Patents by Inventor Andrew Mark Cigan

Andrew Mark Cigan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200087678
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are capable of modulating male fertility in a plant. Compositions comprise polynucleotides and polypeptides, and fragments and variants thereof, which modulate male fertility. Expression cassettes comprise a male-fertility polynucleotide, or fragment or variant thereof, operably linked to a promoter, wherein expression of the polynucleotide modulates the male fertility of a plant. Regulatory sequences drive expression in a male-tissue-preferred manner and may be targets to downregulate an operably-linked gene. Mutations that induce nuclear recessive male sterility in subsequent selfing and crossing of wheat lines containing the mutations may be tracked. Male-sterile plants may be maintained by crossing with a maintainer plant. Hybrids can be produced using the male-sterile plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: MARC C ALBERTSEN, UTE BAUMANN, ANDREW MARK CIGAN, MANJIT SINGH, ELISE TUCKER, RYAN WHITFORD
  • Patent number: 10519464
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are capable of modulating male fertility in a plant. Compositions comprise polynucleotides and polypeptides, and fragments and variants thereof, which modulate male fertility. Expression cassettes comprise a male-fertility polynucleotide, or fragment or variant thereof, operably linked to a promoter, wherein expression of the polynucleotide modulates the male fertility of a plant. Regulatory sequences drive expression in a male-tissue-preferred manner and may be targets to downregulate an operably-linked gene. Mutations that induce nuclear recessive male sterility in subsequent selfing and crossing of wheat lines containing the mutations may be tracked. Male-sterile plants may be maintained by crossing with a maintainer plant. Hybrids can be produced using the male-sterile plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Marc C Albertsen, Ute Baumann, Andrew Mark Cigan, Manjit Singh, Elise Tucker, Ryan Whitford
  • Publication number: 20190177722
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for genome modification of a nucleotide sequence located in or near a male fertility gene of MS9, MS22, MS26, or MS45 in the genome of a plant cell or plant to produce a male-sterile plant. In some examples, the methods and compositions employ a guide RNA/Cas endonuclease system for modifying or altering target sites located in or near a male fertility gene of MS9, MS22, MS26, or MS45 in the genome of a plant cell, plant or seed to produce a male-sterile plant. Also provided are compositions and methods employing a guide polynucleotide/Cas endonuclease system for genome modification a nucleotide sequence located in or near a male fertility gene of MS9, MS22, MS26, or MS45 in the genome of a plant cell to produce a male-sterile plant. Compositions and methods are also provided for restoring fertility to a Ms9, Ms22, Ms26, or Ms45 nucleotide sequence to a male-sterile Ms9, Ms22, Ms26, or Ms45 plant produced using the methods and compositions described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: ANDREW MARK CIGAN, TIM FOX, MANJIT SINGH
  • Publication number: 20190161742
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for novel Cas9 systems, including, but not limiting to, novel guide polynucleotide/Cas9 endonucleases complexes, single or dual guide RNAs, guide RNA elements, and Cas9 endonucleases. The novel Cas9 systems described herein are derived from a CRISPR-Cas locus that differs from type II CRISPR-Cas loci, in that the novel CRISPR-Cas locus described herein contains multiple CRISPR arrays flanking a tracrRNA encoding region and cas9 gene and does not contain a cas1 gene and a cas2 gene. The present disclosure also describes methods for genome modification of a target sequence in the genome of a cell, for gene editing, and for inserting a polynucleotide of interest into the genome of a cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: ANDREW MARK CIGAN, MATTHEW G KING, HAINING LIN, JOSHUA K YOUNG
  • Publication number: 20190136248
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for novel guide RNA/Cas endonuclease systems. Type II Cas9 endonuclease systems originating from Brevibacillus laterosporus, Lactobacillus reuteri MIc3, Lactobacillus rossiae DSM 15814, Pediococcus pentosaceus SL4, Lactobacillus nodensis JCM 14932, Sulfurospirillum sp. SCADC, Bifidobacterium thermophilum DSM 20210, Loktanella vestfoldensis, Sphingomonas sanxanigenens NX02, Epilithonimonas tenax DSM 16811, Sporocytophaga myxococcoides are described herein. The present disclosure also describes methods for genome modification of a target sequence in the genome of a cell, for gene editing, and for inserting a polynucleotide of interest into the genome of a cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: ANDREW MARK CIGAN, GIEDRIUS GASIUNAS, TAUTVYDAS KARVELIS, VIRGINIJUS SIKSNYS, JOSHUA K YOUNG
