Lonnie O. Ingram

Distinguished Professor 

Director, Florida Center for Renewable
Chemicals and Fuels (FCRC)

Department of Microbiology and Cell Science University of Florida 
Ph.D: University of Texas at Austin, 1971 in Botany 
Postdoctoral: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1972 

Teaching Interest

Microbial Biotechnology

Description of Research

General areas: Global redirection of central metabolism by genetic engineering;  Industrial fermentation processes;  Carbohydrate metabolism;  Expression and secretion of glycohydrolases which degrade plant polymers;  Alcohol tolerance

Our work focuses on the genetic engineering of novel bacterial biocatalyst for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into ethanol fuels and other fermentation products which can replace imported petroleum. This work involves cloning and moving genes between bacteria to add new and useful traits to ethanol producing organisms, design of novel engineering processes for the production of ethanol (and other chemicals), nutritional investigations, and the identification of genes which contribute to ethanol tolerance.  Global gene analysis is being used to investigate fundamental processes in metabolically engineered bacteria.

Honors/Awards

• NSF Undergraduate Research Award at Duke University, 1968
• NSF Summer Fellowship at the University of Texas, 1971
• O.B. Williams Award, Texas Branch, American Society for Microbiology, 1970
• National Institute Drug Abuse and Alcoholism, Research Career Development Award,
  1979-1983
• Invited Lectureship at Gulbenkian Institute, Oeris, Portugal, 1982 (International course on alcohol tolerance in yeast and bacteria)
• Vice-President, Florida Branch of American Society for Microbiology, 1985-87
• President, Florida Branch of American Society for Microbiology, 1987-1989
• U.F. Sigma Xi Senior Faculty Research Award, 1990
  Commendation from the Florida Senate and House, 1991
• Commendation from the U.S. House of Representatives, 1991
• University of Florida Research Achievement Award, 1991 and 1992
• U.S. Department of Commerce, Landmark Patent No. 5,000,000, 1991
• U.S. Department of Agriculture, Distinguished Service Award, 1993
• Distinguished Inventor Award, Florida Small Business Development Center, 1994
• P.R. Edwards Award, Southeastern Branch of Amer. Soc. for Microbiol., 1996
• University of Florida Professorial Excellence Award, 1996
• University of Florida Research Foundation Professor, 1997-2000
• Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology, 1998
  
• invited guest, signing of Executive Order on Biobased Products and Bioenergy,    
  1999
• Chairman, Fermentation and Biotechnology Division of the American Society of Microbiology, 2000-2001
• Fellow, Society of Industrial Microbiology, 2001
  Member, U.S. National Academy of Sciences, 2001

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U.S. Patents

5,000,000 - Ethanol Production by Escherichia coli Strains Co-expressing Zymomonas pdc and adh Genes. L.O. Ingram, F. Alterthum, T. Conway, 1991

5,028,539  - Ethanol Production using Engineered Mutant Escherichia coli. L.O. Ingram and D.C. Clark, 1992

5,162,516 - Cloning and Sequencing of the Alcohol Dehydrogenase II from Zymomonas mobilis. L.O. Ingram and T. Conway, 1992

5,424,202 - Ethanol Production by Recombinant Hosts. L. O. Ingram, D. S. Beall, G. F. H. Burchhardt, W.V. Guimaraes, K. Ohta, B. E. Wood, K. T. Shanmugam, D.E. Fowler, A. Ben-Bassat, 1995

5,482,846 - Ethanol Production by Gram-Positive Microbes. L.O. Ingram and M.D.F. Barbosa-Alleyne 1996

5,602,030 - Recombinant Glucose Uptake SystemL.O. Ingram, N. Arfman, and J. Snoep, 1997

5,821,093 - Recombinant cells that highly express chromosomally-integrated heterologous genes. Recombinant cells that highly express chromosomally-integrated heterologous genes. 1998

5,916,787 - Ethanol production in gram-positive microbes. Ingram, L.O. and M.D.F. Barbosa-Alleyne, 1999

6,102,690 - Recombinant organisms capable of fermenting cellobiose. L.O. Ingram, X. Lai, M. Moniruzzaman and S.W. York, 2000

6,107,093 - Recombinant cells that highly express chromosomally-integrated heterologous genes. L. O. Ingram, K. Ohta, and B. E. Wood, 2000

6,130,076 - Ethanol production using a soy hydrolysate-based medium or a yeast autolysate-based medium. L.O. Ingram and S.W. York, 2000

6,333,181 - Ethanol production from lignocellulose. B.E. Wood and L.O.

