Patents by Inventor Thomas Heel

Thomas Heel 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: 11884940
    Abstract: The present application relates to methods to improve biomass or lipid production in a microorganism from one or more fatty acid and one or more simple carbon co-substrates. Produced lipids may include unsaturated C6-C24 fatty acids, alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates which may be useful as final products or precursors to insect pheromones, fragrances, flavors, and polymer intermediates. The application further relates to recombinant microorganisms modified for improved production of biomass or lipid, or improved lipid selectivity. Also provided are methods of producing one or more lipid using the recombinant microorganisms, as well as compositions comprising the recombinant microorganisms and/or optionally one or more of the product lipid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Provivi, Inc.
    Inventors: Effendi Leonard, Micah Sheppard, Thomas Heel, Kathryn Christina Wu
  • Patent number: 11866760
    Abstract: The present application relates to recombinant microorganisms useful in the biosynthesis of unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates which may be useful as insect pheromones, fragrances, flavors, and polymer intermediates. The recombinant microorganisms may express enzymes or enzyme variants useful for production of and/or may be modified to downregulate pathways to shunt production toward unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates. The C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates described herein may be used as substrates for metathesis reactions to expand the repertoire of target compounds and pheromones. The application further relates to recombinant microorganisms co-expressing a pheromone pathway and a pathway for the production of a toxic protein, peptide, oligonucleotide, or small molecule suitable for use in an attract-and-kill pest control approach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Provivi, Inc.
    Inventors: Micah Sheppard, Thomas Heel, Peter Meinhold, Keith Wampler, Pedro Coelho, Effendi Leonard
  • Patent number: 11844353
    Abstract: The present application relates to recombinant microorganisms useful in the biosynthesis of unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates which may be useful as insect pheromones, fragrances, flavors, and polymer intermediates. The C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates described herein may be used as substrates for metathesis reactions to expand the repertoire of target compounds and pheromones. The application further relates to recombinant microorganisms co-expressing a pheromone pathway and a pathway for the production of a toxic protein, peptide, oligonucleotide, or small molecule suitable for use in an attract-and-kill pest control approach. Also provided are methods of producing unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates using the recombinant microorganisms, as well as compositions comprising the recombinant microorganisms and/or optionally one or more of the product alcohols, aldehydes, or acetates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Provivi, Inc.
    Inventors: Effendi Leonard, Peter Meinhold, Keith Wampler, Pedro Coelho, Micah Sheppard, Thomas Heel
  • Publication number: 20230031596
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns the metabolic engineering of microorganisms to provide biosynthetic methods for the production of insect pheromones and precursors thereof in a scalable and eco-friendly fermentation reaction; for example, by converting saturated or unsaturated substrate feedstocks utilizing exogenous metabolic machinery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Weslee Glenn, Micah Sheppard, Kim Nguyen, Kati Wu, Toni Lee, Thomas Heel, David Rozzell, Effendi Leonard
  • Publication number: 20230034938
    Abstract: The present application relates to recombinant microorganisms useful in the biosynthesis of unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates which may be useful as insect pheromones, fragrances, flavors, and polymer intermediates. The recombinant microorganisms may express enzymes or enzyme variants useful for production of and/or may be modified to downregulate pathways to shunt production toward unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates. The C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates described herein may be used as substrates for metathesis reactions to expand the repertoire of target compounds and pheromones. The application further relates to recombinant microorganisms co-expressing a pheromone pathway and a pathway for the production of a toxic protein, peptide, oligonucleotide, or small molecule suitable for use in an attract-and-kill pest control approach.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Micah SHEPPARD, Thomas HEEL, Peter MEINHOLD, Keith WAMPLER, Pedro COELHO, Effendi LEONARD
  • Publication number: 20220177857
