Patents by Inventor James M. Ligon
James M. Ligon 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: 5955274Abstract: DNA sequences from the Internal Transcribed Spacers of the ribosomal RNA gene region are described for different species and strains of Septoria, Pseudocercosporella, Fusarium and Mycosphaerella. Specific primers from within these sequences are identified as being useful for the identification of the fungal isolates using PCR-based techniques.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1996Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Assignee: Novartis Finance CorporationInventors: James M. Ligon, James J. Beck
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Patent number: 5817502Abstract: The present invention is directed to the production of an antipathogenic substance (APS) in a host via recombinant expression of the polypeptides needed to biologically synthesize the APS. Genes encoding polypeptides necessary to produce particular antipathogenic substances are provided, along with methods for identifying and isolating genes needed to recombinantly biosynthesize any desired APS. The cloned genes may be transformed and expressed in a desired host organisms to produce the APS according to the invention for a variety of purposes, including protecting the host from a pathogen, developing the host as a biocontrol agent, and producing large, uniform amounts of the APS.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 1996Date of Patent: October 6, 1998Assignee: Novartis Finance CorporationInventors: James M. Ligon, Dwight Steven Hill, Stephen Ting Lam, Philip E. Hammer, Karl-Heinz van Pee, Sabine Kirner
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Patent number: 5756087Abstract: Strains of Pseudomonas have been genetically engineered to have enhanced biocontrol properties. The strains of the invention are particularly effective against plant pathogenic fungi such as species of Rhizoctonia and Pythium, because the strains produce enhanced amounts of antifungal metabolites such as pyrrolnitrin that are active against these fungal pathogens. Both the genetically modified biocontrol strains and the antifungal metabolites can be used as active agents for biocontrol compositions.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 1996Date of Patent: May 26, 1998Assignee: Novartis Finance CorporationInventors: James M. Ligon, Dwight S. Hill, Stephen T. Lam, Thomas D. Gaffney, Nancy Torkewitz
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Patent number: 5723759Abstract: The present invention is directed to the production of an antipathogenic substance (APS) in a host via recombinant expression of the polypeptides needed to biologically synthesize the APS. Genes encoding polypeptides necessary to produce particular antipathogenic substances are provided, along with methods for identifying and isolating genes needed to recombinantly biosynthesize any desired APS. The cloned genes may be transformed and expressed in a desired host organisms to produce the APS according to the invention for a variety of purposes, including protecting the host from a pathogen, developing the host as a biocontrol agent, and producing large, uniform amounts of the APS.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1995Date of Patent: March 3, 1998Assignee: Novartis Finance CorporationInventors: James M. Ligon, Dwight Steven Hill, John Andrew Ryals, Stephen Ting Lam, Philip E. Hammer
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Patent number: 5716849Abstract: The present invention is directed to the production of a polyketide antibiotic such as soraphen in a host via recombinant expression of the polypeptides needed to biologically synthesize the polyketide antibiotic. Polyketide synthase (PKS) genes encoding polypeptides necessary to synthesize soraphen are provided, along with methods for identifying and isolating the PKS genes needed to recombinantly biosynthesize any desired polyketide antibiotic. The cloned PKS genes may be transformed and expressed in a desired host organisms to produce soraphen for a variety of purposes, including protecting the host from a pathogen, developing the host as a biocontrol agent, and producing large, uniform amounts of soraphen.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1996Date of Patent: February 10, 1998Assignee: Novartis Finance CorporationInventors: James M. Ligon, Thomas Schupp, James J. Beck, Dwight S. Hill, Snezana Neff, John A. Ryals
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Patent number: 5710031Abstract: Gene activating sequences which activate the expression of other bacterial genes, which are latent or expressed at low levels, are provided. The gene activating sequences confer the ability to produce several metabolites and may be transferred to bacterial strains. The transformed biocontrol agents are active to inhibit the growth of the fungal pathogens.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1995Date of Patent: January 20, 1998Assignee: Novartis Finance CorporationInventors: Thomas D. Gaffney, Stephen T. Lam, James M. Ligon, Dwight Steven Hill, Jeffrey I. Stein
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Patent number: 5698425Abstract: The present invention is directed to the production of an antipathogenic substance (APS) in a host via recombinant expression of the polypeptides needed to biologically synthesize the APS. Genes encoding polypeptides necessary to produce particular antipathogenic substances are provided, along with methods for identifying and isolating genes needed to recombinantly biosynthesize any desired APS. The cloned genes may be transformed and expressed in a desired host organisms to produce the APS according to the invention for a variety of purposes, including protecting the host from a pathogen, developing the host as a biocontrol agent, and producing large, uniform amounts of the APS.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1995Date of Patent: December 16, 1997Assignee: Novartis Finance CorporationInventors: James M. Ligon, Thomas Schupp, James Joseph Beck, Dwight Steven Hill, John Andrew Ryals, Stephen Ting Lam, Philip E. Hammer, Scott Joseph Uknes
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Patent number: 5693774Abstract: The present invention relates to a DNA molecule isolated from the genome of Sorangium cellulosum that encodes a polypeptide required for soraphen biosynthesis and to methods for the preparation of said DNA fragment. The present invention further relates to plasmids, vectors, and host cells that comprise the DNA molecule of the invention.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1995Date of Patent: December 2, 1997Assignee: Novartis Finance CorporationInventors: Thomas Schupp, Snezana Neff, James M. Ligon