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Selected Publications

Review

Ingram, L.O., H.C. Aldrich, A.C.C. Borges, T.B. Causey, A. Martinez, F. Morales, A. Saleh, S.B. Underwood, L.P. Yomano, S.W. York, J. Zaldivar, and S. Zhou. 1999. Enteric bacterial catalysts for fuel ethanol production. Biotechnol. Prog. 15: 855-866

Papers

Patel, M., M. Ou, L.O. Ingram, and K.T. Shanmugam. 2006. Isolation and charactrerization of acid-tolerant, thermophilic bacterial biocatalysts for effective fermentation of biomass-derived sugars to lactic acid. Appl and Environ. Microbiol. (Accepted for publication)

Zhou, S., T.B. Grabar, K.T. Shanmugam and L.O. Ingram. 2006. Betaine tripled the volumetric productivity of D(-)-lactate by Escherichia coli strain SZ132 in mineral salts medium. Biotechnology Letters (In Press)

Zhou, S., L.P. Yomano, K.T. Shanmugam, and L.O. Ingram. 2006. Fermentation of 10% (w/v) sugar to D(-)-lactate by engineered Escherichia coli B. Biotechnology Letters (In Press)

Talarico, L.A., M.A. Gil, L.O. Ingram, and J.A. Maupin-Furlow. 2005. Construction and expression of an ethanol production operon in gram-positive bacteria. Microbiology 151: 4023-4031.

Wood, B.E., L.P. Yomano, S.W. York, and L.O. Ingram. 2005. Development of industrial-medium-required elimination of the 2,3 butanediol fermentation pathway to maintain ethanol yield in an ethanologenic strain if Klebsiella oxytoca. Biotech. Prog.21: 1366-1372.

Tao, Han, Adnan Hasona, Phi Min Do, L.O. Ingram and K.T. Shanmugam. 2005. Global gene expression analysis revealed an unsuspected deo operon under the control of molybdate sensor, ModE protein, in Escherichia coli. Arch Microbiol: 184:225-233.

Patel MA, MS Ou , LO Ingram, and KT Shanmugam. 2005. Simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation of crystalloine dellulose and sugar cane bagasse hemicellulose ahydrolysate to lactate by a thermotolerant acidophilic Bacillus sp. Biotechnology Progress 21(5): 1453-1460.

Ingram, LO. 2005. The potential role of alternative (renewable) fuels in the US. Journal of Biotechnology 118: S91-S91 Suppl.

Purvis J.E., L.P. Yomano, and L.O. Ingram. 2005. Enhanced trehalose production improves growth of Echerichia coli under osmotic stress. Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 2005 71: 3761-3769.

Hasona, Adnan, Y. Kim, F.G. Healy, L.O. Ingram, and K.T. Shanmugam. 2004. Pyruvate formate lyase and acetate kinase are essential for anaerobic growth of Escherichia coli on xylose. J. Bacteriol. 186(22): 7593-7600.

Patel, M., M. Ou, L.O. Ingram, and K.T. Shanmugam. 2004. Fermentation of sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate to L(+) lactic acid by a thermotolerant acidophilic Bacillus sp. Biotechnology Letters. Biotechnology Letters. 26(11):865-8.

Underwood, S.A., M.L. Buszko, K.T. Shanmugam, and L.O. Ingram. 2004. Lack of protective osmolytes limits final cell density and volumetic productivity of ethanologenic Escherichia coli KO11 during xylose fermentation. Appl. & Environ. Microbiology. 70(4): 2734-2740.

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Shukla, V.B., S. Zhou, L.P. Yomano, K.T. Shanmugam, J.F. Preston, and L.O.Ingram. 2004. Production of D(-)-lactate from sucrose and molasses. Biotechnology Letters. 26: 689-693.

Causey, T.B.,K.T. Shanmugam, L.P. Yomano, and L.O. Ingram. 2003. Engineering Escherichia coli for efficient conversion of glucose to pyruvate. PNAS.  101(8): 2235-2240.

Yilei, Qian, L.P. Yomano, J.F. Preston, H.C. Aldrich and L.O. Ingram. 2003. Cloning,     characterization and functional expression of the Klebsiella oxytoca xyloside utilization
operon (xynTB) in Escherichia coli. Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
69(10): 5957-67.

