Patents Examined by Kenneth Horlick
  • Patent number: 9322053
    Abstract: The present invention features compositions and methods for quantifying detection of a target oligonucleotide in a sample in real time comprising one or more primer oligonucleotides comprising a 5? nicking enzyme recognition site and a 3?-terminal region comprising a 2?-modified nucleotide. These methods are compatible with amplification of target oligonucleotides in a test sample, including biological samples, using a nicking amplification reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: EnviroLogix Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Shaffer, Stephen A. Judice
  • Patent number: 9315802
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for isolating RNA from the soluble fraction of urine. The methods can be used for detecting the presence or absence of an RNA, or quantifying the amount of an RNA. The methods are useful for diagnosing an individual suspected of having a disease by detecting the level of RNA associated with the disease in the soluble fraction of urine. The methods are also useful for prognosing an individual diagnosed with a disease by detecting the level of RNA associated with the disease in the soluble fraction of urine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INVESTMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Heather Sanders, Hai-Rong Li
  • Patent number: 9310304
    Abstract: Provided are methods for multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of short tandem repeat (STR) loci that can be used to rapidly generate a highly specific STR profile from target nucleic acids. The resulting STR profiles are useful for human identification purposes in law enforcement, homeland security, military, intelligence, and paternity testing applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: NetBio, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Schumm, Richard F. Selden, Eugene Tan
  • Patent number: 9309502
    Abstract: This disclosure describes related novel methods for Recombinase-Polymerase Amplification (RPA) of a target DNA that exploit the properties of recombinase and related proteins, to invade double-stranded DNA with single stranded homologous DNA permitting sequence specific priming of DNA polymerase reactions. The disclosed methods have the advantage of not requiring thermocycling or thermophilic enzymes, thus offering easy and affordable implementation and portability relative to other amplification methods. Further disclosed are conditions to enable real-time monitoring of RPA reactions, methods to regulate RPA reactions using light and otherwise, methods to determine the nature of amplified species without a need for gel electrophoresis, methods to improve and optimize signal to noise ratios in RPA reactions, methods to optimize oligonucleotide primer function, methods to control carry-over contamination, and methods to employ sequence-specific third ‘specificity’ probes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Alere San Diego Inc.
    Inventors: Olaf Piepenburg, Colin H. Williams, Niall A. Armes, Derek L. Stemple
  • Patent number: 9303291
    Abstract: Compositions and methods associated with recurrent MIPOL1-ETV1 genetic rearrangements that are useful for cancer diagnosis and therapy are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Arul M. Chinnaiyan, Scott Tomlins, Saravana Mohan Dhanasekaran
  • Patent number: 9284549
    Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid amplification systems and methods that desirably reduce or eliminate false positive amplification signals resulting from contaminating biological material, e.g., nucleic acid, that may be present in one or more reagents used in an amplification reaction and/or that may be present in the environment in which an amplification reaction is performed. The invention offers the further advantage of requiring less stringent purification and/or sterility efforts than conventionally needed in order to ensure that enzymes and other reagents used in amplification reactions, and the environment in which an amplification reaction is performed, are free of bacterial or other nucleic acid contamination that may yield false positive results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Michael M. Becker, Kristin W. Livezey, Wai-Chung Lam
  • Patent number: 9284606
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high throughput method for the identification and detection of molecular markers wherein restriction fragments are generated and suitable adaptors comprising (sample-specific) identifiers are ligated. The adapter-ligated restriction fragments may be selectively amplified with adaptor compatible primers carrying selective nucleotides at their 3? end. The amplified adapter-ligated restriction fragments are, at least partly, sequenced using high throughput sequencing methods and the sequence parts of the restriction fragments together with the sample-specific identifiers serve as molecular markers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Keygene N.V.
