Patents by Inventor William Widner
William Widner 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).
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Publication number: 20140141471Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for degrading or converting a cellulosic material and for producing substances from the cellulosic material.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2012Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: Novozymes, Inc.Inventors: Feng Xu, William Widner, Ani Tejirian
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Publication number: 20140038235Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing a hyaluronic acid, comprising: (a) cultivating a Bacillus host cell under conditions suitable for production of the hyaluronic acid, wherein the Bacillus host cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising a hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence operably linked to a promoter sequence foreign to the hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence; and (b) recovering the hyaluronic acid from the cultivation medium. The present invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a hyaluronan synthase operon comprising a hyaluronan synthase gene and a UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase gene, and optionally one or more genes selected from the group consisting of a UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase gene, and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase gene.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Novozymes Biopharma DK A/SInventors: Alan Sloma, Regine Behr, William Widner, Stephen Brown, Maria Tang, David Sternberg
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Patent number: 8574886Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing a hyaluronic acid, comprising: (a) cultivating a Bacillus host cell under conditions suitable for production of the hyaluronic acid, wherein the Bacillus host cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising a hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence operably linked to a promoter sequence foreign to the hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence; and (b) recovering the hyaluronic acid from the cultivation medium. The present invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a hyaluronan synthase operon comprising a hyaluronan synthase gene and a UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase gene, and optionally one or more genes selected from the group consisting of a UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase gene, and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase gene.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2012Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Novozymes, Inc.Inventors: Regine Behr, William Widner, Maria Tang, Stephen Brown, Leslie Naggiar, Linda Sternberg
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Publication number: 20120329090Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of producing a heterologous polypeptide, comprising: (a) cultivating a mutant of a parent bacterial cell in a medium for the production of the heterologous polypeptide, wherein (i) the mutant cell comprises a first polynucleotide encoding the heterologous polypeptide which comprises two or more (several) cysteines, and a second polynucleotide comprising a modification of a gene encoding a thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase that incorrectly catalyzes the formation of one or more (several) disulfide bonds between the two or more (several) cysteines of the heterologous polypeptide, and (ii) the mutant cell is deficient in production of the thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase compared to the parent bacterial cell when cultivated under the same conditions; and (b) recovering the heterologous polypeptide from the cultivation medium. The present invention also relates to such bacterial mutants and methods for producing such bacterial mutants.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2010Publication date: December 27, 2012Applicants: NOVOZYMES A/S, NOVOZYMES, INC.Inventors: William Widner, Bjarke Christensen
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Publication number: 20120301955Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of producing a polypeptide having biological activity in a bacterial cell, comprising: (a) cultivating a bacterial host cell in a medium conducive for production of the polypeptide, wherein the bacterial host cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising a promoter region operably linked to a polynucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide and a modified mRNA processing/stabilizing sequence located downstream of the promoter region and upstream of the ribosome binding site of the polynucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide, wherein the modified mRNA processing/stabilizing sequence promotes higher expression of the polynucleotide sequence compared to an unmodified mRNA processing/stabilizing sequence; and (b) isolating the polypeptide having biological activity from the cultivation medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2012Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: Novozymes, Inc.Inventors: Michael Thomas, Gloria Erichsen, William Widner
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Patent number: 8268586Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of producing a polypeptide having biological activity in a bacterial cell, comprising: (a) cultivating a bacterial host cell in a medium conducive for production of the polypeptide, wherein the bacterial host cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising a promoter region operably linked to a polynucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide and a modified mRNA processing/stabilizing sequence located downstream of the promoter region and upstream of the ribosome binding site of the polynucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide, wherein the modified mRNA processing/stabilizing sequence promotes higher expression of the polynucleotide sequence compared to an unmodified mRNA processing/stabilizing sequence; and (b) isolating the polypeptide having biological activity from the cultivation medium.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2007Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Novozymes, Inc.Inventors: Michael Thomas, Gloria Erichsen, William Widner
