Patents Assigned to AviGenics, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7507873
    Abstract: Transgenic avians having a recombinant ovomucoid gene expression controlling region operably linked to one or more useful amino acid coding sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: AviGenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex J. Harvey, Markley C. Leavitt, Youliang Wang
  • Patent number: 7445774
    Abstract: This invention provides for human interferon-? which includes novel glycosylation structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignees: AviGenics, Inc., University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Ivarie, Alex J. Harvey, Julie A. Morris, Guodong Liu, Jeffrey C. Rapp
  • Patent number: 7381712
    Abstract: The present invention provides for methods of producing transgenic avians which may include delivering a heterologous nucleic acid to oviduct tissue of an avian wherein the nucleic acid enters a cell of the oviduct tissue and is expressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: AviGenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Leandro Christmann, Markley C. Leavitt, Dawn M. Eberhardt, Timalynn M. Matthews
  • Patent number: 7375258
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel isolated nucleic acids that comprise an avian nucleic acid sequence comprising a ovomucoid gene expression control region. The ovomucoid promoter region of the present invention will allow expression of an operably linked heterologous nucleic acid insert in a transfected avian cell such as, for example, an oviduct cell. The isolated avian ovomucoid of the present invention may be operably linked with a selected nucleic acid insert, wherein the nucleic acid insert encodes a polypeptide desired to be expressed in a transfected cell. The recombinant DNA of the present invention may further comprise a polyadenylation signal sequence. The present invention further includes expression vectors comprising an isolated avian ovomucoid gene expression control region of the present invention, and transfected cells and transgenic avians comprising the expression vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: AviGenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex J. Harvey, Youliang Wang
  • Patent number: 7351582
    Abstract: The present invention relates to cells that can be passaged in culture and can be used for, among other things, promoter assays and the production of heterologous proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: AviGenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Rapp, Stephen H. Parker, Markley C. Leavitt, Dawn M. Eberhardt, Leandro Christmann, Alex J. Harvey
  • Patent number: 7338654
    Abstract: This invention includes compositions comprising glycosylated human interferon-? derived from a chicken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignees: AviGenics, Inc., University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Ivarie, Alex J. Harvey, Julie A. Morris, Guodong Liu, Jeffrey C. Rapp
  • Patent number: 7339090
    Abstract: The present invention provides for microinjection devices comprising a needle and a viewing instrument wherein the viewing instrument provides magnified viewing of an object to an operator from an angle other than a right angle to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: AviGenics, Inc.
    Inventor: Leandro Christmann
  • Patent number: 7335761
    Abstract: The present invention includes avian ovomucoid gene expression controlling regions which may be operably linked to one or more useful amino acid coding sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: AviGenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex J. Harvey, Markley C. Leavitt, Youliang Wang
  • Patent number: 7312374
    Abstract: This invention provides methods for the stable introduction of heterologous coding sequences into the genome of a bird and expressing the coding sequences to produce desired proteins or to alter the phenotype of the bird. The present invention provides preferred methods for introducing a transgene into the cytoplasm of avian embryonic cells by cytoplasmic microinjection. The embryo then develops into a transgenic adult capable of expressing a heterologous protein and/or capable of generating a line of transgenic birds through breeding. Synthetic vectors and gene promoters useful in the methods are also provided by the present invention, as are transgenic birds that express heterologous protein and avian eggs containing heterologous protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: AviGenics, Inc
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Rapp, Leandro Christmann
  • Patent number: 7294507
    Abstract: The present invention includes nucleic acid molecules comprising an artificial chromosome and an avian ovomucoid gene expression controlling region operably linked to the coding sequence of a useful polypeptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: AviGenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex J. Harvey, Markley C. Leavitt, Youliang Wang
  • Patent number: 7199279
    Abstract: The invention provides for cells containing nucleic acids which include lysozyme gene expression controlling region nucleotide sequences which typically are linked to a polynucleotide encoding a heterologous polypeptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: AviGenics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Rapp
  • Patent number: 7176300
    Abstract: The invention provides for lysozyme gene expression control regions which may include a 5? matrix attachment region; an intrinsically curved region of DNA; a transcription enhancer; a negative regulatory element; at least one hormone responsive element; an avian CRI repeat element; a proximal lysozyme promoter, and can be linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a heterologous polypeptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: AviGenics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Rapp
  • Patent number: 7129390
    Abstract: This invention provides vectors and methods for the stable introduction of exogenous nucleic acid sequences into the genome of avians in order to express the exogenous sequences to alter the phenotype of the avians or to produce desired proteins. In particular, transgenic avians are produced which express exogenous sequences in their oviducts and which deposit exogenous proteins into their eggs. Avian eggs that contain exogenous proteins are encompassed by this invention. The instant invention further provides novel forms of interferon and erythropoietin which are efficiently expressed in the oviduct of transgenic avians and deposited into avian eggs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignees: AviGenics, Inc, University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Ivarie, Alex J. Harvey, Julie A. Morris, Guodong Liu, Jeffrey C. Rapp
  • Patent number: 7122309
    Abstract: Genetic modification or selection of avians requires that large numbers of birds be genetically analyzed for sequences of interest. Typically, DNA is extracted on an individual basis from samples taken from the birds. Current methods of DNA extraction extract the DNA from blood or other tissues using tedious and time-consuming procedures. The present invention provides a high throughput screening assay for detecting a genetic sequence in multiple samples. The assay further provides a DNA extraction method that allows DNA to be extracted rapidly from multiple avian samples, such as red blood cells. The extraction method is extremely reliable and does not require that each sample be quantitated post-extraction. The extracted DNA can be used for a variety of genetic assays, including a high throughput screening assay to identify insertion of a transgene. The present invention is particularly useful for extracting DNA from nucleated RBCs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: AviGenics, Inc.