    Inventors: Michael Josephus Theresia Van Eijk, Taco Peter Jesse
  • Patent number: 9279152
    Abstract: Sample preparation processes for in situ RNA or DNA analysis, methods and compositions therefor are provided. Processes provided herein allow DNA or RNA analysis to be carried out in the same tube or on an aliquot of the prepared sample without centrifugation or extraction. The preparation process can be carried out at room temperature in as little as seven minutes and is amenable to high throughput processing using manual or robotic platforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Fekete, Annalee Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9267173
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods for pairwise sequencing of a double-stranded polynucleotide template, which methods result in the sequential determination of nucleotide sequences in two distinct and separate regions of the polynucleotide template. Using the methods of the invention it is possible to obtain two linked or paired reads of sequence information from each double-stranded template on a clustered array, rather than just a single sequencing read from one strand of the template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Illumina Cambridge Limited
    Inventors: Roberto Rigatti, Tobias William Barr Ost
  • Patent number: 9267174
    Abstract: The invention provides a non-invasive technique for the differential detection of multiple genotypes and/or mutations for a plurality of target genes in a biological sample containing genetic material from different genomic sources. Methods are conducted using multiplex amplification of a plurality of target sequences from the biological sample, and sequencing is used to detect and enumerate genetic mutations and chromosomal abnormalities at the single nucleotide level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Stanford University
    Inventors: Stephen R. Quake, Wei Gu, Hei-Mun Christina Fan
  • Patent number: 9261460
    Abstract: This invention provides compositions for use in real time nucleic acid detection processes. Such real time nucleic acid detection processes are carried out with energy transfer elements attached to nucleic acid primers, nucleotides, nucleic acid probes or nucleic acid binding agents. Real time nucleic acid detection allows for the qualitative or quantitative detection or determination of single-stranded or double-stranded nucleic acids of interest in a sample. Other processes are provided by this invention including processes for removing a portion of a homopolymeric sequence, e.g., poly A sequence or tail, from an analyte or library of analytes. Compositions useful in carrying out such removal processes are also described and provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Enzo Life Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Elazar Rabbani, Jannis G. Stavrianopoulos, James J. Donegan, Jack Coleman, Dakai Liu
  • Patent number: 9222124
    Abstract: The invention is in the technical field of detecting nucleic acid sequences in a sample, such as the detection of pathogenic organisms in clinical samples. More specifically, the invention relates to the field of detecting an infection caused by a pathogenic organism such as a virus or a bacterium in a clinical specimen by amplifying and detecting specific nucleic acid sequences from the pathogenic organism. It provides a multiplex assay with the possibility to determine about 30 different target nucleic acid sequences in a single one-tube assay combined with real-time probe detection. The method employs multiplex ligation dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) employing labelled primers in combination with labelled, probes and detection of the fluorescence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Pathofinder Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Gerardus Cecilia Maria Reijans, Gijs Josephus Henricus Dingemans, Augustinus Franciscus Maria Simons
  • Patent number: 9217173
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for synthesis of a cDNA in a sample, in an enzymatic reaction, wherein the process comprises the steps: simultaneous preparation of a first enzyme with polyadenylation activity, a second enzyme with reverse transcriptase activity, a buffer, at least one ribonucleotide, at least one deoxyribonucleotide, an anchor oligonucleotide; addition of a sample that comprises a ribonucleic acid; and incubation of the agents of the previous steps in one or more temperature steps, which are selected such that the first enzyme and the second enzyme show activity. The invention further relates to a reaction mixture that comprises a first enzyme with polyadenylation activity, a second enzyme with reverse transcriptase activity, optionally a buffer, optionally at least one ribonucleotide, optionally at least one deoxyribonucleotide, and optionally an anchor oligonucleotide. Moreover, the invention relates to a kit that comprises a corresponding reaction mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: QIAGEN GMBH
    Inventors: Holger Engel, Subrahmanyam Yerramilli, Martin Kreutz, Dirk Loeffert, Christian Korfhage
  • Patent number: 9212350
