Synsorb Biotech, Inc.

Alberta Research Council Incorporated

Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada As Represented by the Minister of Natural Resources

Louis D Heerze

Glen D Armstrong

Richard H Smith

Heather Diane Dettman

Ryan Lister

Heather D Dettman

The present invention relates to the bioupgrading of crude oil is directed to a process for decreasing the acidity of an acidic crude oil, comprising contacting an acidic crude oil with a mixture nitrogen containing compounds selected from the group comprising ammonia, ammonia hydroxide, amines and the salts thereof, and in the presence of lipase enzyme, under conditions of suitable temperature and pressure sufficient to form the corresponding amide. The resulting naphthenic acid derived amides can then be processed normally in a refinery using such processes as cracking or hydrotreating and converted to hydrocarbon, ammonia and carbon dioxide without causing damage to the refinery infrastructure. This enzyme process is done at reduced temperatures (40-60&#xb0; C.) and pressures requiring less energy.

Petroleum bioprocessing to prevent refinery corrosion

The present invention relates to the use of microorganisms (biocatalysts), or catalysts derived from these organisms (enzymes), to improve the quality of crude oil and bitumen as an attractive alternative to current upgrading methods. The invention identifies and characterizes the microorganism species, in particular,(UTEX 2209) and(ATCC533), that have the capability to biochemically convert organic acids into chemical species that do not possess corrosive properties.

Petroleum bioconversion of organic acids to prevent refinery corrosion

This invention relates to prevention and/or treatment of antibiotic associated diarrhea, including associated diarrhea (CDAD), pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) and other conditions associated with infection, using oligosaccharide compositions which bind toxin B. More specifically, the invention concerns neutralization of toxin B associated with such conditions.

Treatment of C. difficile toxin B associated conditions

The present invention is directed to lectin derived carbohydrate binding peptides or derivatives thereof useful for suppressing inflammatory responses, inducing tolerance to an antigen, and suppressing cell adhesion, e.g., involved in metastasis. In particular, peptides capable of binding terminally linked &agr;-sialic acid(2-6)&bgr;Gal- and/or &agr;-sialic acid(2-3)&bgr;Gal-groups on structures or molecules comprising such groups are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions containing such lectin derived carbohydrate binding peptides are also disclosed.

Anti-flammatory carbohydrate binding-peptides

This invention relates to prevention and/or treatment of antibiotic associated diarrhea, including Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD), pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) and other conditions associated with C. difficile infection, using oligosaccharide compositions which bind C. difficile toxin B. More specifically, the invention concerns neutralization of C. difficile toxin B associated with such conditions.

Treatment of traveller's diarrhea

Treatment of cholera

The present invention is directed to methods of suppressing inflammatory responses, inducing tolerance to an antigen, and suppressing cell adhesion, e.g., involved in metastasis, by the administration of lectin derived carbohydrate binding peptides or derivatives thereof, in particular, peptides capable of binding terminally linked .alpha.-sialic acid(2.fwdarw.6).beta.Gal- and/or .alpha.-sialic acid(2.fwdarw.3).beta.Gal-groups on structures or molecules comprising such groups. Pharmaceutical compositions containing such lectin derived carbohydrate binding peptides or derivatives thereof are also disclosed.

Anti-inflammatory, tolerogenic and immunoinhibiting properties of

This invention relates to treatment of cholera and related conditions using oligosaccharide compositions which bind V. cholerae toxin and/or one or more serotypes of the organism V. cholerae. More specifically, the invention concerns neutralization and removal of V. cholerae toxin and/or organisms from the intestinal tract.

The present invention is directed to methods of suppressing inflammatory responses, inducing tolerance to an antigen, and suppressing cell adhesion, e.g., involved in metastasis, by the administration of lectin derived carbohydrate binding peptides or derivatives thereof, in particular, peptides capable of binding terminally linked .alpha.-sialic acid(2.fwdarw.6).beta.Gal- and/or .alpha.-sialic acid(2.fwdarw.3).beta.Gal- groups on structures or molecules comprising such groups. Pharmaceutical compositions containing such lectin derived carbohydrate binding peptides or derivatives thereof are also disclosed.

The present invention is directed to methods of suppressing inflammatory responses, including tolerance to an antigen, and suppressing cell adhesion, e.g., involved in metastasis, by the administration of lectin derived carbohydrate binding peptides or derivatives thereof, in particular, peptides capable of binding terminally linked .alpha.-sialic acid (2.fwdarw.6).beta.Gal- and/or .alpha.-sialic acid(2.fwdarw.3).beta.Gal-groups on structures or molecules comprising such groups. Pharmaceutical compositions containing such lectin derived carbohydrate binding peptides or derivatives thereof are also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Edmonton, Canada

Louis D Heerze