  • Publication number: 20190100762
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for novel Cas9 systems, including, but not limiting to, novel guide polynucleotide/Cas9 endonucleases complexes, single or dual guide RNAs, guide RNA elements, and Cas9 endonucleases. The present disclosure also describes methods for genome modification of a target sequence in the genome of a cell, for gene editing, and for inserting a polynucleotide of interest into the genome of a cell. Also provided are nucleic acid constructs and cells having an altered target site or altered polynucleotide of interest produced by the methods described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: ANDREW MARK CIGAN, MATTHEW G. KING, HAINING LIN, JOSHUA K. YOUNG
  • Publication number: 20190100745
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for genome modification of a target sequence in the genome of a cell. The methods and compositions employ a guide polynucleotide/Cas endonuclease system to provide an effective system for modifying or altering target sequences within the genome of a cell or organism. Also provided are Cas endonucleases comprising previously undefined nuclease domains and methods employing said Cas endonucleases for production of a guide polynucleotide/Cas endonuclease systems, for genome editing of a nucleotide sequence in the genome of a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell, and/or for inserting or deleting a polynucleotide of interest into or from the genome of an organism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: ANDREW MARK CIGAN, ZHENGLIN HOU, MATTHEW G. KING, HAINING LIN, JOSHUA K. YOUNG
  • Publication number: 20190062781
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for modulating male fertility in a plant are provided. Compositions comprise nucleotide sequences, and active fragments and variants thereof, which modulate male fertility. Further provided are expression cassettes comprising the male fertility polynucleotides, or active fragments or variants thereof, operably linked to a promoter, wherein expression of the polynucleotides modulates the male fertility of a plant. Various methods are provided wherein the level and/or activity of the sequences that influence male fertility is modulated in a plant or plant part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: MARC C. ALBERTSEN, ANDREW MARK CIGAN, HOWARD P. HERSHEY, MICHAEL LASSNER, YONGZHONG WU
  • Publication number: 20190040372
    Abstract: Compositions and methods comprising polynucleotides and polypeptides having meganuclease activity are provided. Further provided are nucleic acid constructs, yeast, plants, plant cells, explants, seeds and grain having the meganuclease sequences. Various methods of employing the meganuclease sequences are provided. Such methods include, for example, methods for producing a meganuclease with increased activity at a wide range of temperatures, methods for producing a yeast, plant, plant cell, explant or seed comprising a meganuclease with increased activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicants: E. I. DUPONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY, PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Ericka Bermudez, Andrew Mark Cigan, James J English, Saverio Carl Falco, Huirong Gao, Lu Liu, Zhan-Bin Liu, Azalea S Ong, Sergei Svitashev, Joshua K Young
  • Publication number: 20190040405
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for genome modification of a target sequence in the genome of a plant or plant cell. The methods and compositions employ a guide RNA/Cas endonuclease system to provide an effective system for modifying or altering target sites within the genome of a plant, plant cell or seed. Also provided are compositions and methods employing a guide polynucleotide/Cas endonuclease system for genome modification of a nucleotide sequence in the genome of a cell or organism, for gene editing, and/or for inserting or deleting a polynucleotide of interest into or from the genome of a cell or organism. Once a genomic target site is identified, a variety of methods can be employed to further modify the target sites such that they contain a variety of polynucleotides of interest. Breeding methods and methods for selecting plants utilizing a two component RNA guide and Cas endonuclease system are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicants: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY, PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: ANDREW MARK CIGAN, SAVERIO CARL FALCO, HUIRONG GAO, ZHONGSEN LI, ZHAN-BIN LIU, LESZEK ALEKSANDER LYZNIK, JINRUI SHI, SERGEI SVITASHEV, JOSHUA K. YOUNG
