Patents by Inventor C. Neal Stewart
C. Neal Stewart has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11549121Abstract: This disclosure pertains to a novel platform for genetic engineering of chloroplasts. The disclosure provides episomal DNA vectors containing a chloroplast origin of replication. These vectors remain extra-plastomic and sustainably and autonomously replicate in chloroplasts of the plant cells transformed with the vectors and in the plants regenerated from the transformed plant cells. The episomal DNA vectors do not contain any sequence that shares sequence homology with the plastome DNA and, thus, do not get integrated into the plastome DNA. The vectors can also comprise one or more genes of interest that confer desirable characteristics to the transformed plant cells. The disclosure also provides methods of transforming plant cells with the episomal DNA vectors and regenerating from the transformed plant cells plants having desirable characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2019Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE RESEARCH FOUNDATIONInventors: Scott C. Lenaghan, Alessandro Occhialini, Alexander C. Pfotenhauer, Agnieszka Piatek, C. Neal Stewart, Jr.
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Publication number: 20220007607Abstract: The present disclosure describes novel methods for preparing leaf-derived plant cell suspension cultures. The cell suspension cultures produced by the methods provide a renewable and efficient source of protoplasts for high-throughput transformation and other uses. Applicants have surprisingly found that protoplasts can be obtained from the cell suspension cultures with inexpensive cell wall degrading enzymes and that the protoplasts provide increased transformation efficiencies relative to protoplasts from other sources.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2019Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventors: Mst Shamira SULTANA, Scott Christopher LENAGHAN, C. Neal STEWART, Taylor FRAZIER-DOUGLAS
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Publication number: 20200109409Abstract: This disclosure pertains to a novel platform for genetic engineering of chloroplasts. The disclosure provides episomal DNA vectors containing a chloroplast origin of replication. These vectors remain extra-plastomic and sustainably and autonomously replicate in chloroplasts of the plant cells transformed with the vectors and in the plants regenerated from the transformed plant cells. The episomal DNA vectors do not contain any sequence that shares sequence homology with the plastome DNA and, thus, do not get integrated into the plastome DNA. The vectors can also comprise one or more genes of interest that confer desirable characteristics to the transformed plant cells. The disclosure also provides methods of transforming plant cells with the episomal DNA vectors and regenerating from the transformed plant cells plants having desirable characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2019Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: SCOTT C. LENAGHAN, ALESSANDRO OCCHIALINI, ALEXANDER C. PFOTENHAUER, AGNIESZKA PIATEK, C. NEAL STEWART, JR.
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Patent number: 10457956Abstract: The invention relates to genes which may be utilized for resistance to soybean cyst nematode. More specifically the present disclosure relates to identification of gene(s) that can confer upon a soybean plant resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and methods to use these loci and genes to obtain soybean strains that are resistant to SCN.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2015Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE RESEARCH FOUNDATIONInventors: Tarek Abdelfattah Hewezi, Aditi Rambani, C. Neal Stewart, Jr., Mitra Mazarei, Vincent Pantalone
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Publication number: 20170369900Abstract: The invention relates to genes which may be utilized for resistance to soybean cyst nematode. More specifically the present disclosure relates to identification of gene(s) that can confer upon a soybean plant resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and methods to use these loci and genes to obtain soybean strains that are resistant to SCN.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2015Publication date: December 28, 2017Inventors: Tarek Abdel HEWEZI, Aditi RAMBANI, C. Neal STEWART, JR., Mitra MAZAREI, Vincent PANTALONE
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Publication number: 20170130236Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a method of rapidly transforming a plant with a gene of interest. The method of the current invention comprises the steps of a) preparing a bacterial culture, wherein the bacterial culture comprises a vector containing the gene of interest, b) producing a plant cell suspension culture from the plant, c) contacting the plant cell suspension culture with the bacterial culture to produce a plant cell transformed with the gene of interest from the plant cell suspension culture, and e) producing a plant from the plant cell transformed with the gene of interest. The method of the current invention can be designed for a high throughput transformation and screening of a plant with a plurality of genes of interest and screening the plants to identify and obtain plants having desirable characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2015Publication date: May 11, 2017Inventors: C. NEAL STEWART, Jr., JONATHAN D. WILLIS, JASON BURRIS, MITRA MAZAREI
