# US 2022/0033798 A1 · Use and production of storage-stable neutral metalloprotease > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0033798 A1 - Document ID: US20220033798A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/376,669 - Filed: 2021-07-15 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-10-12 - Assignees: Danisco US Inc. - Applicants: Danisco US Inc - Inventors: ANDREW SHAW; DAVID A. ESTELL; EUGENE S. SADLOWSKI; HIROSHI OH; LOUISE WALLACE; RONALDUS WILHEMUS JOANNES HOMMES; SANG-KYU LEE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220033798A1 ## CPC - C12N 9/54: bacteria being Bacillus - C11D 1/02: Anionic compounds {(C11D1/002, C11D1/004, C11D1/008 take precedence)} - C11D 3/386: Preparations containing enzymes {, e.g. protease or amylase} - C11D 3/38663: {Stabilised liquid enzyme compositions} - C12Y 304/24: Metalloendopeptidases (3.4.24) - C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00) - C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL - C12Y: ENZYMES ## Abstract The present invention provides methods and compositions comprising at least one neutral metalloprotease enzyme that has improved storage stability. In some embodiments, the neutral metalloprotease finds use in cleaning and other applications. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods and compositions comprising neutral metalloprotease(s) obtained from Bacillus sp. In some more particularly preferred embodiments, the neutral metalloprotease is obtained from B. amyloliquefaciens. In still further preferred embodiments, the neutral metalloprotease is a variant of the B. amyloliquefaciens neutral metalloprotease. In yet additional embodiments, the neutral metalloprotease is a homolog of the the B. amyloliquefaciens neutral metalloprotease. The present invention finds particular use in applications including, but not limited to cleaning, bleaching and disinfecting. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-14. (canceled) ### Claim 15 An isolated neutral metalloprotease variant having an amino acid sequence comprising at least one substitution of an amino acid made at a position equivalent to a position in a neutral metalloprotease comprising the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 18, wherein said protease comprises at least one mutation selected from T004C, T004E, T004H, T004I, T004K, T004L, T004M, T004N, T004P, T004R, T004S, T004V, T004W, T004Y, G012D, G012E, G012I, G012K, G012L, G012M, G012Q, G012R, G012T, G012V, G012W, K013A, K013C, K013D, K013E, K013F, K013G, K013H, K013I, K013L, K013M, K013N, K013Q, K013S, K013T, K013V, K013Y, T014F, T014G, T014H, T014I, T014K, T014L, T014M, T014P, T014Q, T014R, T014S, T014V, T014W, T014Y, S023A, S023D, S023F, S023G, S023I, S023K, S023L, S023M, S023N, S023P, S023Q, S023R, S023S, S023T, S023V, S023W, S023Y, G024A, G024D, G024F, G024G, G024H, G024I, G024K, G024L, G024M, G024N, G024P, G024R, G024S, G024T, G024V, G024W, G024Y, K033H, Q045C, Q045D, Q045E, Q045F, Q045H, Q045I, Q045K, Q045L, Q045M, Q045N, Q045P, Q045R, Q045T, Q045W, N046A, N046C, N046E, N046F, N046G, N046H, N046I, N046K, N046L, N046M, N046P, N046Q, N046R, N046S, N046T, N046V, N046W, N046Y, R047E, R047K, R047L, R047M, R47Q, R047S, R047T, Y049A, Y049C, Y049D, Y049E, Y049F, Y049H, Y049I, Y049K, Y049L, Y049N, Y049R, Y049S, Y049T, Y049V, Y049W, N050D, N050F, N050G, N050H, N050I, N050K, N050L, N050M, N050P, N050Q, N050R, N050W, N050Y, T054C, T054D, T054E, T054F, T054G, T054H, T054I