Zhou, S., K.T. Shanmugam, and L.O. Ingram. 2003. Functional replacement of Escherichia coli D(-)-lactate dehydrogenase (ldlA) with L(+)-lactate dehydrogenase (ldlL) from Pediococcus acidilactici. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:2237-2244.

Gonzalez, R., H. Tao, J. E. Purvis, S. W. York, K. T. Shanmugam and L. O. Ingram.
2003. Gene array-based identification of changes that contribute to increased ethanol tolerance in ethanologenic Escherichia coli LY0: Comparison of KO11(parent) to LY01 (resistant mutant). Biotechnol. Prog. 19:612-623.

Zhou, S., T.B. Causey, A. Hasona, K.T. Shanmugam, and L.O. Ingram. 2003. Production of optically pure D-lactic acid in mineral salts medium by metabolically engineered Escherichia coli W3110. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69(1): 399-407.

Causey. T.B., S, Zhou, K.T. Shanmugam, and L.O. Ingram. 2003. Engineering the metabolism of Escherichia coli W3110 for the conversion of sugar to redox-neutral and oxidized products: homo-acetate production. Prc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 100:825-832.

Zhou, Shengde, K.T. Shanmugam and L.O. Ingram. 2003. Functional replacement of Escherichia coli D(-)-lactate dehydrogenase (ldhA)  with  L(+) -lactate dehydrogenase (ldhL) from Pediococcus acidilactici. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 60(4): 2237-2244.

Underwood, S.A., S. Zhou. T.B. Causey, L.P. Yomano, K.T. Shanmugam, and L.O. Ingram. 2002. Genetic changes to optimize carbon patitioning between ethanol and biosynthesis in ethanologenic Escherichia coli. Appl. environ. Microbiol. 68(12): 6263-6272.

Raj, K.C., L.A. Talarico, L.O. Ingram and J.A. Maupin-Furlow. 2002. Cloning and characterization of the Zymobacter palmae pyruvate decarboxylase (pdc): Comparison of bacterial homologues.  Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68(6): 2869-2876.
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Gutierrez, T., M.L. Buzco, L.O. Ingram, and J.F. Preston. 2002. Reduction of furfural to fulfuryl alcohol by ethanologenic strains of bacteria and its effect on ethanol production from xylose. Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 98-100: 327-340.

Hasona, A., S.W. York, L.P. Yomano, L.O. Ingram, and K.T. Shanmugam. 2002. Decreasing the level of ethyl acetate in ethanologenic fermentation broths of Escherichia coli KO11 by expression of Pseudomonas putida estZ esterase.  Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68(6): 2651-2659.

Underwood, S.A., M.L. Buzco, K.T. Shanmugam, and L.O. Ingram. 2002. Flux through citrate synthase limits the growth of ethanologenic Escherichia coli KO11 during xylose fermentation. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68: 1071-1081.

Ramon Gonzalez, Han Tao, K.T. Shanmugam, S. W. York, and L. O. Ingram. 2002. Global gene expression differences associated with changes in glycolytic flux and growth rate in Escherichia coli during the fermentation of glucose and xylose. Biotechnology Progress. 18: 6-20.

Raj, K. C., L.O. Ingram, and J. A. Maupin-Furlow. 2001. Pyruvate decarboxylase: a key enzyme for the oxidative metabolism of lactic acid by Acetobacter pasteurianus. Arch. Microbiol. 176: 443-451.

Talarico, L. A., L.O. Ingram and J.A. Maupin-Furlow. 2001. DNA sequence analysis of Sarcina ventriculi pyruvate decarboxylase in recombinant bacteria. Microbiology-SGM 147:2425-2433.

Zhou, S. and L. O. Ingram. 2001.Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of
amorphous cellulose to ethanol by recombinant Klebsiella oxytoca SZ21 without supplemental cellulase. Biotechnol. Lett. 23: 1455-1462.

Han, T., R. Gonzales, A. Martinez, M. Rodriguez, L.O. Ingram, J.F. Preston, and K.T. Shanmugam. 2001. Use of expression arrays to investigate the basis for increased glycolytic flux (xylose) in ethanologenic Escherichia coli KO11. J. Bacteriol. 183: 2979-2988.

Martinez, A., M.E. Rodriguez, M.L. Wells, S.W. York, J.F. Preston, and L.O. Ingram. 2001. Titration with NaOH as a method to predict optimal Ca(OH)2 additions (overliming) for detoxification of dilute acid hydrolysates. Biotechnol.  Prog.17: 287-293.