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Publication number: 20120149067Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing a hyaluronic acid, comprising: (a) cultivating a Bacillus host cell under conditions suitable for production of the hyaluronic acid, wherein the Bacillus host cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising a hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence operably linked to a promoter sequence foreign to the hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence; and (b) recovering the hyaluronic acid from the cultivation medium. The present invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a hyaluronan synthase operon comprising a hyaluronan synthase gene and a UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase gene, and optionally one or more genes selected from the group consisting of a UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase gene, and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase gene.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2012Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: Novozymes, Inc.Inventors: Alan Sloma, Leslie Naggiar, Regine Behr, William Widner, Maria Tang, David Sternberg, Linda Sternberg, Stephen Brown
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Patent number: 8137951Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing a hyaluronic acid, comprising: (a) cultivating a Bacillus host cell under conditions suitable for production of the hyaluronic acid, wherein the Bacillus host cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising a hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence operably linked to a promoter sequence foreign to the hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence; and (b) recovering the hyaluronic acid from the cultivation medium. The present invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a hyaluronan synthase operon comprising a hyaluronan synthase gene and a UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase gene, and optionally one or more genes selected from the group consisting of a UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase gene, and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase gene.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2011Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Novozymes, Inc.Inventors: Alan Sloma, Leslie Naggiar, legal representative, Regine Behr, William Widner, Maria Tang, David Sternberg, Linda Sternberg, legal representative, Stephen Brown
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Patent number: 8093036Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing a hyaluronic acid, comprising: (a) cultivating a Bacillus host cell under conditions suitable for production of the hyaluronic acid, wherein the Bacillus host cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising a hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence operably linked to a promoter sequence foreign to the hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence; and (b) recovering the hyaluronic acid from the cultivation medium. The present invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a hyaluronan synthase operon comprising a hyaluronan synthase gene and a UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase gene, and optionally one or more genes selected from the group consisting of a UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase gene, and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase gene.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2010Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Novozymes, Inc.Inventors: Alan Sloma, Leslie Naggiar, legal representative, Regine Behr, William Widner, Maria Tang, David Sternberg, Linda Sternberg, legal representative, Stephen Brown
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Publication number: 20110189737Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing a hyaluronic acid, comprising: (a) cultivating a Bacillus host cell under conditions suitable for production of the hyaluronic acid, wherein the Bacillus host cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising a hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence operably linked to a promoter sequence foreign to the hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence; and (b) recovering the hyaluronic acid from the cultivation medium. The present invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a hyaluronan synthase operon comprising a hyaluronan synthase gene and a UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase gene, and optionally one or more genes selected from the group consisting of a UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase gene, and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase gene.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2011Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: Novozymes, Inc.Inventors: Alan Sloma, Regine Behr, William Widner, Maria Tang, David Sternberg, Stephen Brown, Leslie Naggiar, Linda Sternberg
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Publication number: 20110014662Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing a hyaluronic acid, comprising: (a) cultivating a Bacillus host cell under conditions suitable for production of the hyaluronic acid, wherein the Bacillus host cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising a hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence operably linked to a promoter sequence foreign to the hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence; and (b) recovering the hyaluronic acid from the cultivation medium. The present invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a hyaluronan synthase operon comprising a hyaluronan synthase gene and a UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase gene, and optionally one or more genes selected from the group consisting of a UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase gene, and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase gene.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2010Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: Novozymes, Inc.Inventors: Alan Sloma, Leslie Naggiar, Regine Behr, William Widner, Maria Tang, David Sternberg, Linda Sternberg, Stephen Brown
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Patent number: 7811806Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing a hyaluronic acid, comprising: (a) cultivating a Bacillus host cell under conditions suitable for production of the hyaluronic acid, wherein the Bacillus host cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising a hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence operably linked to a promoter sequence foreign to the hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence; and (b) recovering the hyaluronic acid from the cultivation medium. The present invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a hyaluronan synthase operon comprising a hyaluronan synthase gene and a UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase gene, and optionally one or more genes selected from the group consisting of a UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase gene, and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase gene.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Novozymes, Inc.Inventors: Alan Sloma, Regine Behr, William Widner, Maria Tang, David Sternberg, Stephen Brown
