Patents Examined by Lisa Gansheroff
  • Patent number: 6630324
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aldehyde reductase bidirectional promoter which promotes transcription of two different sequences linked in opposite orientations. Vectors containing said promoter and methods of using said promoter are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Baylor College of Medicine
    Inventors: Oleg A. Barski, Estuardo C. Aguilar-Cordova, Kurt M. Bohren, Kenneth H. Gabbay
  • Patent number: 6368805
    Abstract: A method for the construction of a library of recombined polynucleotides from a number of different starting single or double stranded parental DNA templates is disclosed, wherein the starting single or double stranded parental DNA templates represent discrete points in a population of genes encoding evolutionary or synthetic homologues of a peptide having homologies ranging over a broad spectrum from less than 15% to more than 80%, said population exhibiting at least one identification sequence, and whereby said genes are subjected to a gene shuffling procedure to generate shuffled mutants of said population of genes representing additional discrete points between those of said starting templates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Torben Vedel Borchert, Titus Kretzschmar, Joel R. Cherry, Vind Jesper
  • Patent number: 6337430
    Abstract: The present invention provides a promoter including the following DNA (a) or (b): (a) the DNA consisting of the nucleotide sequence of nucleotide numbers 1743 to 2301 in the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID: No. 1; or, (b) the DNA which can be hybridized with said DNA (a) in a stringent condition and having a promoter function in a plant cell, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Fumiharu Ishige, Eijiro Watanabe, Kenji Oeda
  • Patent number: 6329176
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for high efficiency release of recombinant proteins in eukaryotic cells and more specifically, for enhancing the secretion of Factor VII by co-expression of kex2 endoprotease with FVII in cells of mammalian origin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
    Inventors: Helle Wöldike, Finn Wiberg, Lars Søegaard Nielsen
  • Patent number: 6320038
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolating, sequencing and cloning of the 5′-flanking region of neuropeptide FF (NPFF) promoter. The characterized neuropeptide FF (NPFF) promoter is useful in gene therapy and in DNA analyses, and in production of gene-modified animals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventors: Pertti Aarre Juhani Panula, Annika Brandt, Johanna Westerlund
  • Patent number: 6320027
    Abstract: The present invention provides DNA encoding an Oropouche NP protein selected from the group consisting of: (a) isolated DNA which encodes an Oropouche NP protein; (b) isolated DNA which hybridizes to isolated DNA of (a) above and which encodes an Oropouche NP protein; and (c) isolated DNA differing from the isolated DNAs of (a) and (b) above in codon sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, and which encodes an Oropouche NP protein. Also provided is a kit for the immunodetection of Oropouche virus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas
    Inventors: Alan D. T. Barrett, Mohammad F. Saeed, Robert B. Tesh, Robert E. Shope, Heiman Wang
  • Patent number: 6316231
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel bacterial strains useful for the production of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid. The present invention further relates to the use of these strains for the production of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid by fermentative conversion of L-sorbose. The present invention further relates to the use of these novel bacterial strains for the production of pyrroloquinoline quinone and a nontoxic lipopolysaccharide. Also described is the strains of the present invention transformed by a vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Archer-Daniels-Midland Company
    Inventors: Steven F. Stoddard, Hungming J. Liaw, John D'Elia
  • Patent number: 6316248
    Abstract: DNA-containing hair root cells are liberated from hair samples by soaking the hair root ends of the hair shafts in an aqueous solution consisting essentially of dithiothreitol, a surfactant such as sodium dodecylsulfate, a chelate such as ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, an inorganic salt (NaCl), tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane and sufficient hydrochloric acid to make the pH of the solution approximately 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
    Inventor: James Elliott
  • Patent number: 6313285
    Abstract: A process is described for purifying plasmid DNA from prokaryotic cells comprised thereof. This process comprises the steps of: (a) digesting the cells; (b) incubating the cells for about 4 to 24 hours to effect lysis and solubilization thereof, without effecting enzymatic digestion of RNA; (c) removing lysate contaminants from the cells to provide a plasmid DNA solution; (d) filtering the solution through a tangential flow filtration device to obtain a retentate containing the plasmid DNA; and (e) collecting the retentate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Genentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Michelle D. Butler, Darien L. Cohen, David Kahn, Marjorie E. Winkler
  • Patent number: 6306621
    Abstract: An improved method for detection of total coliforms and E. coli comprising a broth containing an ingredient that will encourage growth and repair of injured coliforms, buffers to maintain a pH in the range of 6.5-8, at least one agent that suppresses growth of gram positive cocci and spore-forming organisms, at least one active agent that will suppress growth of non-coliform gram negative bacteria, and at least one chromogen or fluorogen has been used effectively and is cost effective. In the preferred embodiment, both a fluorogen and chromogen were used. Preferred methods include use of filter and/or plates containing the growth-promoting ingredients and the indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventors: Kristen P. Brenner, Clifford C. Rankin, Yvette R. Roybal-McKenna, Alfred P. Dufour
  • Patent number: 6303383
