Recent Patents on Biotechnology

ISSN: 1872-2083

Recent Patents on Biotechnology
Volume 2, Number 2, June 2008

Contents


Contributions of Biotechnology to the Production of Mannitol Pp. 73-78
Kristiina Kiviharju and Antti Nyyssölä
[Abstract]


Optimization of Protein Secretion by Bacillus subtilis Pp. 79-87
Reindert Nijland and Oscar P. Kuipers
[Abstract]


Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactors: A Brief Current Review Pp. 88-93
Tinggang Li, Junxin Liu and Renbi Bai
[Abstract]


Gene Targeting for Chromosome Engineering Applications in Eukaryotic Cells Pp. 94-106
Leszek A. Lyznik and Virginia Dress
[Abstract]


Citric Acid Production Patent Review Pp. 107-123
Savas Anastassiadis, Igor G. Morgunov, Svetlana V. Kamzolova and Tatiana V. Finogenova
[Abstract]


Diagnosis of Pathogens Using DNA Microarray Pp. 124-129
Seung M. Yoo and Sang Y. Lee
[Abstract]


Process Optimization for Biodiesel Production Pp. 130-143
Veena Singh, Kusum Solanki and Munishwar N. Gupta
[Abstract]


Patent Selections Pp. 144-149




Abstracts


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Contributions of Biotechnology to the Production of Mannitol
Kristiina Kiviharju and Antti Nyyssölä

Mannitol is a 6-carbon sugar alcohol that has been produced traditionally by chemical catalysis. Biotechnology has brought advances to the production in terms of substrate purity, process equipment requirements and safety. Enzymatic methods have improved the yields and the use of microbes has brought versatility to the range of substrates that can be used in the processes. Some of the microbial processes are already industrially feasible and could be taken to further use. The most promising production strategy reported so far has been the utilization of non-growing cells of heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria for converting fructose to mannitol. The latest developments in the field have dealt with the use of recombinant strains in mannitol production.


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Optimization of Protein Secretion by Bacillus subtilis
Reindert Nijland and Oscar P. Kuipers

The gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis is widely known for its capacity to produce and secrete large amounts of industrially relevant proteins, mostly endogenous enzymes like proteases and lipases. The use of B. subtilis has many advantages, such as its GRAS status and the easy and inexpensive culturing methods that can result in very high cell densities. Over the years many patents have been filed regarding the optimization of protein secretion by B. subtilis. For almost every step in the production and secretion process, from promoter optimization to deletion of extracellular proteases, patents have been claimed. An overview of the current literature and patents on these subjects is given. We will discuss recent patents regarding the optimization of protein overexpression and secretion in B. subtilis. A patent claiming modification of B. subtilis SecA will be discussed in more detail. Another recent patent claims a positive effect of heterologous protein secretion upon reduced expression of the yusZ and/or yusX genes, encoding putative oligopeptidases. Improvements are being made continuously, although many depend on the character of the specific protein under study.


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Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactors: A Brief Current Review
Tinggang Li, Junxin Liu and Renbi Bai

Membrane aerated biofilm reactors (MABRs) represent a relatively new biotreatment technology. In a MABR, biofilm is grown on a gas-permeable membrane (often a hollow fiber membrane). Soluble organic compounds in the liquid are supplied to the biofilm from the biofilm-liquid interface whereas oxygen supply to the biofilm is from the biofilm-membrane interface (by oxygen diffusing through the membrane). MABRs can achieve bubble-less aeration and high oxygen utilization efficiency (up to 100%) and the biofilm can be stratified into aerobic/anoxic/anaerobic zones to simultaneously achieve removal of carbonaceous organic pollutants as well as nitrification and denitrification (if needed) in a single biofilm. This article briefly reviews the MABR process, including the characteristics, membrane materials, modular design, operation parameters and the potential applications, from relevant recent patents and literature.


