Innovation Cache™: Kansas State University
Below you will find a listing of the top technology transfer abstracts from Kansas State University
Title: Char Supported Catalyst for Syngas Cleanup and Conditioning
Reference No.: 10-11
About the technology: Synthetic fuel production from biomass (organic waste or co-products) has become an increasingly popular approach as petroleum prices and environmental awareness have risen together. However, at present, the conversion of biomass to syngas (en route to synthetic petroleum) produces various unwanted organic byproducts, generally termed tars. Extensive research has been done over the last decade on syngas reforming catalysts that will chemically remove or reform tars more efficiently and effectively. To date, the major hurdle has been the cost-prohibitive nature of many of the materials and processes to create catalysts.
Researchers at K-State have developed a more economically viable technique for syngas cleaning and conditioning. Their procedure uses char, a waste byproduct of carbon combustion, in combination with Nickel (II) Oxide. Although their material costs for the catalyst are considerably lower, results indicate that their char-supported catalysts are just as effective as the best-known current catalyst (NiO/Al2O3), removing 99% of tars within experimental parameters, conditioning the syngas and even converting some tar into useful H2 and CO. These results suggest that as the global market for energy derived from syngas grows, a char-supported catalyst could be incredibly successful.
Advantages:
- Less Expensive and saved use of Ni
- No impregnation or calcining necessary for NiO support
- Higher carbon monoxide concentrations in the reformed syngas
- Just as effective as more expensive tar removal techniques
Applications: This technology could be used at any bio-energy facility that produces syngas as an intermediary between organic waste and usable fuel.
Patent status: Pending
Find more information online here.
Title: Cattle Liver Abcess and Foot Rot Vaccine
Reference No.: 11-03
About the technology: Researchers at Kansas State University have developed multiple vaccines to prevent liver abscesses caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum or Arcanobacterium pyogenes. The two organisms are normally present in the rumen of cattle and under certain conditions they cross the ruminal wall and reach the liver to cause abscesses.
In one version, the vaccine consists of inactivated leukotoxin of F. necrophorum and killed whole cells (Bacterin) of A. pyogenes. Leukotoxin is the major virulence factor of F. necrophorum and antileukotoxin antibodies have been shown to protect against F. necrophorum infection.
In another version, a recombinant protein version of the initial vaccine technology has been developed to decrease the cost to manufacture. This form of vaccine has been improved in its efficiency by isolating the leukotoxin, determining its nucleotide sequence and expressing the recombinant in E. coli. Two polypeptide sections of the full strand of F. necrophorum have been identified as the proteins most responsible for prevention against infection and, therefore, liver abscess formation. Lab tests for this new development were carried out in mice, an animal proven in previous experiments to closely mimic results seen in cattle. Mice treated with these two polypeptide strands produced fewer liver abscesses than those treated with the full strand of F. necrophorum.
In the most recent advancement, an outer membrane protein was discovered in F. necrophorum that may play a critical role in the bacteria’s binding to the host cell surfaces. Researchers at K-State hypothesize that this outer membrane protein may serve as an effective antigen at inhibiting fusobacterial attachment to host cells and may be an effective strategy to prevent fusobacterial infection.
Abscessed livers in slaughtered feedlot cattle generally are recognized as part of aggressive feeding programs. The incidence in most feedlots averages 12% to 32%. Liver abscesses are significant liabilities to the producer and the packer. Abscesses are the major cause of liver condemnation in the United States. Besides loss of liver, carcass trimming is often necessary, which costs packers and producers money. However, the greatest economic impact of liver abscesses is from the reduced animal performance. A number of studies involving comparison of cattle with or without abscesses have documented that cattle with abscessed livers have reduced feed intake, reduced weight gain, decreased feed efficiency, and decreased carcass yield.