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of cloning stable stress tolerant superoxide dismutase from diverse plant species using universal primers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Pardeep Kumar Bhardwaj, Arun Kumar, Amit Kishore, Sanjay Ghawana, Arti Rani, Kashmir Singh, Harsharan Singh, Ravi Shankar Singh, Hitesh Kumar, Payal Sood, Som Dutt, Sanjay Kumar, Paramvir Singh Ahuja
  • Patent number: 9206417
    Abstract: The present invention provides multiplexed sequential ligation-based analysis of genetic variants in a mixed sample, including copy number variations and single nucleotide polymorphisms. The invention employs the techniques of sequential ligation and amplification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: ARIOSA DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Jacob Zahn, Arnold Oliphant, Morassa Mohseni
  • Patent number: 9187788
    Abstract: Described herein are methods, compositions and kits directed to the detection of gene dysregulations such as those arising from gene fusions and/or chromosomal abnormalities, e.g., translocations, insertions, inversions and deletions. Samples containing dysregulated gene(s) of interest may show independent expression patterns for the 5? and 3? regions of the gene. The methods, compositions and kits are useful for detecting mutations that cause the differential expression of a 5? portion of a target gene relative to the 3? region of the target gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INVESTMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Heather R. Sanders, Maher Albitar, Aurelia Meloni-Ehrig
  • Patent number: 9181582
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for isothermal amplification of RNA. The methods are particularly suitable for amplifying a plurality of RNA species in a sample. The methods employ a composite primer, a second primer and strand displacement to generate multiple copies of DNA products comprising sequences complementary to an RNA sequence of interest. In another aspect, the methods employ a single primer (which is a composite primer) and strand displacement to generate multiple copies of DNA products comprising sequences complementary to an RNA sequence of interest. In some embodiments, a transcription step is included to generate multiple copies of sense RNA of an RNA sequence of interest. The methods are useful for preparation of nucleic acid libraries and substrates for analysis of gene expression of cells in biological samples. The invention also provides compositions and kits for practicing the amplification methods, as well as methods which use the amplification products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: NUGEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Nurith Kurn
  • Patent number: 9170197
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an assay including a surface having silver colloids or islands attached thereto. Attached to the surface and/or silver colloids/islands are polynucleotides which are complimentary to a target polynucleotide sequence. The assay is performed by adding the target polynucleotide sequence to the assay surface and allowing it to hybridize with the capture polynucleotides. Fluorophore-labeled capture polynucleotides are added and hybridize to the target polynucleotide. Bound target polynucleotides are detected by metal enhanced fluorescence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE COUNTY
    Inventors: Chris D. Geddes, Joseph R. Lakowicz, Leslie W. J. Baillie
  • Patent number: 9156037
    Abstract: A microfluidic device for separating target components from a source fluid includes one or more source channels connected to one or more collection channels by one or more transfer channels. The target components of the source fluid can be magnetic or bound to magnetic particles using a know binding agent. A source fluid containing magnetically bound target components can be pumped through the source channel of the microfluidic device. A magnetic field gradient can be applied to the source fluid in the source channel causing the magnetically bound target components to migrate through the transfer channel into the collection channel. The collection channel can include a collection fluid that is stagnant until a predefined volume of source fluid is processed or a predefined volume of target components accumulate in the collection channel, at which point collection fluid can be pumped into the collection channel to flush the target components out of the collection channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignees: Children's Medical Center Corporation, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Chong Wing Yung, Donald E. Ingber, Jason O. Fiering, Mathew Varghese
  • Patent number: 9157116
    Abstract: High throughput methods are used that combine the features of using a matrix-type microfluidic device, labeled nucleic acid probes, and homogenous assays to detect and/or quantify nucleic acid analytes. The high throughput methods are capable of detecting nucleic acid analyes with high PCR and probe specificity, producing a low fluorescence background and therefore, a high signal to noise ratio. Additionally, the high throughput methods are capable of detecting low copy number nucleic acid analyte per cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Fluidigm Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Livak, Marc Unger