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Patent number: 9157087Abstract: Disclosed are isolated nucleic acid molecules (inducible promoters) capable of directing expression in plant cell. In some embodiments, the promoters include a nucleic acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, or a variant thereof. In some embodiments, the promoter is capable of gene expression in plants of an operably linked nucleic acid sequence. Disclosed are transgenic plants or parts thereof, that can include expression cassettes and/or expression vectors, which can be stably incorporated into the genome of the plant. Methods of regulating the expression of a polynucleotide of interest in a plant cell are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: University of Tennessee Research FoundationInventors: C. Neal Stewart, Wusheng Liu, Mitra Mazarei
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Publication number: 20140366219Abstract: Disclosed are pest resistance genes isolated from soybean. In several embodiments, a pest resistance gene isolated from soybean includes a nucleic acid sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2 or a degenerate variant thereof, or a fragment thereof. Also disclosed are expression vectors and constructs that include such nucleic acids. Methods are disclosed of producing a transgenic plant that has enhanced resistance to pests. Transgenic plants, plant cells or tissue (such as a dicotyledon or a monocotyledon plants, plant cells or tissue) transformed with the disclosed constructs are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2012Publication date: December 11, 2014Inventors: C. Neal Stewart, Jingyu Lin, Mitra Mazarei, Feng Chen
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Publication number: 20140007293Abstract: Disclosed are isolated nucleic acid molecules (inducible promoters) capable of directing expression in plant cell. In some embodiments, the promoters include a nucleic acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, or a variant thereof. In some embodiments, the promoter is capable of gene expression in plants of an operably linked nucleic acid sequence. Disclosed are transgenic plants or parts thereof, that can include expression cassettes and/or expression vectors, which can be stably incorporated into the genome of the plant. Methods of regulating the expression of a polynucleotide of interest in a plant cell are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: University of Tennessee Research FoundationInventors: C. Neal Stewart, Wusheng Liu, Mitra Mazarei
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Publication number: 20130340116Abstract: The subject application provides polynucleotides, compositions thereof and methods for regulating gene expression in a plant. Polynucleotides disclosed herein comprise novel sequences for a promoter that initiates transcription of an operably linked nucleotide sequence. Thus, various embodiments of the invention comprise the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2 or fragments thereof that are capable of driving the expression of an operably linked nucleic acid sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2013Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE RESEARCH FOUNDATIONInventors: C. NEAL STEWART, DAVID GEORGE JAMES MANN
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Patent number: 8604276Abstract: The subject application provides polynucleotides, compositions thereof and methods for regulating gene expression in a plant. Polynucleotides disclosed herein comprise novel sequences for a promoter isolated from Panicum virgatum (switchgrass) that initiates transcription of an operably linked nucleotide sequence. Thus, various embodiments of the invention comprise the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or fragments thereof comprising nucleotides 1 to 692 of SEQ ID NO: 2 that are capable of driving the expression of an operably linked nucleic acid sequence.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2010Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: University of Tennessee Research FoundationInventors: C. Neal Stewart, David George James Mann
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Publication number: 20130007911Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of blocking or reducing genetically modified plant (GMO) pollen flow using a “non-lethal” approach. In this aspect, at least one transgenic polynucleotide of interest is linked to a pollen-ablation construct as described herein. The pollen-ablation construct contains a polynucleotide encoding a restriction enzyme that renders the transgenic pollen unable to fertilize a sexually compatible ovule.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE RESEARCH FOUNDATIONInventor: C. NEAL STEWART, JR.