    Abstract: The present application relates to methods to improve biomass or lipid production in a microorganism from one or more fatty acid and one or more simple carbon co-substrates. Produced lipids may include unsaturated C6-C24 fatty acids, alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates which may be useful as final products or precursors to insect pheromones, fragrances, flavors, and polymer intermediates. The application further relates to recombinant microorganisms modified for improved production of biomass or lipid, or improved lipid selectivity. Also provided are methods of producing one or more lipid using the recombinant microorganisms, as well as compositions comprising the recombinant microorganisms and/or optionally one or more of the product lipid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Effendi LEONARD, Micah SHEPPARD, Thomas HEEL, Kathryn Christina WU
  • Publication number: 20220053774
    Abstract: The present application relates to recombinant microorganisms useful in the biosynthesis of unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates which may be useful as insect pheromones, fragrances, flavors, and polymer intermediates. The C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates described herein may be used as substrates for metathesis reactions to expand the repertoire of target compounds and pheromones. The application further relates to recombinant microorganisms co-expressing a pheromone pathway and a pathway for the production of a toxic protein, peptide, oligonucleotide, or small molecule suitable for use in an attract-and-kill pest control approach. Also provided are methods of producing unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates using the recombinant microorganisms, as well as compositions comprising the recombinant microorganisms and/or optionally one or more of the product alcohols, aldehydes, or acetates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Effendi LEONARD, Peter MEINHOLD, Keith WAMPLER, Pedro COELHO, Micah SHEPPARD, Thomas HEEL
  • Patent number: 11220675
    Abstract: The present application relates to methods to improve biomass or lipid production in a microorganism from one or more fatty acid and one or more simple carbon co-substrates. Produced lipids may include unsaturated C6-C24 fatty acids, alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates which may be useful as final products or precursors to insect pheromones, fragrances, flavors, and polymer intermediates. The application further relates to recombinant microorganisms modified for improved production of biomass or lipid, or improved lipid selectivity. Also provided are methods of producing one or more lipid using the recombinant microorganisms, as well as compositions comprising the recombinant microorganisms and/or optionally one or more of the product lipid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Provivi, Inc.
    Inventors: Effendi Leonard, Micah Sheppard, Thomas Heel, Kathryn Christina Wu
  • Patent number: 11109596
    Abstract: The present application relates to recombinant microorganisms useful in the biosynthesis of unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates which may be useful as insect pheromones, fragrances, flavors, and polymer intermediates. The C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates described herein may be used as substrates for metathesis reactions to expand the repertoire of target compounds and pheromones. The application further relates to recombinant microorganisms co-expressing a pheromone pathway and a pathway for the production of a toxic protein, peptide, oligonucleotide, or small molecule suitable for use in an attract-and-kill pest control approach. Also provided are methods of producing unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates using the recombinant microorganisms, as well as compositions comprising the recombinant microorganisms and/or optionally one or more of the product alcohols, aldehydes, or acetates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Provivi, Inc.
    Inventors: Effendi Leonard, Peter Meinhold, Keith Wampler, Pedro Coelho, Micah Sheppard, Thomas Heel
  • Patent number: 11104921
    Abstract: The present application relates to recombinant microorganisms useful in the biosynthesis of unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates which may be useful as insect pheromones, fragrances, flavors, and polymer intermediates. The recombinant microorganisms may express enzymes or enzyme variants useful for production of and/or may be modified to down regulate pathways to shunt production toward unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates. The C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates described herein may be used as substrates for metathesis reactions to expand the repertoire of target compounds and pheromones. Also provided are methods of producing unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates using the recombinant microorganisms, as well as compositions comprising the recombinant microorganisms and/or optionally one or more of the product alcohols, aldehydes, or acetates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Provivi, Inc.
