Genetically Modified Clostridium Acetobutylicum for Lignocellulosic Biomass

ChangeBridge: Patent Apps - Biotech (C12N)

Published September 15th, 2023

Detected March 27th, 2026

Summary

The USPTO has published a patent application (US20260085278A1) detailing genetically modified Clostridium acetobutylicum strains designed for efficient growth on lignocellulosic biomass. The application, filed by Institut National des Sciences Appliquees de Toulouse, describes overexpressing specific operons to enhance biomass conversion for producing bulk chemicals like ethanol and butanol.

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What changed

This document is a USPTO patent application (US20260085278A1) concerning genetically modified Clostridium acetobutylicum strains. The core innovation involves overexpressing the cip-cel operon to improve growth on lignocellulosic biomass, enabling the production of various bulk chemicals such as ethanol, butanol, acetone, and lactic acid. The application was filed by the Institut National des Sciences Appliquees de Toulouse.

As a patent application, this document does not impose immediate regulatory obligations or compliance deadlines on regulated entities. However, it signifies potential future developments in biotechnology and chemical production. Companies operating in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or industrial chemical sectors may wish to monitor the progress of this patent application and related intellectual property, as it could impact future manufacturing processes and product development in areas such as biofuels and bio-based chemicals.

Source document (simplified)

← USPTO Patent Applications

GENETICALLY MODIFIED LIGNOCELLULOLYTIC CLOSTRIDIUM ACETOBUTYLICUM

Application US20260085278A1 Kind: A1 Mar 26, 2026

Assignee

Institut National des Sciences Appliquees de Toulouse

Inventors

Tom WILDING-STEELE, Quentin RAMETTE, Philippe SOUCAILLE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a genetically modified Clostridium acetobutylicum able to grow on lignocellulosic biomass, in which the cip-cel operon is overexpressed, the expression level of each gene of the cip-cel operon in the genetically modified Clostridium acetobutylicum being higher than its expression level in a corresponding non-genetically modified Clostridium acetobutylicum, as well as derivatives thereof with further modifications increasing growth on lignocellulosic biomass, and the use of these strains for the production of bulk chemicals by conversion of lignocellulose as source of carbon, such as ethanol, butanol, glycerol, 1,2-propanediol, acetone, isopropanol, isobutene, hydrogen, acetic acid and lactic acid and the like.