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Patent number: 7973213Abstract: The use of selectable marker genes, such as the kanamycin resistance encoding neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII), has been invaluable in transgenic plant production. The subject invention provides a new selectable marker gene, an Arabidopsis thaliana ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter, Atwbc19 and methods of using the gene for the identification of transgenic plants. Since ABC transporters are endogenous to plants, there should be less controversy using Atwbc19, as a selectable marker in transgenic plants with regards to concerns of horizontal gene transfer.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2006Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: University of Tennessee Research FoundationInventors: C. Neal Stewart, Jr., Mentewab Ayalew
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Publication number: 20110023183Abstract: The subject application provides polynucleotides, compositions thereof and methods for regulating gene expression in a plant. Polynucleotides disclosed herein comprise novel sequences for a promoter that initiates transcription of an operably linked nucleotide sequence. Thus, various embodiments of the invention comprise the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2 or fragments thereof that are capable of driving the expression of an operably linked nucleic acid sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2010Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE RESEARCH FOUNDATIONInventors: C. NEAL STEWART, DAVID GEORGE JAMES MANN
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Antibiotic Resistance Conferrred by a Plant Abc Transporter Gene when Expressed in Transgenic Plants
Publication number: 20080250527Abstract: The use of selectable marker genes, such as the kanamycin resistance encoding neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII), has been invaluable in transgenic plant production. The subject invention provides a new selectable marker gene, an Arabidopsis thaliana ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter, Atwbc19 and methods of using the gene for the identification of transgenic plants. Since ABC transporters are endogenous to plants, there should be less controversy using Atwbc19, as a selectable marker in transgenic plants with regards to concerns of horizontal gene transfer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2006Publication date: October 9, 2008Applicant: University of Tennessee Research FoundationInventors: C. Neal Stewart, Mentewab Ayalew -
Patent number: 6927322Abstract: The present invention relates to a DNA construct containing a DNA for a serine proteinase inhibitor isolated from Brassica oleracea, which has antibiosis activity. The present invention also relates to transgenic plants and transgenic plant seeds containing that nucleic acid molecule. Resistance to herbivorous insects can be conferred to a plant by either transformation of the plant with the nucleic acid molecule which encodes a serine proteinase inhibitor isolated from Brassica oleracea or by application of that inhibitor to plants or plant seeds.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2001Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignees: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc., University of North Carolina-GreensboroInventors: C. Neal Stewart, Roxanne M. Broadway
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Patent number: 6881411Abstract: This invention satisfies needs in the art by providing intimin, the Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) adherence protein, alone or as a fusion protein with one or more other antigens, expressed by transgenic plants and the use of those plants as vehicles for stimulating a protective immune response against EHEC and the one or more other antigens. Various plant species are transformed to protect various animal species and also humans against EHEC, against pathogens expressing intimin-like proteins, and against pathogens expressing any of the one or more other antigens to which intimin may be fused. The eae gene encoding intimin, a functional portion thereof, or a recombination that encodes a fusion protein is put under the control of a constitutive plant promoter in a plasmid and the plasmid is introduced into plants by the type of transformation appropriate for the particular plant species.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2002Date of Patent: April 19, 2005Assignee: Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military MedicineInventors: C. Neal Stewart, Jr., Marian L. McKee, Alison D. O'Brien, Marian R. Wachtel
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Publication number: 20030147902Abstract: This invention satisfies needs in the art by providing intimin, the Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) adherence protein, alone or as a fusion protein with one or more other antigens, expressed by transgenic plants and the use of those plants as vehicles for stimulating a protective immune response against EHEC and the one or more other antigens. Various plant species are transformed to protect various animal species and also humans against EHEC, against pathogens expressing intimin-like proteins, and against pathogens expressing any of the one or more other antigens to which intimin may be fused.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2002Publication date: August 7, 2003Applicant: Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military MedicineInventors: C. Neal Stewart, Marian L. McKee, Alison D. O'Brien, Marian R. Wachtel
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Publication number: 20030018990Abstract: The present invention relates to a DNA construct containing a DNA for a serine proteinase inhibitor isolated from Brassica oleracea, which has antibiosis activity. The present invention also relates to transgenic plants and transgenic plant seeds containing that nucleic acid molecule. Resistance to herbivorous insects can be conferred to a plant by either transformation of the plant with the nucleic acid molecule which encodes a serine proteinase inhibitor isolated from Brassica oleracea or by application of that inhibitor to plants or plant seeds.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2001Publication date: January 23, 2003Inventors: C. Neal Stewart, Roxanne M. Broadway
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Patent number: 6406885Abstract: This invention satisfies needs in the art by providing intimin, the Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) adherence protein, alone or as a fusion protein with one or more other antigens, expressed by transgenic plants and the use of those plants as vehicles for stimulating a protective immune response against EHEC and the one or more other antigens. Various plant species are transformed to protect various animal species and also humans against EHEC, against pathogens expressing intimin-like proteins, and against pathogens expressing any of the one or more other antigens to which intimin may be fused. The eae gene encoding intimin, a functional portion thereof, or a recombination that encodes a fusion protein is put under the control of a constitutive plant promoter in a plasmid and the plasmid is introduced into plants by the type of transformation appropriate for the particular plant species.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2000Date of Patent: June 18, 2002Assignee: Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military MedicineInventors: C. Neal Stewart, Jr., Marian L. McKee, Alison D. O'Brien, Marian R. Wachtel