    Inventors: Micah Sheppard, Thomas Heel, Peter Meinhold, Keith Wampler, Pedro Coelho, Effendi Leonard
  • Publication number: 20200140902
    Abstract: The present application relates to recombinant microorganisms useful in the biosynthesis of unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates which may be useful as insect pheromones, fragrances, flavors, and polymer intermediates. The recombinant microorganisms may express enzymes or enzyme variants useful for production of and/or may be modified to down regulate pathways to shunt production toward unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates. The C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates described herein may be used as substrates for metathesis reactions to expand the repertoire of target compounds and pheromones. Also provided are methods of producing unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates using the recombinant microorganisms, as well as compositions comprising the recombinant microorganisms and/or optionally one or more of the product alcohols, aldehydes, or acetates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Micah SHEPPARD, Thomas HEEL, Peter MEINHOLD, Keith WAMPLER, Pedro COELHO, Effendi LEONARD
  • Publication number: 20190338295
    Abstract: The present application relates to methods to improve biomass or lipid production in a microorganism from one or more fatty acid and one or more simple carbon co-substrates. Produced lipids may include unsaturated C6-C24 fatty acids, alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates which may be useful as final products or precursors to insect pheromones, fragrances, flavors, and polymer intermediates. The application further relates to recombinant microorganisms modified for improved production of biomass or lipid, or improved lipid selectivity. Also provided are methods of producing one or more lipid using the recombinant microorganisms, as well as compositions comprising the recombinant microorganisms and/or optionally one or more of the product lipid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Effendi LEONARD, Micah SHEPPARD, Thomas HEEL, Kathryn Christina WU
  • Publication number: 20190338317
    Abstract: The present application relates to recombinant microorganisms useful in the biosynthesis of unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates which may be useful as insect pheromones, fragrances, flavors, and polymer intermediates. The C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates described herein may be used as substrates for metathesis reactions to expand the repertoire of target compounds and pheromones. The application further relates to recombinant microorganisms co-expressing a pheromone pathway and a pathway for the production of a toxic protein, peptide, oligonucleotide, or small molecule suitable for use in an attract-and-kill pest control approach. Also provided are methods of producing unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates using the recombinant microorganisms, as well as compositions comprising the recombinant microorganisms and/or optionally one or more of the product alcohols, aldehydes, or acetates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Effendi Leonard, Peter Meinhold, Keith Wampler, Pedro Coelho, Micah Sheppard, Thomas Heel
  • Patent number: 10308962
    Abstract: The present application relates to recombinant microorganisms useful in the biosynthesis of unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates which may be useful as insect pheromones, fragrances, flavors, and polymer intermediates. The C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates described herein may be used as substrates for metathesis reactions to expand the repertoire of target compounds and pheromones. The application further relates to recombinant microorganisms co-expressing a pheromone pathway and a pathway for the production of a toxic protein, peptide, oligonucleotide, or small molecule suitable for use in an attract-and-kill pest control approach. Also provided are methods of producing unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates using the recombinant microorganisms, as well as compositions comprising the recombinant microorganisms and/or optionally one or more of the product alcohols, aldehydes, or acetates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Provivi, Inc.
    Inventors: Effendi Leonard, Peter Meinhold, Keith Wampler, Pedro Coelho, Micah Sheppard, Thomas Heel
  • Patent number: 10202620
    Abstract: In certain aspects, the present invention provides methods for producing terminally hydroxylated alkenes and alkynes by contacting an unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon substrate with a hydroxylase enzyme. Exemplary terminal hydroxylases useful for carrying out the methods of the invention exhibit strong selectivity towards one terminal carbon of a hydrocarbon substrate and include, but are not limited to, non-heme diiron alkane monooxygenases, cytochromes P450 (e.g., cytochromes P450 of the CYP52 and CYP153 family), as well as long chain alkane hydroxylases. In some embodiments, the terminally hydroxylated alkene or alkyne is further converted to a terminal alkenal. In certain embodiments, terminally hydroxylated alkenes and alkynes are useful as insect pheromones which modify insect behavior. In other embodiments, terminally hydroxylated alkenes and alkynes are useful intermediates for producing pheromones via acetylation or oxidation of the alcohol moiety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: PROVIVI, INC.
    Inventors: Pedro Coelho, Mike M. Y. Chen, Peter Meinhold, Catherine Mee-Hie Cho, Vu Bui, Thomas Heel
  • Publication number: 20160108436
    Abstract: In certain aspects, the present invention provides methods for producing terminally hydroxylated alkenes and alkynes by contacting an unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon substrate with a hydroxylase enzyme. Exemplary terminal hydroxylases useful for carrying out the methods of the invention exhibit strong selectivity towards one terminal carbon of a hydrocarbon substrate and include, but are not limited to, non-heme diiron alkane monooxygenases, cytochromes P450 (e.g., cytochromes P450 of the CYP52 and CYP153 family), as well as long chain alkane hydroxylases. In some embodiments, the terminally hydroxylated alkene or alkyne is further converted to a terminal alkenal. In certain embodiments, terminally hydroxylated alkenes and alkynes are useful as insect pheromones which modify insect behavior. In other embodiments, terminally hydroxylated alkenes and alkynes are useful intermediates for producing pheromones via acetylation or oxidation of the alcohol moiety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Applicant: Provivi, Inc.
    Inventors: PEDRO COELHO, Mike M.Y. Chen, Peter Meinhold, Catherine Mee-Hie Cho, Vu Bui, Thomas Heel