Patents Examined by Jim Ketter
  • Patent number: 9550973
    Abstract: A recombinant gram-negative bacterial cell comprising one or more of the following mutated protease genes: a) a mutated Tsp gene, wherein the mutated Tsp gene encodes a Tsp protein having reduced protease activity or is a knockout mutated Tsp gene; b) a mutated ptr gene, wherein the mutated ptr gene encodes a Protease III protein having reduced protease activity or is a knockout mutated ptr gene; and c) a mutated DegP gene encoding a DegP protein having chaperone activity and reduced protease activity; wherein the cell is isogenic to a wild-type bacterial cell except for the mutated Tsp gene and/or mutated ptr gene and/or mutated DegP gene and optionally a polynucleotide sequence encoding a protein of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: UCB PHARMA, S.A.
    Inventors: Mark Ellis, David Paul Humphreys
  • Patent number: 9550983
    Abstract: An isolated or a purified nucleic acid sequence for enhancing expression levels of a protein of interest, in 5? to 3? direction, comprises: a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter; an eEF-1 intron repeat (eEF-1 IR); and a regular sequence, which comprises: at least one tag element, a fixable linker sequence, wherein the fixable sequence is TEV sequence; and a multiple cloning site (MCS). By means of the array of the specific promoter and eEF-1 IR, the expression and purity of the recombinant protein could be enhanced; wherein eEF-1 IR can reduce the length of vector and assist RNA polymerase II transcription. Besides, TEV sequence of the fixable linker sequence of the regular sequence can remove a tag on recombinant protein; a specific target can be inserted into the multiple cloning site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: China Medical University
    Inventors: Ying-Chin Ko, Chi-Pin Lee, Shang-Lun Chiang
  • Patent number: 9541555
    Abstract: This invention relates to a screening method for the identification of agents which modulate the activity of a DNA replication protein as a target for intervention in cancer therapy and includes agents which modulate said activity. The invention also relates to the use of the DNA replication protein, and its RNA transcripts in the prognosis and diagnosis of proliferative disease e.g., cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Cizzle Biotech Limited
    Inventor: Dawn Coverley
  • Patent number: 9534039
    Abstract: Methods are provided for the expression of immunoglobulin variable domains that are secreted into the culture medium. The methods provide for the production of homogeneous immunoglobulin variable domains in which the proportion of product-related variants that comprise, at the N-terminus, at least one redundant amino acid residue derived from the secretion signal is strongly reduced or absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Ablynx N.V.
    Inventors: Ann Brigé, Peter Schotte, Bart Walcarius
  • Patent number: 9528980
    Abstract: The present invention is directed generally to eukaryotic cells comprising single-celled organisms that are introduced into the eukaryotic cell through human intervention and which transfer to daughter cells of the eukaryotic cell through at least five cell divisions, and methods of introducing such single-celled organisms into eukaryotic cells. The invention also provides methods of using such eukaryotic cells. The invention further provides single-celled organisms that introduce a phenotype to eukaryotic cells that is maintained in daughter cells. The invention additionally provides eukaryotic cells containing magnetotactic bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Caleb B. Bell, III, Alexey Bazarov
  • Patent number: 9528083
    Abstract: A heat exchanger system includes a heat exchanger having a body with a first side face and an opposing second side face, the body bounding a fluid channel disposed between the opposing side faces and extending between an inlet port and an outlet port. A flexible first bag has of one or more sheet of polymeric material and bounds a fluid pathway that extends between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The first bag is removably retained against the first side face of the body of the heat exchanger, the fluid channel of the body of the heat exchanger being sealed from fluid communication with the fluid pathway of the first bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Clinton C. Staheli, Nephi D. Jones, Michael E. Goodwin
  • Patent number: 9518100
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for increasing the yield and N-glycosylation site occupancy of paucimannose or complex N-glycans of recombinant glycoproteins produced in a recombinant host cell lacking dolichyl-P-Man:Man5GlcNAc2-PP-dolichyl alpha-1,3 mannosyltransferase (Alg3p) activity. In particular, the present invention provides recombinant host cells for producing recombinant glycoproteins that comprise a disruption of the expression of an OS-9 family gene in the host cell and which overexpress one or more Trypanosoma brucei STT3 proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
    Inventor: Byung-Kwon Choi
  • Patent number: 9518284
    Abstract: Screening methods for identifying substances that provide therapeutic value for various diseases associated with protein misfolding are provided. Genetic and chemical screening methods are provided using a yeast system. The methods of the invention provide a rapid and cost-effective method to screen for compounds that prevent protein misfolding and/or protein fibril formation and/or protein aggregation which includes numerous neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease as well as non-neuronal diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Susan Lindquist, Sylvia Krobitsch, Tiago Fleming Outeiro
  • Patent number: 9512457
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method for the serum-free production of an immortalized human cell line stably transfected under serum-free conditions with a specific vector carrying the gene coding for the protein of interest. Furthermore the invention relates to a production cell line obtained by said method, a production method for said protein of interest utilizing said production cell line, and the specific vector carrying the gene of interest itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: OCTAPHARMA AG
    Inventors: Carola Schroeder, Haiyan Ding, Cathleen Wegmann
  • Patent number: 9512415
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for genetically modifying a filamentous fungus host for improved protein production. The method comprises that a filamentous fungus host is genetically modified to overexpress or to be deficient of specific genes. The invention relates also to the modified hosts. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for improved production or for producing an improved composition of proteins, such as cellulases, hemicellulases, other proteins involved in the degradation of lignocellulosic material, or other proteins, in a filamentous fungus host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT Oy
    Inventors: Tiina Pakula, Markku Saloheimo, Mari Hakkinen, Ann Westerholm-Parvinen, Merja Penttila, Marika Vitikainen
  • Patent number: 9506167
    Abstract: Systems, methods, libraries, kits, and computer software tools are provided for designing and producing engineered cells. Such engineered cells can be used for cell state quantification, such as genome, transcriptome and/or proteome quantification. In one aspect, an engineered cell having a plurality of artificially designed oligonucleotides introduced into the genome of the cell is provided. The oligonucleotides are each located in proximity of a gene of interest encoding a protein of interest, and are different from one another. The oligonucleotides can each encode a unique peptide tag for each protein of interest, wherein each peptide tag has a unique quantitatively measurable value such as mass-to-charge ratio which can be quantified by a mass spectrometer. The engineered cell is capable of expressing a plurality of proteins of interest each fused to its corresponding unique peptide tag, wherein each peptide tag is capable of being released therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: GINKGO BIOWORKS, INC.
