Patents by Inventor Todd B. Vinzant

Todd B. Vinzant 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: 7932054
    Abstract: The invention provides a thermal tolerant (thermostable) cellulase, AviIII, that is a member of the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family. AviIII was isolated and characterized from Acidothermus cellulolyticus, and, like many cellulases, the disclosed polypeptide and/or its derivatives may be useful for the conversion of biomass into biofuels and chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: William S. Adney, Todd B. Vinzant, Shih-You Ding, Michael E. Himmel
  • Publication number: 20100136667
    Abstract: The invention provides a thermal tolerant (thermostable) cellulase, AviIII, that is a member of the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family. AviIII was isolated and characterized from Acidothermus cellulolyticus, and, like many cellulases, the disclosed polypeptide and/or its derivatives may be useful for the conversion of biomass into biofuels and chemicals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
    Inventors: Shi-You Ding, William S. Adney, Todd B. Vinzant, Michael E. Himmel
  • Patent number: 7538200
    Abstract: The invention provides a thermal tolerant (thermostable) cellulase, AviIII, that is a member of the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family. AviIII was isolated and characterized from Acidothermus cellulolyticus and, like many cellulases, the disclosed polypeptide and/or its derivatives may be useful for the conversion of biomass into biofuels and chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Shi-You Ding, William S. Adney, Todd B. Vinzant, Michael E. Himmel
  • Patent number: 7393673
    Abstract: The invention provides a thermal tolerant cellulase that is a member of the glycoside hydrolase family. The invention further discloses this cellulase as Gux1. Gux1 has been isolated and characterized from Acidothermus cellulolyticus. The invention further provides recombinant forms of the identified Gux1. Methods of making and using Gux1 polypeptides, including fusions, variants, and derivatives, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Midwest Research Institute
    Inventors: William S. Adney, Shi-You Ding, Todd B. Vinzant, Michael E. Himmel, Stephen R. Decker, Suzanne Lantz McCarter
  • Patent number: 7375197
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method for preparing an active exoglucanase in a heterologous host of eukaryotic origin. The method includes mutagenesis to reduce glycosylation of the exoglucanase when expressed in a heterologous host. It is further disclosed a method to produce variant cellobiohydrolase that is stable at high temperature through mutagenesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: MidWest Research Institute
    Inventors: William S. Adney, Stephen R. Decker, Suzanne Mc Carter, John O. Baker, Raphael Nieves, Michael E. Himmel, Todd B. Vinzant
  • Patent number: 7364890
    Abstract: The invention provides a thermal tolerant (thermostable) cellulase, AviIII, that is a member of the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family. AviIII was isolated and characterized from Acidothermus cellulolyticus and, like many cellulases, the disclosed polypeptide and/or its derivatives may be useful for the conversion of biomass into biofuels and chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Midwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Shi-You Ding, William S. Adney, Todd B. Vinzant, Michael E. Himmel
  • Patent number: 7306650
    Abstract: A method, and systems for implementing such method, for purifying and conditioning air of weaponized contaminants. The method includes wetting a filter packing media with a salt-based liquid desiccant, such as water with a high concentration of lithium chloride. Air is passed through the wetted filter packing media and the contaminants in are captured with the liquid desiccant while the liquid desiccant dehumidifies the air. The captured contaminants are then deactivated in the liquid desiccant, which may include heating the liquid desiccant. The liquid desiccant is regenerated by applying heat to the liquid desiccant and then removing moisture. The method includes repeating the wetting with the regenerated liquid desiccant which provides a regenerable filtering process that captures and deactivates contaminants on an ongoing basis while also conditioning the air. The method may include filtration effectiveness enhancement by electrostatic or inertial means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Midwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Steven J. Slayzak, Ren S. Anderson, Ronald D. Judkoff, Daniel M. Blake, Todd B. Vinzant, Joseph P. Ryan
  • Patent number: 7112429
    Abstract: The invention provides a thermal tolerant mannanase that is a member of the glycoside hydrolase family. The invention further discloses this mannanase as ManA. ManA has been isolated and characterized from Acidothermus cellulolyticus. The invention further provides recombinant forms of the identified ManA. Methods of making ManA polypeptides, including fusions, variants, and derivatives, are also disclosed. Methods of using mannanase A, including for the processing of food and for use in food stuffs as bulking agents and the like, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Midwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Shi-You Ding, William S. Adney, Todd B. Vinzant, Michael E. Himmel
  • Patent number: 7059993
    Abstract: The invention provides a thermal tolerant cellulase that is a member of the glycoside hydrolase family. The invention further discloses this cellulase as GuxA. GuxA has been isolated and characterized from Acidothermus cellulolyticus. The invention further provides recombinant forms of the identified GuxA. Methods of making and using GuxA polypeptides, including fusions, variants, and derivatives, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Midwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Shi-You Ding, William S. Adney, Todd B. Vinzant, Michael E. Himmel, Stephen R. Decker