Zhou, S., F.C. Davis, and L.O. Ingram. 2001. Gene integration and expression,a nd extracellular secretion of Erwinia chrysanthemi endoglucanase CelY (celY) and CelZ (celZ) in ethanologenic Klebsiella oxytoca P2. Appl. Environ.  Microbiol. 67 (1) : 6-14.

Zhou, S. and L.O. Ingram. 2000. Synergistic hydrolysis of carboxymethyl cellulose and acid-swollen cellulose by two endoglucanases (EGY and EGZ) from Erwinia chrysanthemi. J. Bacteriol. 182: 5676-5682.

Martinez, A., M.E. Rodriguez, S.W. York, J.F. Preston and L.O. Ingram. 2000. Use of UV absorbance to monitor furans in dilute acid hydrolysates of biomass. Biotechnol. Prog. 16: 637-641.

Martinez, A., M.E. Rodriguez, S.W. York, J.F. Preston and L. O. Ingram. 2000.  Effects of Ca(OH)2 treatments on the composition and toxicity of bagasse hemicellulose hydrolysates. Biotechnol. Bioengin. 69: 526-536.
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Zaldivar, J., A. Martinez and L.O. Ingram. 2000. Effect of alcohol components of hemicellulose hydrolysate on the growth and fermentation of ethanologenic Escherichia coli LY01. Biotechnol. Bioengin. 68: 524-530.

Martinez-Morales, F., A.C. Borges, A. Martinez, K.T. Shanmugam and L.O. Ingram. 1999. Chromosomal integration of heterologous DNA in Escherichia  coli with precise  removal of markers and replicons used during construction. J. Bacteriol. 181: 7143-7148.

Zaldivar, J. and L.O. Ingram. 1999. Effect of organic acids on the growth and fermentation of ethanologenic Escherichia coli LY01. Biotechnol. Bioengin. 66: 203-210.

Martinez, Alfredo, Sean W. York, Lorraine P. Yomano, Van L. Pineda, Francis C. Davis, John C. Shelton, and Lonnie O. Ingram. 1999. Biosynthetic burden and plasmid burden limit expression of chromosomally integrated heterologous genes (pdc, adhB) in Escherichia  coli. Biotechnol. Prog.  15: 891-897.

Zhou, Shengde and Lonnie O. Ingram. 1999. Engineering endoglucanase-secreting strains of ethanologenic Klebsiella oxytoca P2. J. Industrial Microbiol. Biotechnol. 22: 600-607.

Zhou, Shengde, Lorraine P. Yomano, Alif. Z. Saleh, Francis C. Davis, Henry C. Aldrich and Lonnie O. Ingram. 1999. Enhancement of expression and apparent secretion of Erwinia chrysanthemi endoglucanase (encoded by celZ ) in Escherichia coli B. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65:2439-2445.

Zaldivar, Jesus, Alfredo Martinez and Lonnie O. Ingram. 1999. Effect of selected aldehydes on the growth and fermentation of ethanologenic Escherichia coli LY01 and KO11. Biotechnol. Bioengin. 65: 25-33.

Martinez, Alfredo, Sean W. York, Lorraine P. Yomano, Van L. Pineda, Francis C.
Davis, John C. Shelton, and Lonnie O. Ingram. 1999. Biosynthetic burden and plasmid
burden limit expression of chromosomally integrated heterologous genes (pdc, adhB)
in Escherichia  coli. Biotechnol. Prog.  15: 891-897.

Zhou, Shengde and Lonnie O. Ingram. 1999. Engineering endoglucanase-secreting
strains of ethanologenic Klebsiella oxytoca P2. J. Industrial Microbiol. Biotechnol. 22:
600-607.

Zhou, Shengde, Lorraine P. Yomano, Alif. Z. Saleh, Francis C. Davis, Henry C. Aldrich
and Lonnie O. Ingram. 1999. Enhancement of expression and apparent secretion of
Erwinia chrysanthemi endoglucanase (encoded by celZ ) in Escherichia coli B. Appl.
Environ. Microbiol. 65:2439-2445.

Zaldivar, Jesus, Alfredo Martinez and Lonnie O. Ingram. 1999. Effect of selected
aldehydes on the growth and fermentation of ethanologenic Escherichia coli LY01
and KO11. Biotechnol. Bioengin. 65: 25-33.

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