James D Astwood

Title: Innovations of James D. Astwood

Introduction

James D. Astwood is a notable inventor based in Eureka, MO (US). He has made significant contributions to the field of biotechnology, particularly in the development of modified proteins. With a total of 4 patents, his work focuses on reducing allergenicity while maintaining the functional properties of proteins.

Latest Patents

Astwood's latest patents include groundbreaking innovations in nucleic acids encoding deallergenized proteins and permuteins. These modified proteins retain enzymatic and insecticidal activity while displaying reduced or eliminated allergenicity. His research identified epitopes that bind to anti-patatin antibodies, which were subsequently removed through site-directed mutagenesis. Notably, tyrosines were found to contribute to the allergenic properties of patatin proteins. The removal of glycosylation sites was observed to reduce or eliminate antibody binding. Additionally, permuteins with rearranged amino acid sequences were disclosed, which also retain enzymatic activity. These deallergenized proteins and permuteins have potential applications as insecticidal materials, nutritional supplements, and immunotherapeutic agents.

Career Highlights

James D. Astwood is currently associated with Monsanto Technology LLC, where he continues to innovate in the field of protein modification. His work has been instrumental in advancing the understanding of allergenic properties in proteins and developing solutions to mitigate these issues.

Collaborations

Astwood has collaborated with notable colleagues such as Murtaza F. Alibhai and Charles A. McWherter, contributing to a rich environment of innovation and research.

Conclusion

James D. Astwood's contributions to biotechnology through his patents and research have paved the way for advancements in the development of safer and more effective proteins. His work continues to impact various fields, including agriculture and medicine.