    Abstract: A coryneform bacterium in which a DNA fragment is incorporated into its chromosome is prepared by (a) obtaining a recombinant plasmid through ligation of a DNA fragment having a sequence homologous to a gene present on a chromosome of a coryneform bacterium to a plasmid that has a wild-type replication control region segment of a particular nucleotide sequence including a mutation and is autonomously replicable in a coryneform bacterium cell at a culture temperature lower than 31° C. but not autonomously replicable in the cell at a temperature of 31° C. or higher, (b) introducing the recombinant plasmid into the coryneform bacterium cell, (c) culturing the bacterium at a temperature of 31° C. or higher, (d) causing homologous recombination between the DNA fragment and the gene present on the chromosome of the coryneform bacterium and having a sequence homologous to the DNA fragment, and (e) selecting a coryneform bacterium in which the DNA fragment is incorporated into its chromosome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Nakamura, Sohei Kanno, Eiichiro Kimura, Kazuhiko Matsui, Tsuyoshi Nakamatsu
  • Patent number: 6291667
    Abstract: A novel method of treating Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in patients, by administration of an effective amount of VEGF antagonist/s. VEGF antagonists are capable of inhibiting the growth of KS cells in culture by inhibiting the production of VEGF, or by interfering with the binding of VEGF to its cognate receptors or interfere with the biological effects of VEGF. The VEGF antagonist may be administered to KS patients topically, orally, or parentally. Other VEGF antagonist such as VEGF antibodies, VEGF receptor antibodies, soluble forms of VEGF receptors that bind VEGF away from the cells, or agents that inhibit the signal of VEGF into the cell such as protein kinase inhibitors etc. can also be used The novel antisense oligonucleotides (Veglin-1 and Veglin-3) may also be used to inhibit VEGF and thus new blood vessel formation in diseases such as tumors, proliferative retinopathy, or collagen vascular diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and skin diseases such as pemphigus and psoriasis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Inventors: Parkash S. Gill, Rizwan Masood
  • Patent number: 6284541
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the introduction of a foreign DNA into the genome of a target cell by homologous recombination as well as for the homologous recombination of suitable DNA constructs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Auer, Raimund Sprenger, Konrad Honold
  • Patent number: 6284490
    Abstract: The invention relates to a new asporogenous strain of Bacillus subtilis which has been deposited at the Centraalbureau Voor Schimmelcultures under the number CBS 432.90. This strain, which shows a frequency of reversion to the formation of spores of less than about 10−8 and good plasmid stability, is suitable as a host in a host-vector system for the preparation of heterologous products of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Eniricerche S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianni Frascotti, Paola Cosmina, Guido Grandi
  • Patent number: 6281349
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method for the purification of plasmid nucleic acid preparations. More specifically, the present invention provides a novel method using iodine for purifying plasmid nucleic acid suitable for several different applications in molecular biology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Inventor: David E. Pulleyblank
  • Patent number: 6280986
    Abstract: Recombinant bacteria are disclosed which are transformed with heterologous DNA coding for alcohol dehydrogenase (adh) and pyruvate decarboxylase (pdc), and which are effective for use in the production of ethanol, but which do not require the presence of antibiotics in the culture medium to maintain genetic stability and high ethanol productivity. These recombinant bacteria are produced using mutant host strains which are substantially deficient in the ability to fermentatively reduce pyruvate. When grown in an anaerobic environment, the recombinant pyruvate mutants transformed with the adh and pdc genes are genetically stable, maintaining the inserted genes and ethanol productivity even in the absence of antibiotics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Robert B. Hespell, Herbert A. Wyckoff, Bruce S. Dien, Rodney J. Bothast
  • Patent number: 6258559
    Abstract: Methylotrophic yeasts are useful hosts for the production of commercially valuable recombinant proteins. However, the development of large-scale cultures of recombinant methylotrophic yeasts has been hindered by the formation of precipitation in culture media. A new soluble minimal medium overcomes this problem. Moreover, new feeding schemes provide cultures of high biomass, which produce biologically active recombinant protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: ZymoGenetics, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce L. Zamost
  • Patent number: 6251593
    Abstract: A polynucleotide encoding chitin synthase (CHS1), an enzyme essential for cell wall synthesis and yeast cell growth, is provided. A maltose responsive promoter (MRP) isolated using the promoter library of the invention is also described. The present invention also provides a vector for isolation of a eukaryotic regulatory polynucleotide, i.e., promoter. The vector is useful in the method of the invention which comprises identifying a eukaryotic regulatory polynucleotide, i.e., promoter region, by complementing the growth of an auxotrophic host cell containing the vector of the invention, which includes a promoter region operably linked to a promoterless auxotrophic gene. The vector is introduced into the host cell chromosome by targeted integration. Also provided is a library containing host cells having the vector of the invention integrated in the chromosome of the host cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Yigal Koltin, Perry Riggle, Vicky Gavrias, Chris Bulawa, Kenneth R. Winter
  • Patent number: 6245547
    Abstract: A purified thermostable enzyme is derived from the eubacterium T. maritima. The enzyme has a molecular weight as determined by gel electrophoresis of about 35 kilodaltons and has cellulose activity. The enzyme can be produced from native or recombinant host cells and can be used to aid in the digestion of cellulose where desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Diversa Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Mathur, David E. Lam
  • Patent number: 6235710
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing stable, spray dried rhEPO and the rhEPO powder produced thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
    Inventors: Deepak B. Mehta, Diane C. Corbo, Kurshid Iqbal