B. Rajgarhia, Allan C. Froehlich, Kristen M. Deleault, Emily Stonehouse, Shital A. Tripathi, Jennifer Gosselin, Yin-Ying Chiu, Haowen Xu
  • Publication number: 20210163998
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to recombinant yeast host cells having (i) a first genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce glycerol or regulating glycerol synthesis and/or allowing the production of an heterologous glucoamylase and (ii) a second genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce trehalose or regulating trehalose synthesis and/or allowing the expression of an heterologous trehalase. The recombinant yeast host cells can be used to limit the production of (yeast-produced) trehalose (particularly extracellular trehalose) during fermentation and, in some embodiments, can increase the production of a fermentation product (such as, for example, ethanol).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Charles F. Rice, Ryan Skinner, Trisha Barrett, Aaron Argyros
  • Publication number: 20210163999
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to recombinant yeast host cells having (i) a first genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce glycerol or regulating glycerol synthesis and/or allowing the production of an heterologous glucoamylase and (ii) a second genetic modification for reducing the production of one or more native enzymes that function to produce trehalose or regulating trehalose synthesis and/or allowing the expression of an heterologous trehalase. The recombinant yeast host cells can be used to limit the production of (yeast-produced) trehalose (particularly extracellular trehalose) during fermentation and, in some embodiments, can increase the production of a fermentation product (such as, for example, ethanol).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Charles F. Rice, Ryan Skinner, Trisha Barrett, Aaron Argyros