Patents Examined by Jim Ketter
  • Compositions and methods of nucleic acid-targeting nucleic acids
    Patent number: 9260752
    Abstract: This disclosure provides for compositions and methods for the use of nucleic acid-targeting nucleic acids and complexes thereof. Genome engineering can refer to altering the genome by deleting, inserting, mutating, or substituting specific nucleic acid sequences. The altering can be gene or location specific. Genome engineering can use nucleases to cut a nucleic acid thereby generating a site for the alteration. Engineering of non-genomic nucleic acid is also contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Caribou Biosciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Paul May, Rachel E. Haurwitz, Jennifer A. Doudna, James M. Berger, Matthew Merrill Carter, Paul Donohoue
  • Gas spargers and related container systems
    Patent number: 9259692
    Abstract: A container system includes a bag having of one or more sheets of flexible polymeric material, the bag having an interior surface at least partially bounding a chamber, the chamber being adapted to hold a fluid. A flexible sparging sheet is secured to the interior surface of the bag so that a compartment is formed between the interior surface of the bag and the sparging sheet, at least a portion of the sparging sheet allowing gas to pass therethrough. A tubular port or tube is secured with the bag or the sparging sheet so that a passage bounded by the tubular port or tube communicates with the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Goodwin, Nephi D. Jones, Jeremy K. Larsen
  • Acoustic pressure wave/shock wave mediated processing of biological tissue, and systems, apparatuses, and methods therefor
    Patent number: 9261442
    Abstract: Methods for preparing a biological tissue specimen for examination, such as microscopic examination, that involves applying acoustic pressure wave/shock wave (APW/SW) energy to the tissue specimen. The APW/SW energy can be applied to the tissue specimen to augment any one or more steps of processing the tissue specimen. In one example, the APW/SW energy is applied to enhance histotechnological processing of the tissue specimen. Apparatuses and systems that include APW/SW generators and that are specifically configured for processing biological tissue specimens are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Microbrightfield, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob R. Glaser, Christoph Schmitz, Andreas Menne
  • Heterologous intron within a signal peptide
    Patent number: 9249201
    Abstract: The invention concerns the field of recombinant gene engineering. It concerns novel introns and compositions comprising such introns as well as a method to improve expression of polypeptides from nucleic acids such as cloned genes with heterologous introns, especially genes encoding antibodies and antibody derived fragments, and the production of various polypeptides in eukaryotic host cells using said novel intron sequences as heterologous introns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
    Inventor: Barbara Enenkel
  • System and method for fusing cells
    Patent number: 9249385
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a system for fusion at least two cells. The system has an optical tweezers system for generating moving optical traps for manipulating the cells, an optical scissors system for cutting cell membrane of the cells and inducing fusion of the cells, an incubation system for providing cell culture in which the cells suspend and cell culture environment for the cells, and a visual detection system allowing visual monitoring of the cells undergoing fusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
    Inventors: Dong Sun, Shuxun Chen, Ran Wang
  • Use of plant promoters in filamentous fungi
    Patent number: 9249418
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to the use of plant promoters to drive recombinant expression in filamentous fungal cells. In certain aspects, the present disclosure provides an expression cassette useful for the expression of polypeptide in filamentous fungal cells. Also provided herein, are vectors and recombinant filamentous fungal cells comprising the expression cassettes of the present disclosure, and methods of making and using the same for recombinant polypeptide expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Ryding, Wenqi Hu, Biyu Li
  • Heterologous intron within an immunoglobulin domain
    Patent number: 9243053
    Abstract: The invention concerns the field of recombinant gene engineering. It concerns novel introns and compositions comprising such introns as well as a method to improve expression of polypeptides from nucleic acids such as cloned genes with heterologous introns, especially genes encoding antibodies and antibody derived fragments, and the production of various polypeptides in eukaryotic host cells using said novel intron sequences as heterologous introns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
    Inventor: Barbara Enenkel
  • Minicircle DNA vector preparations and methods of making and using the same
    Patent number: 9233174
    Abstract: The present invention provides minicircle nucleic acid vector formulations for use in administering to a subject, wherein the minicircle nucleic acid vectors include a polynucleotide of interest, a product hybrid sequence of a unidirectional site-specific recombinase, and are devoid of plasmid backbone bacterial DNA sequences. Also provided are methods of producing the subject formulations as well as methods for administering the minicircle nucleic acid vector formulations to a subject. The subject methods and compositions find use in a variety of different applications, including both research and therapeutic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Zhi-Ying Chen, Mark A. Kay
  • Method for producing hyperactive transposase mutants
    Patent number: 9234190
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a hyperactive MuA transposase variant comprising at least one single-amino-acid change, the method comprising the steps of modifying the nucleic acid encoding wild type MuA transposase in at least one of the positions 59, 97, 160, 179, 233, 254, 258, 302, 335, 340, 345, 374, 447, 464, 478, 482, 483, 487, 495, 507, 539, 594 or 617 so that the modified nucleic acid encodes a MuA transposase variant comprising at least one single-amino-acid change in its amino acid sequence, wherein said single-amino-acid change results in higher enzyme activity of the variant when compared to the wild type MuA transposase. The present invention also provides hyperactive MuA transposases and kits comprising the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Harri Savilahti
  • Enhanced expression and stability regions
    Patent number: 9222106
    Abstract: Expression-enhancing nucleotide sequences for expression in eukaryotic systems are provided that allow for enhanced and stable expression of recombinant proteins in eukaryotic cells. Enhanced expression and stability regions (EESYRs) are provided for expression of a gene of interest in a eukaryotic cell. Chromosomal loci, sequences, and vectors are provided for enhanced and stable expression of genes in eukaryotic cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Gang Chen, Robert Babb, James P. Fandl
  • Method and kit for the classification and prognosis of wounds
    Patent number: 9222945
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and kit for identifying chronic or acute mammalian wound tissue or for determining the prognosis of mammalian wound tissue based upon the identification of at least one key set of molecular markers or genes whose expression pattern is indicative of a given wound type and so representative of a given prognosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: University College Cardiff Consultants Limited
    Inventors: Wenguo Jiang, Keith Gordon Harding
  • Methods of treating ischemic spasticity
    Patent number: 9220730
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to methods of treating spasticity, rigidity, or muscular hyperactivity conditions by introducing a portion of an expanded population of neural stem cells into an area of a recipient spinal cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignees: Neuralstem, Inc., The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Karl K. Johe, Thomas G. Hazel, Martin Marsala, Osamu Kakinohana
  • Nutrient monitoring and feedback control for increased bioproduct production
    Patent number: 9212379
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to methods of increasing the efficiency of producing a bioproduct. In some embodiments, the method increases the quantity of a bioproduct produced, or decreases bioproduct production time, in a bioreactor cell culture producing the bioproduct, the method comprising, (a) intermittently or continuously analyzing the concentration of one or more nutrients in the bioreactor cell culture; and (b) adding to the bioreactor cell culture additional nutrient media when the concentration of the one or more nutrients is lower than a target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Biogen Idec MA Inc.