T054K, T054L, T054M, T054N, T054P, T054Q, T054R, T054S, T054V, T054W, T054Y, S058D, S058H, S058I, S058L, S058N, S058P, S058Q, T059A, T059C, T059E, T059G, T059H, T059I, T059K, T059L T059M, T059N, T059P, T059Q, T059R, T059S, T059V, T059W, T060D, T060F, T060I, T060K, T060L, T060N, T060Q, T060R, T060V, T060W, T060Y, T065C, T065E, T065F, T065H, T065I, T065K, T065L, T065M, T065P, T065Q, T065R, T065V, T065Y, S066C, S066D, S066E, S066F, S066H, S066I, S066K, S066L, S066N, S066P, S066Q, S066R, S066T, S066V, S066W, S066Y, Q087A, Q087D, Q087E, Q087H, Q087I, Q087K, Q087L, Q087M, Q087N, Q087R, Q087S, Q087T, Q087V, Q087W, N090C, N090D, N090E, N090F, N090G, N090H, N090K, N090L, N090R, N090T, N096G, N096H, N096K, N096R, K097H, K097Q, K097W, K100A, K100D, K100E, K100F, K100H, K100N, K100P, K100Q, K100R, K100S, K100V, K100Y, R110A, R110C, R110E, R110H, R110K, R110L, R110M, R110N, R110Q, R11S, R110Y, D119E, D119H, D119I, D119L, D119Q, D119R, D119S, D119T, D119V, D119W, G128C, G128F, G128H, G128K, G128L, G128M, G128N, G128Q, G128R, G128W, G128Y, S129A, S129C, S129D, S129F, S129G, S129H, S129I, S129K, S129L, S129M, S129Q, S129R, S129T, S129V, S129W, S129Y, F130I, F130K, F130L, F130M, F130Q, F130R, F130T, F130V, F130Y, S135P, G136I, G136L, G136P, G136V, G136W, G136Y, S137A, M138I, M138K, M138L, M138Q, M138V, D139A, D139C, D139E, D139G, D139H, D139I, D139K, D139L, D139M, D139P, D139R, D139S, D139V, D139W, D139Y, V140C, Q151I, E152A, E152C, E152D, E152F, E152G, E152H, E152L, E152M, E152N, E152R, E152S, E152W, N155D, N155K, N155Q, N155R, D178A, D178C, D178G, D178H, D178K, D178L, D178M, D178N, D178P, D178Q, D178R, D178S, D178T, D178V, D178W, D178Y, T179A, T179F, T179H, T179I, T179K, T179L, T179M, T179N, T179P, T179Q, T179R, T179S, T179V, T179W, T179Y, E186A, E186C, E186D, E186G, E186H, E186K, E186L, E186M, E186N, E186P, E186Q, E186R, E186S, E186T, E186V, E186W, E186Y, V190H, V190I, V190K, V190L, V190Q, V190R, S191F, S191G, S191H, S191I, S191K, S191L, S191N, S191Q, S191R, S191W, L198M, L198V, S199C, S199D, S199E, S199F, S199I, S199K, S199L, S199N, S199Q, S199R, S199V, Y204H, Y204T, G205F, G205H, G205L, G205M, G205N, G205R, G205S, G205Y, K211A, K211C, K211D, K211G, K211M, K211N, K211Q, K211R, K211S, K211T, K211V, K214A, K214C, K214E, K214I, K214L, K214M, K214N, K214Q, K214R, K214S, K214V, L216A, L216C, L216F, L216H, L216Q, L216R, L216S, L216Y, N218K, N218P, T219D, D220A, D220E, D220H, D220K, D220N, D220P, A221D, A221E, A221F, A221I, A221K, A221L, A221M, A221N, A221S, A221V, A221Y, G222C, G222H, G222N, G222R, Y224F, Y224H, Y224N, Y224R, T243C, T243G, T243H, T243I, T243K, T243L, T243Q, T243R, T243W, T243Y, K244A, K244C, K244D, K244E, K244F, K244G, K244L, K244M, K244N, K244Q, K244S, K244T, K244V, K244W, K244Y, V260A, V260D, V260E, V260G, V260H, V260I, V260K, V260L, V260M, V260P, V260Q, V260R