US Patent 7,943,363 B2 covers genetic constructs of Clostridium phytofermentans. This patent is significant, Qteros says, as it provides intellectual property protection for genomic development and the use of gene combinations in Clostridium phytofermentans and other microorganisms to enhance an organism’s innate ability to hydrolyze biomass and improve the efficiency and yield of ethanol produced by an organism.

In a second but related advance, the Japanese Patent and Trademark Office allowed a patent titled, “Systems and Methods for Producing Biofuels and Related Materials.” The patent describes the novel creation of products through the fermentation of biomass by Clostridium phytofermentans. Patent allowance in Japan represents significant progress towards the broad, global protection of Clostridium phytofermentans bioprocessing outside of the United States. A patent has already been issued for this technology in the US.

Both patents are based on the discovery of Clostridium phytofermentans by microbiologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Qteros is the exclusive licensee of the patent.