Patents Examined by Michele Joike
  • Patent number: 8044191
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of nucleic acid sequences for regulating the transcription and expression of genes, the novel promoters and expression units themselves, methods for altering or causing the transcription rate and/or expression rate of genes, expression cassettes comprising the expression units, genetically modified microorganisms with altered or caused transcription rate and/or expression rate, and methods for preparing biosynthetic products by cultivating the genetically modified microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Burkhard Kroger, Oskar Zelder, Corinna Klopprogge, Hartwig Schroder, Stefan Haefner
  • Patent number: 8044192
    Abstract: A promoter for use in producing proteins in filamentous fungal host cells is provided. In one embodiment, the promoter comprises SEQ ID NO:1, or a variant or a truncated form thereof that has promoter activity in a host cell. Also provided are recombinant nucleic acids, vectors containing the promoter and host cells containing a recombinant nucleic acid or vector. Methods of producing a protein using the host cells are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Danisco US Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Ward
  • Patent number: 8039217
    Abstract: Genomic actions and/or proteomic interactions for pathophysiological processes and for physiological processes are determined at associated redox state conditions. Protein interactions are correlated with oxygen tensions. Identification of markers for disease including epitopes is effected in the presence of simulated redox state perturbations. Screening for previously unknown receptors and activating ligands is carried out in the presence of alteration of redox state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Stamler
  • Patent number: 8017341
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence coding for a PntR transcription factor comprising a nucleotide sequence that is the same as, or is complementary to, or contains any suitable codon substitutions for any of those of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3 or 5 or comprises a sequence which has at least 60% sequence homology with any of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3 or 5, as well as corresponding polypeptides, vector systems and host cells comprising the same. In particular, the invention relates to sequences which are obtained from an Aspergillus, Trichoderma or Penicillium cell. The invention further relates to methods for disrupting PntR expression in a cell as well as methods for expression or production of a POI in a host cell in which PntR expression has been disrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Danisco A/S
    Inventors: Igor Nikolaev, Susan Mampusti Madrid
  • Patent number: 8017398
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining if a test compound, or a mix of compounds, modulates the interaction between two proteins of interest. The determination is made possible via the use of two recombinant molecules, one of which contains the first protein a cleavage site for a proteolytic molecules, and an activator of a gene. The second recombinant molecule includes the second protein and the proteolytic molecule. If the test compound binds to the first protein, a reaction is initiated whereby the activator is cleaved, and activates a reporter gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: Life Technologies Corporation, The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Kevin J. Lee, Richard Axel, Walter Strapps, Gilad Barnea
  • Patent number: 8012747
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods and compositions for expression of polypeptides or delivery of interfering RNA's in various cell types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: San Diego State University Foundation
    Inventor: Jacques Perrault
  • Patent number: 8003323
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing the risk of bacterial infection or sepsis in a susceptible patient by treating the susceptible patient with a pharmaceutical composition containing bacteriophage of one or more strains which produce lytic infections in pathogenic bacteria. Preferably, treatment of the patient reduces the level of colonization with pathogenic bacteria susceptible to the bacteriophage by at least one log. In a typical embodiment, the susceptible patient is an immunocompromised patient selected from the group consisting of leukemia patients, lymphoma patients, carcinoma patients, sarcoma patients, allogeneic transplant patients, congenital or acquired immunodeficiency patients, cystic fibrosis patients, and AIDS patients. In a preferred mode, the patients treated by this method are colonized with the pathogenic bacteria subject to infection by said bacteriophage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Intralytix, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Glenn Morris, Alexander Sulakvelidze, Zemphira Alavidze, Gary R. Pasternack, Torrey C. Brown
  • Patent number: 7998732
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method for increasing the yield of plasmid DNA production. The method includes the steps of selecting a highly productive clonal subtype of a strain of E. coli, including but not limited to the DH5 strain, harboring a DNA plasmid and cultivating said clonal subtype with fed-batch fermentation in a chemically-defined medium. The plasmid DNA production process described herein can generate record quantities of plasmid DNA when said highly productive clonal subtypes are cultivated on an industrial scale. The disclosed method can be used for the production of pharmaceutical grade DNA for use in polynucleotide vaccination and gene therapy treatment regimens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
    Inventors: Michel Chartrain, Laura Kizer Bentley, Barbara Ann Krulewicz, Kristin M. Listner, Wen-jun Sun, Chanyong Brian Lee
  • Patent number: 7998702
    Abstract: An L-arabinose inducible expression system comprising a mutant arabinose promoter. This system exhibits an increase in heterologous protein production upon induction with L-arabinose and comprises a mutant araB promoter and an AraC transcription binding region. This system retains the tight regulatory control characteristic of the wild type arabinose operon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Tanja Maria Gruber, Lisa L. Huang
  • Patent number: 7993902
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plasmid-free clone of Escherichia coli strain DSM 6601, to a method for preparing the same and to the use thereof as a cloning vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Pharma-Zentrale GmbH
    Inventors: Jorg Hacker, Tobias Oelschlaeger, Sibylle Oswald, Ulrich Sonnenborn, Hans Proppert
  • Patent number: 7981685
    Abstract: Engineered polypeptides useful in synthesizing acyl amino acids are provided. Also provided are methods of making acyl amino acids using engineered polypeptides. In certain embodiments, an acyl amino acid produced using compositions and/or methods of the present invention comprises cocoyl glutamate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Modular Genetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Jarrell, Prashanth Vishwanath, Gabriel Reznik
  • Patent number: 7214491
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ?12 fatty acid desaturase able to catalyze the conversion of oleic acid to linoleic acid (LA; 18:2). Nucleic acid sequences encoding the desaturase, nucleic acid sequences that hybridize thereto, DNA constructs comprising the desaturase gene, and recombinant host microorganisms expressing increased levels of the desaturase are described. Methods of increasing production of specific ?-3 and/or ?-6 fatty acids are described by overexpression of the ?12 fatty acid desaturase or by disruption of the native gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Narendra S. Yadav, Hongxiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 7125672
    Abstract: The present invention relates to fatty acid desaturases and elongases able to catalyze the conversion of linoleic acid (LA) to ?-linolenic acid (GLA); ?-linoleic acid (ALA) to stearidonic acid (STA); GLA to dihomo-?-linoleic acid (DGLA); STA to eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA); DGLA to ETA; eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to docosapentaenoic acid (DPA); and arachidonic acid (ARA) to EPA. Nucleic acid sequences encoding codon-optimized desaturases and elongases, nucleic acid sequences which hybridize thereto, DNA constructs comprising the codon-optimized desaturase or elongases, and recombinant host microorganisms expressing increased levels of desaturase or elongase are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Stephen K. Picataggio, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 7052843
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting the post-translational modification of a target protein by a post translational modifier polypeptide molecule; a method for screening a candidate protein for E3 ligase activity; a method of screening a test compound for the ability to regulate the post-translational modification of a target protein by a post-translational modifier polypeptide molecule; and a method for the large-scale detection of candidate target proteins of post-translational modification by a modifier polypeptide molecule. The present invention also relates to a kit for determining whether a test protein is post-translationally modified by a modifier polypeptide molecule; a kit for screening a test compound for the ability to regulate the post-translational modification of a target protein by a post-translational modifier peptide molecule, and another kit for determining whether a test protein is post-translationally modified by a modifier polypeptide molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Dangsheng Li, James Yopp, Jr., Herbert H. Samuels