Liver abscess has been shown to have the following negative impacts on cattle:
- 11% decrease in performance
- 9.7% decrease in feed efficiency
- Reduced feed intake
- Reduced carcass dressing percentage
Advantages:
- Performance gains: Improved feed efficiency and feed intake
- Efficacy: Proven effective in real-world feedlot conditions
- Safe: Purification process removes all residual toxins and bacterium
- Safe: Large-scale implementation has proven the vaccine to be well tolerated at injection site
- Convenience: Complies with Beef Quality Assurance standards
Applications:
- Vaccine to prevent liver abscesses and foot rot in feedlot cattle
- Potential vaccine to prevent foot rot in sheep
Patent Status: US Provisional Patent Application on new antigen filed March 2011
US 6,669,940 & US 7,449,310 B2 with international patent protection in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, United Kingdom
US 5,861,162 with international patent protection in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico,
US 5,455,034 & US 5,492,694 with international patent protection in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom
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Title: Enhanced Non-endogenous siRNA Molecules and Strategy for Plant Protection
Reference No.: 09-23
About the technology: With annual production losses due to soybean cyst nematode alone soaring above $400 million in the U.S., new discoveries for plant protection is of most importance. Past research, as covered in the recently awarded Patent #7,803,984, demonstrates that producing small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules with homology to specific nematode genes in plants can cause a reduction in nematodes and their progeny. (More information can be found in the attached document.)Recently, further research has led to the discovery of both a method to enhance non-endogenous siRNA molecules in plants, as well as the identification of five target genes involved in the reproduction and fitness of a nematode.
Our method over-expresses either in part or full target sequences to include at least the fragment used for the RNAi hairpin together with the RNAi hairpin in the same vector. This up-regulation in both the concentration and number of individual molecule species of siRNA increases absorption of pathogenic fungus giving rise to increased plant protection. Our method also consists of enhancement through multiple targets in one construct or in a chimerical construct providing greater potential effect on the parasite or pathogen control.
Applications: The initial target is soybean cyst nematode; however, the technology could also be applicable to the following:
- Agricultural cyst nematode species
- Parasitic insects
- Plant pathogenic fungi
Patent status: Patent Issued - #7,803,984
New Research – Patent Pending
Find more information online here.
Title: Plant Gene Strategy for Pest Resistance
Reference No.: 09-21
About the technology: Hessian fly and other parasites of plants have long been a devastating problem for agriculture resulting in substantial industry losses. Current control, by way of resistance genes, are short lived and only provide resistance to certain biotype(s) (races) thus limiting the wide adaptation of cultivars with resistance to multiple pests. Recent research suggests approximately 70% of these genes are no longer effective in warding off Hessian fly, reinforcing the need for new strategies to minimize losses.
Researchers at Kansas State University have discovered a plant gene, Mds-1, as a target for manipulation by Hessian fly larvae and the powdery mildew fungus. Our unique approach obstructs the parasite’s manipulation of host plants by preventing the expression of a plant susceptibility gene at the attacking site. More specifically, transgenic plants with a construct produce double stranded RNA which then prevents the induction of this gene by the Hessian fly attack and in turn prevents the larvae’s survival. Our research shows this transgene has no apparent negative effects on other traits of transgenic plants and we expect further research to conclude broad, effective resistance against other pests.
Advantages:
- Durable due to it being biotype independent
- Single gene manipulation leads to resistance against multiple pests
- Potentially allows reinforcement of fly free date and earlier planting
Applications: Control of Hessian fly and other destructive pests such as insect herbivores including: rice midge, orange blossom midge, aphids and others.
Find more information online here.
Title: Starch Esters for Food and Beverage Products
Reference No.: 08-36
About the technology: This invention provides for novel water soluble lipophilic starches and a cost effective method of preparation of said starches. Traditionally, many different emulsion stabilizers have been used in various food and beverage products. However, due to supply and price constraints of these emulsifiers, modified starches have been used as a stable, more abundant alternative. Native starch is crystalline and hydrophilic in nature and thus insoluble in water with no emulsification properties. In order to achieve the desired emulsification properties, hydrophobic groups such as octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) are reacted with native starch in order to create an ester used as an emulsion stabilizer. This OSA modified starch derivative is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and thus has many applications throughout the food and beverage industries. However, the preparation process of these starch esters requires several steps in order to make the native starch lipophilic and water soluble at room temperature, both required properties of an emulsifier.
This new technology is a cost effective process to introduce a hydrophobic group such as octenyl succinate on starch. The resulting ester is a water soluble starch with excellent emulsification properties that can be used as an emulsion stabilizer in various food and beverage applications as well as many other industrial applications. In addition to its cost effectiveness, the process simplifies the needs for manufacturing equipment and the resulting starch ester is significantly easier to prepare than current modified starch esters. Additionally, starches with high degree of substitution or other types of ester can be produced for non-food applications.
Advantages:
- Cost effective method for achieving esterification, degradation and starch solubility in water
- Resulting starch ester has excellent emulsion stability
- The ester can be used as an economical replacement for traditional emulsion stabilizers
Find more information online here.
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