  • Publication number: 20190032070
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves the production of Waxy maize. Compositions and methods are provided for knocking out expression of the Waxy (Wx1) gene in maize by making double strand breaks at one or more target sites in an endogenous WX1 encoding sequence. Some methods employ one or more guide polynucleotides and a Cas endonuclease, wherein Cas endonuclease is guided by the one or more guide polynucleotides to recognize and introduce double strand breaks at specific target sites in and around the Wx1 gene. Also provided are compositions and methods for the production of Waxy maize plant cells, plant explants, seeds and grain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Pioneer HIi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Mark CIGAN, Mark Jacob GADLAGE, Huirong GAO, Robert B MEELEY, Joshua K YOUNG
  • Publication number: 20190010513
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for modulating male fertility in a plant are provided. Compositions comprise nucleotide sequences, and active fragments and variants thereof, which modulate male fertility. Further provided are expression cassettes comprising the male fertility polynucleotides, or active fragments or variants thereof, operably linked to a promoter, wherein expression of the polynucleotides modulates the male fertility of a plant. Various methods are provided wherein the level and/or activity of the sequences that influence male fertility is modulated in a plant or plant part. In certain embodiments, the plant is polyploid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: ANDREW MARK CIGAN
  • Publication number: 20180371479
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for genome modification of a target sequence in the genome of a plant or plant cell. The methods and compositions employ a guide RNA/Cas endonuclease system to provide an effective system for modifying or altering target sites within the genome of a plant, plant cell or seed. Also provided are compositions and methods employing a guide polynucleotide/Cas endonuclease system for genome modification of a nucleotide sequence in the genome of a cell or organism, for gene editing, and/or for inserting or deleting a polynucleotide of interest into or from the genome of a cell or organism. Once a genomic target site is identified, a variety of methods can be employed to further modify the target sites such that they contain a variety of polynucleotides of interest. Breeding methods and methods for selecting plants utilizing a two component RNA guide and Cas endonuclease system are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicants: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY, PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Mark Cigan, Saverio Carl Falco, Huirong Gao, Zhongsen Li, Zhan-Bin Liu, L. Aleksander Lyznik, Jinrui Shi, Sergei Svitashev, Joshua K. Young
  • Patent number: 10155962
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for modulating male fertility in a plant are provided. Compositions comprise nucleotide sequences, and active fragments and variants thereof, which modulate male fertility. Further provided are expression cassettes comprising the male fertility polynucleotides, or active fragments or variants thereof, operably linked to a promoter, wherein expression of the polynucleotides modulates the male fertility of a plant. Various methods are provided wherein the level and/or activity of the sequences that influence male fertility is modulated in a plant or plant part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Marc C. Albertsen, Andrew Mark Cigan, Howard P. Hershey, Michael Lassner, Yongzhong Wu
  • Patent number: 10150956
    Abstract: Compositions and methods comprising polynucleotides and polypeptides having meganuclease activity are provided. Further provided are nucleic acid constructs, yeast, plants, plant cells, explants, seeds and grain having the meganuclease sequences. Various methods of employing the meganuclease sequences are provided. Such methods include, for example, methods for producing a meganuclease with increased activity at a wide range of temperatures, methods for producing a yeast, plant, plant cell, explant or seed comprising a meganuclease with increased activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignees: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY, PIONEER HI-BRED IINTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Ericka Bermudez, Andrew Mark Cigan, James J English, Saverio Carl Falco, Huirong Gao, Lu Liu, Zhan-Bin Liu, Azalea S Ong, Sergei Svitashev, Joshua K Young