    Inventors: Valerie Liu Tsang, Angela Xiaoying Wang, Helena Yusuf-Makagiansar
  • Protein expression
    Patent number: 9206454
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a genetically modified yeast cell comprising: —at least one recombinant promoter operably linked to at least one gene encoding a polypeptide or protein supporting the biosynthesis of polypeptides or proteins within said cell, said at least one gene being located at the native genomic locus of the genetically unmodified wild-type yeast cell, wherein the naturally occurring promoter of the at least one gene encoding the biosynthesis supporting polypeptide or protein is inactivated by at least one mutation within said naturally occurring promoter and, —a secretion cassette comprising a recombinant nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein or polypeptide of interest and a method for producing a recombinant protein or polypeptide of interest using such a cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: VTU HOLDING GMBH
    Inventors: Roland Weis, Thomas Purkarthofer
  • Effects of alteration of expression of the MtfA gene and its homologs on the production of fungal secondary metabolites
    Patent number: 9206458
    Abstract: Many fungal secondary metabolites are of industrial interest, such as antibiotics, while others are undesirable compounds such as mycotoxins. Overexpression of mtfA enhances production of fungal compounds with applications in the medical field, and overexpression or impaired mtfA expression decreases the production of compounds that negatively affect health/agriculture/economy such as mycotoxins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University
    Inventors: Ana M. Calvo-Byrd, Vellaisamy Ramamoorthy
  • miRNA fingerprint in the diagnosis of diseases
    Patent number: 9194002
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods for diagnosing a state of health based on the determination of specific miRNAs that have altered expression levels in different conditions, e.g. disease states compared to healthy controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Comprehensive Biomarker Center GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Keller, Eckart Meese, Anne Borries, Peer Friedrich Staehler, Markus Beier
  • Modified polynucleotides for the production of secreted proteins
    Patent number: 9192651
    Abstract: The invention relates to compositions and methods for the preparation, manufacture and therapeutic use of polynucleotides, primary transcripts and mmRNA molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Moderna Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tirtha Chakraborty, Antonin de Fougerolles
  • miRNA fingerprint in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis
    Patent number: 9187785
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods for diagnosing diseases based on the determination of specific miRNAs that have altered expression levels in disease states compared to healthy controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Comprehensive Biomarker Center GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Keller, Eckart Meese, Anne Borries, Peer Friedrich Staehler, Markus Beier
  • Bioreactor with upward flowing impeller system for use in a mammalian cell culture process
    Patent number: 9181521
    Abstract: A bioreactor with an upward flowing impeller system for controlling a mammalian cell culture process is provided. The disclosed system enables control of the cell culture process by controlling the level of dissolved carbon dioxide in the cell culture media and prevent increases in the osmolality level is achieved by enhanced stripping of carbon dioxide via surface gas exchange with little or no damage to the mammalian cells. The use of an upward flow impeller combined with vertical baffles converts the swirling motions of the cell culture media into a largely vertical flow and promotes the removal of dissolved carbon dioxide via surface gas exchange with a sweep gas flowing over the top surface of the cell culture media within the bioreactor vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Alan T. Y. Cheng, Ying Zhou, Amitabh Gupta, Balazs Hunek, Nigel Grinter
  • Kit for predicting implantation success in assisted fertilization
    Patent number: 9176145
    Abstract: A kit for determining for a female subject the implantation potential of embryos obtained or to be obtained by assisted fertilization is described. The kit includes at least one reagent suitable for detection of levels of FF G-CSF or FF G-CSF mRNA, such as anti-G-CSF antibody or a nucleic acid probe for detection of levels of G-CSF mRNA. The kit may also include a set of concentration standards of FF G-CSF and aspirator tips for removing an oocyte and follicular fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: FEMALON S.P.R.L.
    Inventors: Nathalie Lédée, Marie-Pierre Piccinni