    Inventor: Alex J. Harvey
  • Patent number: 7049480
    Abstract: The invention includes methods of enucleating avian eggs comprising visualizing internal structure of an avian egg utilizing TPLSM and ablating the nucleus of the egg by near-infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: AviGenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Leandro Christmann, Scott L. Pratt, Jeffrey C. Rapp
  • Patent number: 6875588
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel isolated nucleic acids comprising an avian nucleic acid sequence encoding an ovomucoid gene expression control region. The ovomucoid promoter region of the present invention allows expression of an operably linked heterologous nucleic acid insert in a transfected cell such as, for example, an avian oviduct cell. The isolated avian ovomucoid promoter of the present invention may be operably linked with a selected nucleic acid insert, wherein the nucleic acid insert encodes a polypeptide desired to be expressed in a transfected cell. The recombinant DNA of the present invention may further comprise a polyadenylation signal sequence. The present invention further includes expression vectors comprising an isolated avian ovomucoid gene expression control region of the present invention, and transfected cells and transgenic avians comprising the expression vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: AviGenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex J. Harvey, Youliang Wang
  • Publication number: 20040158882
    Abstract: This invention provides vectors and methods for the stable introduction of exogenous nucleic acid sequences into the genome of a bird and for expressing said exogenous sequences to alter the phenotype of the bird or to produce desired proteins. In particular, transgenic chickens are produced which express exogenous sequences in their oviducts. Eggs which contain exogenous proteins are also produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Applicants: AviGenics, Inc., The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc
    Inventors: Robert D. Ivarie, Alex J. Harvey, Julie A. Morris, Guodong Liu
  • Patent number: 6730822
    Abstract: This invention provides vectors and methods for the stable introduction of exogenous nucleic acid sequences into the genome of a bird and for expressing said exogenous sequences to alter the phenotype of the bird or to produce desired proteins. In particular, transgenic chickens are produced which express exogenous sequences in their oviducts. Eggs which contain exogenous proteins are also produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: AviGenics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Ivarie, Alex J. Harvey, Julie A. Morris, Guodong Liu, Jeffrey C. Rapp
  • Publication number: 20040019922
    Abstract: This invention provides vectors and methods for the stable introduction of exogenous nucleic acid sequences into the genome of avians in order to express the exogenous sequences to alter the phenotype of the avians or to produce desired proteins. In particular, transgenic avians are produced which express exogenous sequences in their oviducts and which deposit exogenous proteins into their eggs. Avian eggs that contain exogenous proteins are encompassed by this invention. The instant invention further provides novel forms of interferon and erythropoietin which are efficiently expressed in the oviduct of transgenic avians and deposited into avian eggs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicants: AviGenics, Inc., University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Ivarie, Alex J. Harvey, Julie A. Morris, Guodong Liu, Jeffrey C. Rapp
  • Publication number: 20020108132
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to novel methods of producing transgenic chickens that generate antibodies or immunoglobulin polypeptides in whites of eggs. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention relates to methods of inserting immunoglobulin-encoding transgenes into avian sperm cells for transfer to ova to generate transgenic zygotes. The transgenes may include at least two immunoglobulin-encoding nucleic acid sequences and an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) that allow the immunoglobulin polypeptides to be expressed by chicken cells and hence in egg whites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Applicant: AviGenics inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey C. Rapp