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Gene Targeting for Chromosome Engineering Applications in Eukaryotic Cells
Leszek A. Lyznik and Virginia Dress

As biotechnology advances, there is an increasing need to develop new technologies that may assist in more precise genetic engineering manipulations. Whether a placement of single genes in the proper chromosomal context, stacking a number of genes in the same chromosomal locus, rearrangement of existing chromosomal elements, or a global reconfiguration of the chromosomal structures is contemplated, the new genetic tools being developed provide technical capabilities to achieve goals that were only theoretical not long ago. We use examples of recent patent literature (issued patents and published patent applications) to illustrate trends in this fast advancing area of genetic technology. If one wants to engage in the development and utilization of such technologies, the complexity of genetic manipulations requires a careful evaluation and navigation across the legal/patent landscape of chromosomal modification/remodeling. While this review is mostly focused on the basic laboratory tools of chromosomal manipulations, their specific applications for biomedical, pharmaceutical, or agricultural purposes may deserve an additional compilation.


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Citric Acid Production Patent Review
Savas Anastassiadis, Igor G. Morgunov, Svetlana V. Kamzolova and Tatiana V. Finogenova

Current Review article summarizes the developments in citric acid production technologies in East and West last 100 years. Citric acid is commercially produced by large scale fermentation mostly using selected fungal or yeast strains in aerobe bioreactors and still remains one of the runners in industrial production of biotechnological bulk metabolites obtained by microbial fermentation since about 100 years, reflecting the historical development of modern biotechnology and fermentation process technology in East and West. Citric acid fermentation was first found as a fungal product in cultures of Penicillium glaucum on sugar medium by Wehmer in 1893 [1]. Citric acid is an important multifunctional organic acid with a broad range of versatile uses in household and industrial applications that has been produced industrially since the beginning of 20^th century. There is a great worldwide demand for citric acid consumption due to its low toxicity, mainly being used as acidulant in pharmaceutical and food industries. Global citric acid production has reached 1.4 million tones, increasing annually at 3.5-4.0% in demand and consumption. Citric acid production by fungal submerged fermentation is still dominating, however new perspectives like solid-state processes or continuous yeast processes can be attractive for producers to stand in today’s strong competition in industry. Further perspectives aiming in the improvement of citric acid production are the improvement of citric acid producing strains by classical and modern mutagenesis and selection as well as downstream processes. Many inexpensive by-products and residues of the agro-industry (e.g. molasses, glycerin etc.) can be economically utilized as substrates in the production of citric acid, especially in solid-state fermentation, enormously reducing production costs and minimizing environmental problems. Alternatively, continuous processes utilizing yeasts which reach 200-250 g / l citric acid can stand in today’s strong competition in citric acid industry and replace the traditional discontinuous fungi processes.


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Diagnosis of Pathogens Using DNA Microarray
Seung M. Yoo and Sang Y. Lee

DNA microarray technology offers a new way to clinical diagnostics involving biomarker discovery and disease diagnosis. DNA microarray can be used for diagnosis of pathogens by analyzing hybridization patterns between capture probes and nucleic acids isolated from clinical samples. It allows more rapid, accurate, and cost-effective detection of pathogens compared with traditional approaches of cultivation- or immuno-assays. As infectious diseases are posing more serious threats to public health care, development of a rapid and accurate method for pathogen detection is critical to the proper treatment of infected patients at the earliest time. Here we review recent patents on the use of DNA microarray for diagnosing pathogens.


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Process Optimization for Biodiesel Production
Veena Singh, Kusum Solanki and Munishwar N. Gupta

Biodiesel is an alkyl ester of long chain fatty acids and is considered to leave smaller footprint on the environment. It is produced by transesterification of a fat/oil with a short chain primary alcohol like methanol or ethanol. The three routes to its preparation are: alkali catalyzed, acid catalyzed and lipase-catalyzed transesterification.

This review summarizes the key patents filed over the last few decades. The chemistry used in these patents is one of the three routes mentioned above. In few patents, heterogeneous catalysts have been used for catalyzing the transesterification process. The innovations mostly concern fine-tuning of the reaction conditions, plant design to improve logistics and use of glycerol produced as a by-product during biodiesel production.

There is a concern that biofuels like biodiesel cut into resources like land meant for food crop production. Life cycle studies also create doubt about there being energy efficient fuels. Judicious choices that would differ with different regions are recommended. For the next few decades till better alternatives like hydrogen become viable, biodiesel would continue to be an important “alternative fuel”.