V260S, V260T, V260W, V260Y, Y261C, Y261F, Y261I, Y261L, T263E, T263F, T263H, T263I, T263L, T263M, T263Q, T263V, T263W, T263Y, S265A, S265C, S265D, S265E, S265K, S265N, S265P, S265Q, S265R, S265T, S265V, S265W, K269E, K269F, K269G, K269H, K269I, K269L, K269M, K269N, K269P, K269Q, K269S, K269T, K269V, K269W, K269Y, A273C, A273D, A273H, A273I, A273K, A273L, A273N, A273Q, A273R, A273Y, R280A, R280C, R280D, R280E, R280F, R280G, R280H, R280K, R280L, R280M, R280S, R280T, R280V, R280W, R280Y, L282F, L282G, L282H, L282I, L282K, L282M, L282N, L282Q, L282R, L282V, L282Y, S285A, S285C, S285D, S285E, S285K, S285P, S285Q, S285R, S285W, Q286A, Q286D, Q286E, Q286K, Q286P, Q286R, A289C, A289D, A289E, A289K, A289L, A289R, A293C, A293R, N296C, N296D, N296E, N296K, N296R, N296V, A297C, A297K, A297N, A297Q, A297R, and G299N. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The isolated variant neutral metalloprotease of claim 15, wherein said protease comprises multiple mutations selected from S023W/G024M, T004V/S023W/G024W, S023W/G024Y/A288V, T004L/S023W/G024Y, N046Q/N050F/T054L, N050Y/T059R/S129Q, S023W/G024W, A273H/S285P/E292G, S023Y/G024Y, S023Y/G024W, T004S/S023Y/G024W, N046Q/T054K, S023W/G024Y, T004V/S023W, T059K/S066N, N046Q/N050W/T054H/T153A, T004V/S023W/G024Y, L282M/Q286P/A289R, N046Q/R047K/N050Y/T054K, L044Q/T263W/S285R, T004L/S023W/G024W, R047K/N050F/T054K, A273H/S285R, N050Y/T059K/S066Q, T054K/Q192K, N046Q/N050W, L282M/Q286K, T059K/S066Q, T004S/S023W, L282M/Q286R/A289R/K011N, L282M/A289R, N046Q/N050W/T054H, T059K/S129Q, T004S/S023N/G024Y/F210L, T004V/S023W/G024M/A289V, L282M/Q286K/A289R/S132T, N050W/T054H, L282M/Q286R, L282F/Q286K/A289R, T059R/S066Q, R047K/N050W/T054H, S265P/L282M/Q286K/A289R, L282M/Q286R/T229S, L282F/Q286K, T263W/S285R, S265P/L282M/Q286K, T263H/A273H/S285R, T059R/S129V, S032T/T263H/A273H/S285R, T059R/S066Q/S129Q, T004S/G024W, T004V/S023W/G024M, T059K/S066Q/S129Q, L282M/Q286K/A289R/I253V, T004V/S023Y/G024W, T059R/S066N/S129Q, N050F/T054L, T004S/S023N/G024W, T059R/S066N, T059R/S066N/S129V, Q286R/A289R, N046Q/R047K/N050F/T054K, S265P/L282M/Q286P/A289R, S265P/L282M/Q286R/A289R Q062K/S066Q/S129I, S023N/G024W, N046Q/R047K/N050W/T054H, R047K/T054K, T004L/G024W, T014M/T059R/S129V, T059R/S066Q/N092S/S129I, R047K/N050W/T054K, T004V/G024W, N047K/N050F/T054K, S265P/L282F/Q286K/N061Y, L282F/Q286K/E159V, T004V/S023Y/G024M, S265P/L282F/A289R/T065S, T059K/F063L/S066N/S129V, T004L/S023W, N050F/T054H, T059R/S066Q/S129V, V190I/D220E/S265W/L282F, T004S/S023Y/G024M, T004L/S023N/G024Y, T059K/S066N/S129I, T059R/S066N/S129I, L282M/Q286R/A289R/P162S, N046Q/N050F/T179N, T059K/Y082C/S129V, T059K/S129I, N050Y/T054K, T059K/S066Q/V102A/S129Q, T059R/S066Q/S129I, T059W/S066N/S129V/S290R, T059R/S129I, T059K/S066Q/S129I, T059K/S066Q/S129V, S265P/L282M/Q286R/A289R/T202S/K203N, T004V/S023N/G024W, S265P/Q286K, S265P/L282F/A289R, D220P/S265W, L055F/T059W/S129V, T059R/S129Q/S191R, N050W/T054K, T004S/S023W/G024M, R047K/N050F/T054H, T059K/S066N/K088E, T059K/S066Q/S129I/V291L, L282M/Q286R/A289R, T059R/S066N/F085S/S129I, L282F/Q286P/A289R, L282F/Q286R/A289R, G099D/S265P/L282F/Q286K/A289R, N046Q/N050F, N050Y/T059W/S066N/S129V, T009I/D220P/S265N, V190F/D220P/S265W, N157Y/T263W/A273H/S285R, T263W/A273H/S285R, T263W/S285W, T004V/S023Y, N046Q/R047K