    Inventors: Reshma Shetty, Thomas F. Knight, Jr., Randall D. Rettberg
  • Patent number: 9506117
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and biomarkers for detection of cervical cancer in biological samples, and in particular to markers associated with hypoxia related to the cervical cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Oslo universitetssykehus HF
    Inventors: Heidi Lyng, Cathinka Halle Julin
  • Patent number: 9506053
    Abstract: An optimized multi-step cell line screening method based on next generation sequencing (NGS) and mass spec (MS) is disclosed. The method helps reduce variants in the biologic-producing cell line and improve the efficiency of cell line development process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: AbbVie Inc.
    Inventors: Junjian Liu, Dean Regier, Sheng Zhang, Gerald Carson, David Ouellette
  • Patent number: 9499815
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multimeric non-coding nucleic acid molecule for modulating the activity of the human or animal immune system, and to a preparation process therefore and a vaccine which comprises the multimeric non-coding nucleic acid molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Mologen AG
    Inventors: Matthias Schroff, Burghardt Wittig, Manuel Schmidt, Janine Loehr
  • Patent number: 9499826
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for genetically modifying a filamentous fungus host for improved protein production. The method comprises that a filamentous fungus host is genetically modified to be deficient or to overexpress specific genes. The invention relates also to the modified hosts. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for improved production or for producing an improved composition of proteins, such as cellulases, hemicellulases, other proteins involved in the degradation of lignocellulosic material, or other proteins, in a filamentous fungus host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT
    Inventors: Tiina Pakula, Markku Saloheimo, Mari Hakkinen, Ann Westerholm-Parvinen, Merja Penttila, Marika Vitikainen
  • Patent number: 9493778
    Abstract: Methods for enhancing single cross-over homologous recombination in gram positive bacteria are presented. These methods provide enhanced capability to genetically modify gram positive bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Elcriton, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Tracy, Eleftherios Papoutsakis
  • Patent number: 9487791
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for genetically modifying a filamentous fungus host for improved protein production. The method comprises that a filamentous fungus host is genetically modified to overexpress or to be deficient of specific genes. The invention relates also to the modified hosts. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for improved production or for producing an improved composition of proteins, such as cellulases, hemicellulases, other proteins involved in the degradation of lignocellulosic material, or other proteins, in a filamentous fungus host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Roal Oy
    Inventors: Tiina Pakula, Markku Saloheimo, Mari Hakkinen, Ann Westerholm-Parvinen, Merja Penttila, Marika Vitikainen
  • Patent number: 9487808
    Abstract: Aspects herein relate to composition, and related methods, for isolating and assembling DNA molecules without intermediate cloning steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jonathan William Babb, Shuo Cory Li, Thomas Knight, Ron Weiss
  • Patent number: 9475012
    Abstract: A container assembly includes a container at least partially bounding a chamber and having a wall with an opening extending therethrough. A tubular stem bounds a passageway and outwardly projects from the wall of the container so that the passageway communicates with the opening. A sparger includes a tubular member having a first end and an opposing second end and an interior surface bounding a passage extending therebetween. A gas permeable sparging member is secured to the first end of the tubular member so that gas passing through the tubular member from the second end passes out through the sparging sheet. A second flange encircles and radially outwardly projects from the tubular member, the second flange being secured to the stem so that at least a portion of the tubular member is disposed within the passageway of the tubular stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael D. Goodwin, Nephi D. Jones, Jeremy K. Larsen
  • Patent number: 9476067
    Abstract: A plasmid vector for the production of compounds in cyanobacteria is described which is capable of being efficiently transformed to and replicating in a broad range of cyanobacterial species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Algenol Biotech LLC
    Inventors: Kui Wang, Tuo Shi