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Publication number: 20100028943Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of producing a polypeptide having biological activity in a bacterial cell, comprising: (a) cultivating a bacterial host cell in a medium conducive for production of the polypeptide, wherein the bacterial host cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising a promoter region operably linked to a polynucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide and a modified mRNA processing/stabilizing sequence located downstream of the promoter region and upstream of the ribosome binding site of the polynucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide, wherein the modified mRNA processing/stabilizing sequence promotes higher expression of the polynucleotide sequence compared to an unmodified mRNA processing/stabilizing sequence; and (b) isolating the polypeptide having biological activity from the cultivation medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2007Publication date: February 4, 2010Applicant: Novozymes, Inc.Inventors: Michael Thomas, Gloria Erichsen, William Widner
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Patent number: 7179634Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing a polypeptide, comprising: (a) cultivating a Bacillus host cell in a medium conducive for the production of the polypeptide, wherein the Bacillus cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising (i) a tandem promoter in which each promoter sequence of the tandem promoter is operably linked to a single copy of a nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide and alternatively also (ii) an mRNA processing/stabilizing sequence located downstream of the tandem promoter and upstream of the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide; and (b) isolating the polypeptide from the cultivation medium.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2001Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Novozymes, Inc.Inventors: William Widner, Alan Sloma, Michael D. Thomas
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Publication number: 20050221446Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing a hyaluronic acid, comprising: (a) cultivating a Bacillus host cell in a medium conducive for the production of the hyaluronic acid, wherein the Bacillus cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising a triple promoter comprising a variant amyL promoter having a mutation corresponding to position 590 of SEQ ID NO: 1, a consensus promoter having the sequence TTGACA for the “?35” region and TATAAT for the “?10” region, and a cryIIIA promoter, in which each promoter sequence of the triple promoter is operably linked to one or more coding sequences involved in the biosynthesis of the hyaluronic acid; and (b) isolating the hyaluronic acid from the cultivation medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2005Publication date: October 6, 2005Applicant: Novozymes Biopolymer A/S.Inventors: William Widner, Alan Sloma, Michael Thomas, Maria Tang
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Publication number: 20030175902Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing a hyaluronic acid, comprising: (a) cultivating a Bacillus host cell under conditions suitable for production of the hyaluronic acid, wherein the Bacillus host cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising a hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence operably linked to a promoter sequence foreign to the hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence; and (b) recovering the hyaluronic acid from the cultivation medium. The present invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a hyaluronan synthase operon comprising a hyaluronan synthase gene and a UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase gene, and optionally one or more genes selected from the group consisting of a UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase gene, and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase gene.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2002Publication date: September 18, 2003Applicant: Novozymes Biotech, Inc.Inventors: Alan Sloma, Regine Behr, William Widner, Maria Tang, David Sternberg, Stephen Brown
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Publication number: 20030170876Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing a polypeptide, comprising: (a) cultivating a Bacillus host cell in a medium conducive for the production of the polypeptide, wherein the Bacillus cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising (i) a tandem promoter in which each promoter sequence of the tandem promoter is operably linked to a single copy of a nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide and alternatively also (ii) an mRNA processing/stabilizing sequence located downstream of the tandem promoter and upstream of the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide; and (b) isolating the polypeptide from the cultivation medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2001Publication date: September 11, 2003Applicant: Novozymes Biotech, Inc.Inventors: William Widner, Alan Sloma, Michael D. Thomas
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Patent number: 6255076Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing a polypeptide, comprising: (a) cultivating a Bacillus host cell in a medium conducive for the production of the polypeptide, wherein the Bacillus cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising (i) a tandem promoter in which each promoter sequence of the tandem promoter is operably linked to a single copy of a nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide and alternatively also (ii) an mRNA processing/stabilizing sequence located downstream of the tandem promoter and upstream of the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide; and (b) isolating the polypeptide from the cultivation medium.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1999Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: Novozymes Biotech, Inc.Inventors: William Widner, Alan Sloma, Michael D. Thomas
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Patent number: 5955310Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing a polypeptide, comprising: (a) cultivating a Bacillus host cell in a medium conducive for the production of the polypeptide, wherein the Bacillus cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising (i) a tandem promoter in which each promoter sequence of the tandem promoter is operably linked to a single copy of a nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide and (ii) an mRNA processing/stabilizing sequence located downstream of the tandem promoter and upstream of the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide; and (b) isolating the polypeptide from the cultivation medium.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1998Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Assignee: Novo Nordisk Biotech, Inc.Inventors: William Widner, Alan Sloma, Michael D. Thomas