/N050W, N050W/T054L, N200Y/S265P/L282F/Q286P/A289R, T059R/S066Q/P264Q, T004V/G024Y, T004L/G024Y, N050Y/S191I, N050Y/T054L, T004L/S023W/G024Y/N155K, F169I/L282F/Q286R/A289R, L282M/Q286K/A289R, F130L/M138L/E152W/D183N, N046Q/R047K/N050Y/T054H, T004V/G024M, N050Y/T059W/S066Q/S129V, S023N/G024Y, T054H/P162Q, T004S/S023W/G024Y, N050Y/T054H, L282F/Q286R/A289R/F169I, R047K/N050W, V190F/D220P, L282M/F173Y, T004L/S023Y, N050W/A288D, V190I/D220P/S265Q, S265P/L282F/Q286P/A289R, S265P/L282F/Q286R/A289R, N046Q/N050Y/T054K, T059W/S066Q, T263W/A273H/S285W T263W/A273H/S285P, S023Y/G024M, T004L/S023N/G024W, T004V/S023N/G024Y, T059W/S066N/S129Q, T004S/S023Y, T004S/S023N/G024M, T059W/S066N/A070T, T059W/S066Q/S129Q, T263W/A273H, A273H/285P, N046Q/R047K/N050Y/T054L, N046Q/R047K/N050Y, R047K/N050Y, T263H/S285W, R047K/N050F, N046Q/R047K/N050F/T054H, S023N/G024M, T004S/G024Y, R047K/N050Y/T054H, T059W/S066N/S129I, R047K/T054L, T004S/S023W/G024W, M138L/E152F/T146S, D220P/S265N, T004S/G024M, T004V/S023N, N046Q/N050F/T054K, N046Q/N050Y/T054H, Q062H/S066Q/S129Q, T059W/S129Q, T059W/S129V, N050F/T054K, R047K/N050F/T054L, V190I/D220P/S265W, N112I/T263H/A273H/S285R, T059W/S066N/S129V, T059W/S066Q/S129I, T059W/S129I, T263W/S285P, V190I/D220P, A289V/T263H/A273H, T263H/A273H/S285P, N90S/A273H/S285P, R047K/N050Y/T054L, T004S/S023N, T059R/S129Q, N046Q/R047K/T054H, T059W/S066Q/S129V, E152W/T179P, N050Y/S066Q/S129V, T202S/T263W/A273H, T263W/A273H/S285P, M138L/E152W/T179P, N046Q/R047K, N046Q/T054H/F176L, T004L/G024M, T004S/L282M, T263H/A273H, T263H/A273H/S285W, T004L/S023Y/G024M, L282F/Q286P, T004V/S023Y/G024Y, V190F/S265W, M138L/E152F, V190F/D220E/S265W, N046Q/N050F/T054H, N157Y/S285W, T004F/S023Y/G024M, T004V/S023N/G024M, L198I/D220E/S265Q, N046Q/N050Y/T054K/A154T, S016L/D220E/S265W, D220E/S265W, D220E/A237S/S265W, S066Q/S129Q, V190F/D220E/S265Q/T267I, L282M/F173Y/T219S, E152F/T179P, V190I/S265W, M138L/S066Q, M138L/E152W, T059W/S066Q/A070T/S129I, V190F/D220E/S265N, V190F/S265N, N046Q/N050Y, and M138L/E152F/T179P. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The isolated variant neutral metalloprotease of claim 15, wherein said protease comprises multiple mutations selected from V190I/D220P, V190I/D220P/S265Q, V190L/D220E, V190I/D220E/S265Q, V190I/D220E/S265W/L282F, V190L/D220E/S265Q, V190I/D220E/S265W, V190L/D220E/S265N, T059R/S066Q/S129I, V190I/D220E/S265N, V190L/D220E/S265W, V190I/D220E, T059W/S066N/S129V, T059K/S066Q/S129V, T059K/Y082C/S129V, T059R/S066N/S129I, S066Q/S129V, T059R/S066Q/S129V, T059R/S129I, N050Y/T059W/S066N/S129V, D220P/S265N, S066Q/S129I, T059W/S066Q/S129V, T059K/S066Q/S129I, T059R/S129V, N050Y/S066Q/S129V, T059W/S066Q/S129I, N050Y/T059W/S066Q/S129V, T059K/S129I, D220P/S265W, F130L/M138L/T179P, S066N/S129I, T059R/S066N/S129V, F130I/M138L/T179P, T059R/S066Q/N092S/S129I, S066N/S129V, D220E/S265Q, F130L/M138L/E152W/T179P, T059W/S129V, S265P/L282M/Q286R/A289R, S265P/L282F/Q286R/A289R, T059W/S066N/S129I, V190I/D220P/S265W, F130L/E152W/T179P, F130L/M138L/E152F/T179P, Q062K/S066Q/S129I, T059K/S066N/S129I, E152H/T179P, S265P/L282M/Q286K/A289R, F130L/M138L/E152H/T179P, T263W/A273H/S285R, D220E/S265N, F130I/M138L/E152H/T179P, F130V/M138L/E152W/T179P, F130