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Patent number: 5679560Abstract: The present invention is directed to the production of an antipathogenic substance (APS) in a host via recombinant expression of the polypeptides needed to biologically synthesize the APS. Genes encoding polypeptides necessary to produce particular antipathogenic substances are provided, along with methods for identifying and isolating genes needed to recombinantly biosynthesize any desired APS. The cloned genes may be transformed and expressed in a desired host organisms to produce the APS according to the invention for a variety of purposes, including protecting the host from a pathogen, developing the host as a biocontrol agent, and producing large, uniform amounts of the APS.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1995Date of Patent: October 21, 1997Assignee: Novartis Finance CorporationInventors: James M. Ligon, Dwight Steven Hill, Stephen Ting Lam, Philip E. Hammer
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Patent number: 5670350Abstract: Gene activating sequences which activate the expression of other bacterial genes, which are latent or expressed at low levels, are provided. The gene activating sequences confer the ability to produce several metabolites and may be transferred to bacterial strains. The transformed biocontrol agents are active to inhibit the growth of the fungal pathogens.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 1994Date of Patent: September 23, 1997Assignee: Novartis Finance CorporationInventors: Thomas D. Gaffney, Stephen T. Lam, Dwight Steven Hill, Jeffrey I. Stein, James M. Ligon
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Patent number: 5662898Abstract: The present invention is directed to the production of an antipathogenic substance (APS) in a host via recombinant expression of the polypeptides needed to biologically synthesize the APS. Genes encoding polypeptides necessary to produce particular antipathogenic substances are provided, along with methods for identifying and isolating genes needed to recombinantly biosynthesize any desired APS. The cloned genes may be transformed and expressed in a desired host organisms to produce the APS according to the invention for a variety of purposes, including protecting the host from a pathogen, developing the host as a biocontrol agent, and producing large, uniform amounts of the APS.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1995Date of Patent: September 2, 1997Assignee: Ciba-Geigy CorporationInventors: James M. Ligon, Thomas Schupp, James Joseph Beck, Dwight Steven Hill, John Andrew Ryals, Thomas Deane Gaffney, Stephen Ting Lam, Philip E. Hammer, Scott Joseph Uknes
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Patent number: 5643774Abstract: The present invention is directed to the production of an antipathogenic substance (APS) in a host via recombinant expression of the polypeptides needed to biologically synthesize the APS. Genes encoding polypeptides necessary to produce particular antipathogenic substances are provided, along with methods for identifying and isolating genes needed to recombinantly biosynthesize any desired APS. The cloned genes may be transformed and expressed in a desired host organisms to produce the APS according to the invention for a variety of purposes, including protecting the host from a pathogen, developing the host as a biocontrol agent, and producing large, uniform amounts of the APS.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1995Date of Patent: July 1, 1997Assignee: Ciba-Geigy CorporationInventors: James M. Ligon, Thomas Schupp, James Joseph Beck, Dwight Steven Hill, John Andrew Ryals, Thomas Deane Gaffney, Stephen Ting Lam, Philip E. Hammer, Scott Joseph Uknes
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Patent number: 5639949Abstract: The present invention is directed to the production of an antipathogenic substance (APS) in a host via recombinant expression of the polypeptides needed to biologically synthesize the APS. Genes encoding polypeptides necessary to produce particular antipathogenic substances are provided, along with methods for identifying and isolating genes needed to recombinantly biosynthesize any desired APS. The cloned genes may be transformed and expressed in a desired host organisms to produce the APS according to the invention for a variety of purposes, including protecting the host from a pathogen, developing the host as a biocontrol agent, and producing large, uniform amounts of the APS.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1994Date of Patent: June 17, 1997Assignee: Ciba-Geigy CorporationInventors: James M. Ligon, Dwight Steven Hill, John Andrew Ryals, Stephen Ting Lam, Philip E. Hammer
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Patent number: 5585238Abstract: DNA sequences from the Internal Transcribed Spacer of the ribosomal RNA gene region are described for different species and strains of Septoria, Pseudocercosporella and Mycosphaerella. Specific primers from within these sequences are identified as being useful for the identification of the fungal isolates using PCR-based techniques.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 1994Date of Patent: December 17, 1996Assignee: Ciba-Geigy CorporationInventors: James M. Ligon, James J. Beck
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Patent number: 5348742Abstract: Purified bacterial strains that are effective for the inhibition of plant pathogens, including the fungi Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium ultimum have been isolated. These strains are useful as biocontrol agents, and can be used to produce antifungal metabolites, such as antibiotic compounds, active against the plant pathogenic fungi Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium ultimum. Both the purified bacterial strains and the antibiotic compounds can be used as active agents for biocontrol compositions.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1993Date of Patent: September 20, 1994Assignees: Ciba-Geigy Corporation, The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of AgricultureInventors: Charles R. Howell, J. Ole Becker, Stephen T. Lam, James M. Ligon
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Patent number: 4863866Abstract: Mutant strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum having enhanced nodulation properties were created by transposon mutagenesis of known Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain I-110. The mutant strains grow well in a yeast-extract mannitol medium, produce extracellular polysaccharides at a level greater than the parent strain under appropriate conditions, are capable of growth on a nutirent medium containing a normally inhibitory amount of succinic acid, and contain a 21 Kdalton protein absent from the parent strain. Such strains can be used to inoculate soil in which soybean plants are grown, resulting in improved plant yields.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1987Date of Patent: September 5, 1989Assignee: Lipha Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Robert M. Zablotowicz, Robert G. Upchurch, James M. Ligon