  • Publication number: 20040231512
    Abstract: A method, and systems for implementing such method, for purifying and conditioning air of weaponized contaminants. The method includes wetting a filter packing media with a salt-based liquid desiccant, such as water with a high concentration of lithium chloride. Air is passed through the wetted filter packing media and the contaminants in are captured with the liquid desiccant while the liquid desiccant dehumidifies the air. The captured contaminants are then deactivated in the liquid desiccant, which may include heating the liquid desiccant. The liquid desiccant is regenerated by applying heat to the liquid desiccant and then removing moisture. The method includes repeating the wetting with the regenerated liquid desiccant which provides a regenerable filtering process that captures and deactivates contaminants on an ongoing basis while also conditioning the air. The method may include filtration effectiveness enhancement by electrostatic or inertial means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Steven J. Slayzak, Ren S. Anderson, Ronald D. Judkoff, Daniel M. Blake, Todd B. Vinzant, Joseph P. Ryan
  • Publication number: 20040038334
    Abstract: The invention provides a thermal tolerant (thermostable) cellulase that is a member of the glycoside hydrolase family. The invention further discloses this cellulase as AviIII. AviIII has been isolated and characterized from Acidothermus cellulolyticus. The invention further provides recombinant forms of the identified AviIII. Methods of making and using AviIII polypeptides, including fusions, variants, and derivatives, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2001
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Shi-You Ding, William S. Adney, Todd B. Vinzant, Michael E. Himmel
  • Publication number: 20030170861
    Abstract: A nucleic acid molecule having a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a linker region of exoglucanase, said nucleic acid sequence comprising the nucleic sequence 5′-GGCGGAAACCCGCCTGGCACCACC-3′.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: William S. Adney, Stephen R. Decker, Suzanne McCarter, John O. Baker, Rafael Nieves, Michael E. Himmel, Todd B. Vinzant
  • Publication number: 20030119093
    Abstract: The invention provides a thermal tolerant mannanase that is a member of the glycoside hydrolase family. The invention further discloses this mannanase as ManA. ManA has been isolated and characterized from Acidothermus cellulolyticus. The invention further provides recombinant forms of the identified ManA. Methods of making ManA polypeptides, including fusions, variants, and derivatives, are also disclosed. Methods of using mannanase A, including for the processing of food and for use in food stuffs as bulking agents and the like, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Shi-You Ding, William S. Adney, Todd B. Vinzant, Michael E. Himmel
  • Publication number: 20030108988
    Abstract: An isolated polynucleotide molecule encoding a thermal stable AviIII polypeptide, said aviIII polypeptide comprising:
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Shi-You Ding, William S. Adney, Todd B. Vinzant, Michael E. Himmel
  • Publication number: 20030104522
    Abstract: The invention provides a thermal tolerant cellulase that is a member of the glycoside hydrolase family. The invention further discloses this cellulase as GuxA. GuxA has been isolated and characterized from Acidothermus cellulolyticus. The invention further provides recombinant forms of the identified GuxA. Methods of making and using GuxA polypeptides, including fusions, variants, and derivatives, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Shi-You Ding, William S. Adney, Todd B. Vinzant, Michael E. Himmel, Stephen R. Decker
  • Publication number: 20030096342
    Abstract: The invention provides a thermal tolerant cellulase that is a member of the glycoside hydrolase family. The invention further discloses this cellulase as Gux1. Gux1 has been isolated and characterized from Acidothermus cellulolyticus. The invention further provides recombinant forms of the identified Gux1. Methods of making and using Gux1 polypeptides, including fusions, variants, and derivatives, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: William S. Adney, Shi-You Ding, Todd B. Vinzant, Michael E. Himmel, Stephen R. Decker, Suzanne Lantz McCarter
  • Publication number: 20030054535
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for increasing the specific activity of a glycosyl hydrolase on a substrate, comprising replacing a hydrophobic surface binding amino acid of the hydrolase with a positively charged amino acid; and a method for increasing the specific activity of a glycosyl hydrolase on a substrate, comprising replacing an active site associated glycosyl-stabilizing amino acid of the hydrolase with an amino acid, the replacing amino acid not strongly retarding cellobiose from leaving the active site. The invention further provides mutant glycosyl hydrolases, which include Y245G, Y42R, and W82R.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Michael E. Himmel, William S. Adney, John O. Baker, Todd B. Vinzant, Steven R. Thomas, Joshua Sakon, Stephen R. Decker
  • Patent number: 6509184
    Abstract: A process for production of an alkaline tolerant dextranase enzyme comprises culturing a dextran-producing microorganism Streptomyces anulatus having accession no. ATCC PTA-3866 to produce an alkaline tolerant dextranase, Dex 1 wherein the protein in said enzyme is characterized by a MW of 63.3 kDa and Dex 2 wherein its protein is characterized by a MW of 81.8 kDa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Midwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Stephen R. Decker, William S. Adney, Todd B. Vinzant, Michael E. Himmel