I/M138L/E152W/T179P, T059W/S129I, D220E/S265W, F130V/M138L/T179P, F130L/E152V/T179P, T059R/S129Q, T263W/S285P, F130I/M138L/E152F/T179P, E152W/T179P, V190L/S265Q, F130L/E152F/T179P, L282M/Q286R/A289R/P162S, D220P/S265Q, M138L/E152F/T179P, F130I/E152H/T179P, M138L/E152W/T179P, F130L/T179P, F130L/M138L/E152W/T179P/Q286H, F130L/M138L/E152H, T263W/A273H/S285W, S265P/Q286K, T059W/S066Q/S129Q, T263W/S285R, T059W/S066N/S129Q, T263W/S285W, T059R/S066N/S129Q, S265P/L282M/Q286R/A289R/T202S/K203N, T059W/S129Q, Q062H/S066Q/S129Q, L282M/Q286R/A289R, V190L/D220E/S265N/V291I, V190L/S265N, F130L/M138L/E152W, N050Y/T059R/S129Q, F130I/T179P, T059K/S066Q/S129Q, T059K/S129Q, S265P/L282M/Q286P/A289R, S265P/L282F/Q286P/A289R, T263W/A273H/S285P, S265P/L282M/Q286K, S016L/D220E/S265W, S066Q/S129Q, S265P/L282M/Q286P, L282F/Q286R/A289R, F130V/E152W/T179P, L044Q/T263W/S285R L055F/T059W/S129V, V190L/S265W, Q286R/A289R, G99D/S265P/L282F/Q286K/A289R, F130L/M138L/E152F, T059R/S066Q/S129Q, F130L/E152H, S066N/S129Q, T004S/S023N/G024M/K269N, S265P/L282M, E152F/T179P, T059W/S066N/S129V/S290R, L282F/Q286K/A289R, F130L/M138L, F130I/M138L/E152W, S265P/L282F, F130I/M138L/E152H, F130V/M138L/E152H, V190I/S265Q, M138L/E152M, S265P/L282F/Q286P, M138L/E152H, T059K/S066N/K088E, V190I/S265W, F130L/E152W, L282M/Q286K/A289R, L282M/Q286K/A289R/I253V, T263W/A273H, V190I/S265N, M138L/E152W, A273H/S285R, F130I/M138L, F130L/E152F, F130V/M138L/E152W, T059K/S066Q/V102A/S129Q, F130V/E152H/T179P, F130I/M138L/E152F, F130V/M138L/E152F, M138L/E152F, L282M/Q286R, F130I/E152H, S265P/L282F/A289R/T065S, T263H/A273H/S285R, F130V/M138L, T014M/T059R/S129V, L282M/Q286R/A289R/K11N, A273H/S285P, L282M/Q286K/A289R/S132T, T263H/A273H/S285W, F130V/E152W, S265P/L282F/Q286K/N061Y, F130I/E152W, L198I/D220E/S265Q, V190I/S265L, T263H/S285W, S265P/L282F/A289R, M138L/S066Q, F130I/E152F, N90S/A273H/S285P, S032T/T263H/A273H/S285R, L282F/Q286P/A289R, N157Y/T263W/A273H/S285R, V105A/S129V, T263H/A273H/S285P, S129Q/L282H, T059W/S066Q, F130V/E152H, S023W/G024Y, T004V/S023N, T059R/S066Q, N050W/T054L, L282M/Q286P/A289R, A115V/V190L/S265W, L282M/Q286K, T059R/S066N, L282F/Q286P, T004V/S023W/G024M, S265P/L282F/Q286R/L78H, L282F/Q286K, T004V/S023W/G024Y, S023W/G024M, T059R/R256S, F130V/E152F, T004V/G024W, N050W/T054K, S023Y/G024M, T004V/S023Y, T004V/S023Y/G024M, N050Y/T054H, S023W/G024W, T004V/S023Y/G024Y, T004V/S023N/G024W, F130L/M138L/E152F/T179P/V291I, N050Y/T059K/S066Q, T004V/S023Y/G024W, T059K/S066N, T004V/S023N/G024Y, S023Y/G024W, N050F/T054L, R047K/T054K, S023N/G024W, L282M/A289R, S023Y/G024Y, T004V/G024M, R047K/N050F/T054K, N050F/T054K, T059K/S066Q, S023N/G024M, S023N/G024Y, T004L/S023N, R047K/N050W/T054H, T004L/S023W/G024Y, T004S/S023W, N046Q/N050W/T054H/A142T, T004L/S023Y, T004V/S023W, N050W/T054H, T004S/S023N, T004S/L282M, T004L/S023W, N050F/T054H, N050Y/T054L, and R047K/N050W/T054K. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The isolated variant neutral metalloprotease of claim 15, wherein said protease comprises multiple mutations selected from S066Q/S129V, S066Q/S129I, N050Y/S066Q/S129V, S066N/S129I, T059K/S066Q/S129V, S066N/S129V, F130L/E152W/T179P, S265P/L282M/Q286R/A289R, F130L/E152V/T179P, T059K/S066Q/S129I, T263W/S285P, T059K/S066N/S129I, T263W/A273H/S285P, S265P/L282F/Q286R/A289R, F130V/E152W/T179P, T263W/A273H/S285R, V190I/D220P/S265W, F130L/E152H, S066N/S129Q, S265P/L282M/Q286K/A289R, V190I/D220E, T059R/S066N/S129I, V190I/D220E/S265W, T059K/S129I, T059R/S066Q/S129I, F130I/M138L/E152H/T179P, F130I/T179P, T263W/A273H/S285W, S016L/D220E/S265W, S066Q/S129Q, V190I/D220E/S265Q, T059R/S066Q/S129V, D220E/S265N, V190L/D220E, D220E/S265W, V190I/D220P, V190L/D220E/S265N, L044Q/T263W/S285R, S265P/L282M/Q286P/A289R, F130L/M138L/E152H/T179P, T263W/S285R, L282M/Q286R/A289R, T263W/S285W, F130I/E152H/T179P, V190I/D220E/S265N, V190L/D220E/S265W, V190I/D220P/S265Q, T059R/S066N/S129V, V190L/D220E/S265Q, E152H/T179P, F130L/M138L/E152F/T179P, Q062H/S066Q/S129Q, T059R/S129V, V190I/D220E/S265W/L282F, V190I/S265Q, F130L/E152F/T179P, D220E/S265Q, E152W/T179P, T059K/S066Q/S129Q, F130L/M138L/T179P, F130I/M138L/E152F/T179P, F130L/M138L/E152W/T179P, N050Y/T059W/S066Q/S129V, S265P/L282M/Q286K, T059R/S129I, F130V/E152H/T179P, D220P/S265N, S265P/L282M/Q286P, F130I/E152H, T059R/S066Q/N092S/S129I, F130L/T179P, G99D/S265P/L282F/Q286K/A289R, T263W/A273H, V190I/S265N, D220P/S265W, F130L/E152W, F130L/M138L/E152H, S265P/L282M, V190I/S265Q, F130L/E152F, T059K/S129Q, Q286R/A289R, M138L/E152W/T179P, F130I/M138L/E152H, D220P/S265Q, V190L/S265N, F130I/M138L/E152W, S265P/Q286K, V190L/S265Q, V190I/S265W, F130L/M138L/E152F, F130V/E152H, E152F/T179P, N050Y/T059W/S066N/S129V, T059R/S066N/S129Q, F130I/E152W, F130V/E152W, T059R/S066Q/S129Q, T263H/A273H/S285P, N90S/A273H/S285P, V190L/D220E/S265N/V291I, T059R/S129Q, A273H/S285P, F130I/M138L/E152W/T179P, F130V/M138L/E152F, N050Y/T059R/S129Q, T059W/S066Q/S129I, F130V/M138L/T179P, F130V/M138L/E152W/T179P, V190L/S265W, F130V/M138L/E152W, T059W/S066Q/S129V, V190I/S265Q, F130V/M138L/E152H, F130I/E152F, N157Y/T263W/A273H/S285R, T263H/S285W, M138L/E152F/T179P, A115V/V190L/S265W, M138L/E152M, T263H/A273H/S285W, F130L/M138L/E152W, T059K/S066N/K088E, F130I/M138L/E152F, F130I/M138L/T179P, T004V/S023N, T059K/S066Q/V102A/S129Q, F130L/M138L, N047K/N050F/T054K, T263H/A273H/S285R, F130L/M138L/E152W/T179P/Q286H, M138L/E152H, M138L/S066Q, L282M/Q286R/A289R/P162S, L282F/Q286R/A289R, Q062K/S066Q/S129I, A273H/S285R, S265P/L282F/Q286P, S265P/L282F/Q286P/A289R, S265P/L282M/Q286R/A289R/T202S/K203N, T059W/S066N/S129I, V190I/S265L, T059W/S066N/S129V, F130I/M138L, L282M/Q286K/A289R/I253V, R047K/N050F/T054K, M138L/E152F, N050W/T054K, L198I/D220E/S265Q, L282F/Q286K/A289R, N050F/T054K, L282M/Q286R, M138L/E152W, S265P/L282F, F130V/E152F, T059W/S066N/S129Q, F130V/M138L, T263H/A273H, L282M/Q286K/A289R, N046Q/N050W/T054H/A142T, T059W/S066Q/S129Q, S265P/L282F/A289R/T065S, N050F/T054H, S129Q/L282H, L282M/Q286K/A289R/S132T, L282M/Q286R/A289R/K11N, T059K/S066N, R047K/N050W/T054K, T059K/S066Q, T004V/S023Y, T059W/S066N/S129V/S290R, N050Y/T059K/S066Q, and R047K/N050Y. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The variant neutral metalloprotease of claim 15, wherein the variant neutral metalloprotease has improved performance as compared to wild-type B. amyloliquefaciens neutral metalloprotease. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The variant neutral metalloprotease of claim 19, wherein said improved performance comprises improved thermostability, as compared to wild-type B. amyloliquefaciens neutral metalloprotease. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The variant neutral metalloprotease of claim 19, wherein said improved performance comprises improved performance under lower or higher pH conditions, as compared to wild-type B. amyloliquefaciens neutral metalloprotease. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The variant neutral metalloprotease of claim 19, wherein said improved performance comprises improved autolytic stability, as compared to wild-type B. amyloliquefaciens neutral metalloprotease. ### Claim at position 10 23-28. (canceled) ### Claim 29 (depends on 15) A composition comprising at least one neutral metalloprotease according to claim 15 obtained from B. amyloliquefaciens, wherein said composition further comprises at least one ion calcium and/or zinc ion. ### Claim 30 (depends on 15) A composition comprising at least one neutral metalloprotease according to claim 15 obtained from B. amyloliquefaciens, wherein said composition further comprises at least one stabilizer. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The composition of claim 30, wherein said stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of borax, glycerol, zinc ions, calcium ions, and calcium formate. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The composition of claim 30, wherein said stabilizer is at least one competitive inhibitor that stabilizes said at least one neutral metalloprotease in the presence of an anionic surfactant. ### Claim 33 (depends on 15) A cleaning composition comprising the isolated neutral metalloprotease of claim 15. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The cleaning composition of claim 33, wherein said cleaning composition is a detergent. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The cleaning composition of claim 33, further comprising at least one additional enzymes or enzyme derivatives selected from proteases, amylases, lipases, mannanases, pectinases, cutinases, oxidoreductases, hemicellulases, and cellulases ### Claim 36 (canceled) ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The cleaning composition of claim 36, wherein said composition comprises from about 0.001 to about 0.5 weight percent of said neutral metalloprotease. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The cleaning composition of claim 36, wherein said composition further comprises at least one adjunct ingredient. ### Claim 39 (canceled) ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The cleaning composition of claim 39, wherein said materials that hydrolyze at a pH of from about pH 3 to about pH 5 comprise at least one surfactant. ### Claim 41 (canceled) ### Claim 42 (depends on 33) The cleaning composition of claim 33, wherein said composition is a liquid. ### Claim 43 (canceled) ### Claim 44 (depends on 33) A method of cleaning, comprising the step of contacting a surface and/or an article comprising a fabric with the cleaning composition of claim 33. ### Claim at position 27 45-49. (canceled)