  • Publication number: 20180346895
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for novel guide RNA/Cas endonuclease systems. Type II Cas9 endonuclease systems originating from Brevibacillus laterosporus, Lactobacillus reuteri Mlc3, Lactobacillus rossiae DSM 15814, Pediococcus pentosaceus SL4, Lactobacillus nodensis JCM 14932, Sulfurospirillum sp. SCADC, Bifidobacterium thermophilum DSM 20210, Loktanella vestfoldensis, Sphingomonas sanxanigenens NX02, Epilithonimonas tenax DSM 16811, Sporocytophaga myxococcoides are described herein. The present disclosure also describes methods for genome modification of a target sequence in the genome of a cell, for gene editing, and for inserting a polynucleotide of interest into the genome of a cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: ANDREW MARK CIGAN, GIEDRIUS GASIUNAS, TAUTVYDAS KARVELIS, VIRGINIJUS SIKSNYS, JOSHUA K. YOUNG
  • Publication number: 20180327785
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for restoring function to a non-functional gene product in the genome of a cell. The methods and compositions employ a guide polynucleotide/Cas endonuclease system to restore function to a non-functional gene product and to provide an effective system for modifying or altering target sites within the genome of a plant, plant cell or seed. The present disclosure also describes methods for modifying a nucleotide sequence in the genome of a cell using a restored functional selectable marker, as well as methods for editing a nucleotide sequence in the genome a cell without introducing a polynucleotide modification template into said cell. Compositions and methods are also provided for DNA free delivery of Cas endonucleases, sgRNAs and guide RNA/Cas complexes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: ANDREW MARK CIGAN, SERGEI SVITASHEV
  • Patent number: 10113181
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for modulating male fertility in a plant are provided. Compositions comprise nucleotide sequences, and active fragments and variants thereof, which modulate male fertility. Further provided are expression cassettes comprising the male fertility polynucleotides, or active fragments or variants thereof, operably linked to a promoter, wherein expression of the polynucleotides modulates the male fertility of a plant. Various methods are provided wherein the level and/or activity of the sequences that influence male fertility is modulated in a plant or plant part. In certain embodiments, the plant is polyploid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew Mark Cigan
  • Publication number: 20180305706
    Abstract: Methods for producing in a plant a complex transgenic trait locus comprising at least two altered target sequences in a genomic region of interest are disclosed. The methods involve the use of two or more double-strand-break-inducing agents, each of which can cause a double-strand break in a target sequence in the genomic region of interest which results in an alteration in the target sequence. Also disclosed are complex transgenic trait loci in plants. A complex transgenic trait locus comprises at least two altered target sequences that are genetically linked to a polynucleotide of interest. Plants, plant cells, plant parts, and seeds comprising one or more complex transgenic trait loci are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicants: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC., E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew Mark Cigan, Saverio Carl Falco, Huirong Gao, Michael Lassner, Derek Jantz, Zhongsen Li, Zhan-Bin Liu, Sergei Svitashev, James Jefferson Smith
  • Publication number: 20180298396
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the targeted integration of a polynucleotide sequence of interest into the genome of a plant or plant cell. The methods and compositions employ recognition sites for endonucleases and endonucleases in combination with site-specific recombination sites/recombinases to provide an effective system for establishing target sites within the genome of a plant, plant cell or seed. Once such target sites are established, a variety of methods can be employed to further modify the target sites such that they contain a variety of polynucleotides of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: ANDREW MARK CIGAN, SAVERIO CARL FALCO, HUIRONG GAO, MICHAEL W. LASSNER, ZHONGSEN LI, ZHAN-BIN LIU, LESZEK A. LYZNIK, DAVID J. PETERSON, CHRISTOPHER JAY SCELONGE