Patents by Inventor David C. Cerf

David C. Cerf 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).

  • Patent number: 10655143
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for controlling pests are provided. The methods involve transforming organisms with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal protein. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences are useful for preparing plants and microorganisms that possess insecticidal activity. Thus, transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions are insecticidal nucleic acids and proteins of bacterial species. The sequences find use in the construction of expression vectors for subsequent transformation into organisms of interest, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The insecticidal proteins find use in controlling, inhibiting growth or killing lepidopteran, coleopteran, dipteran, fungal, hemipteran, and nematode pest populations and for producing compositions with insecticidal activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: David C. Cerf, James J. English, Carol A. Hendrick, Lu Liu, Jarred K. Oral, Phillip A. Patten, Barbara A. Rosen, Ute Schellenberger, Ingrid Udranszky, Jun-Zhi Wei, Genhai Zhu
  • Publication number: 20170327546
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for controlling pests are provided. The methods involve transforming organisms with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal protein. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences are useful for preparing plants and microorganisms that possess insecticidal activity. Thus, transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions are insecticidal nucleic acids and proteins of bacterial species. The sequences find use in the construction of expression vectors for subsequent transformation into organisms of interest, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The insecticidal proteins find use in controlling, inhibiting growth or killing lepidopteran, coleopteran, dipteran, fungal, hemipteran, and nematode pest populations and for producing compositions with insecticidal activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: DAVID C. CERF, JAMES J. ENGLISH, CAROL A. HENDRICK, LU LIU, JARRED K. ORAL, PHILLIP A. PATTEN, BARBARA A. ROSEN, UTE SCHELLENBERGER, INGRID UDRANSZKY, JUN-ZHI WEI, GENHAI ZHU
  • Patent number: 9688730
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for controlling pests are provided. The methods involve transforming organisms with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal protein. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences are useful for preparing plants and microorganisms that possess insecticidal activity. Thus, transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions are insecticidal nucleic acids and proteins of bacterial species. The sequences find use in the construction of expression vectors for subsequent transformation into organisms of interest, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The insecticidal proteins find use in controlling, inhibiting growth or killing lepidopteran, coleopteran, dipteran, fungal, hemipteran, and nematode pest populations and for producing compositions with insecticidal activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: David C. Cerf, James J. English, Carol A. Hendrick, Lu Liu, Jarred K. Oral, Phillip A. Patten, Barbara A. Rosen, Ute Schellenberger, Ingrid A. Udranszky, Jun-Zhi Wei, Genhai Zhu
  • Patent number: 9273321
    Abstract: The present invention provides assays and methods for efficiently testing a polynucleotide of interest for a phenotype in a root. In some embodiments, the assays and methods include regenerating green tissue that is transgenic for at least one polynucleotide of interest into one or more transgenic plantlets that have at least one transgenic root. Further provided are methods of making a root assay by contacting green tissue with a first rooting medium to produce a plantlet and a plurality of roots. Additionally provided are methods of assaying for insecticidal activity on a live root. Accordingly provided herein is a substantially contamination-free, root bioassay. Further provided are methods of identifying a promoter having activity in a root.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: PIONEER HI BRED INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Myeong-Je Cho, David C. Cerf, Deping Xu, Zuo-Yu Zhao
  • Publication number: 20150037807
    Abstract: The present invention provides assays and methods for efficiently testing a polynucleotide of interest for a phenotype in a root. In some embodiments, the assays and methods include regenerating green tissue that is transgenic for at least one polynucleotide of interest into one or more transgenic plantlets that have at least one transgenic root. Further provided are methods of making a root assay by contacting green tissue with a first rooting medium to produce a plantlet and a plurality of roots. Additionally provided are methods of assaying for insecticidal activity on a live root. Accordingly provided herein is a substantially contamination-free, root bioassay. Further provided are methods of identifying a promoter having activity in a root.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Myeong-Je Cho, David C. Cerf, Deping Xu, Zuo-Yu Zhao
  • Patent number: 8872001
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided which employ a silencing element that, when ingested by a pest, such as a Pentatomidae plant pest or a N. viridula, Acrosternum hilare, Piezodorus guildini, and/or Halymorpha halys plant pest, decrease the expression of a target sequence in the pest. In specific embodiments, the decrease in expression of the target sequence controls the pest and thereby the methods and compositions are capable of limiting damage to a plant. The present invention provides various target polynucleotides set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-292 or 302-304 or active variants and fragments thereof, wherein a decrease in expression of one or more the sequences in the target pest controls the pest (i.e., has insecticidal activity). Further provided are silencing elements which when ingested by the pest decrease the level of the target polypeptide and thereby control the pest. In specific embodiment, the pest is Pentatomidae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Pioneer Hi Bred International Inc
    Inventors: Karen E. Broglie, David C. Cerf, Rafael Herrmann, Albert L. Lu, Brian McGonigle, James K. Presnail
  • Publication number: 20140007292
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for controlling pests are provided. The methods involve transforming organisms with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal protein. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences are useful for preparing plants and microorganisms that possess insecticidal activity. Thus, transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions are insecticidal nucleic acids and proteins of bacterial species. The sequences find use in the construction of expression vectors for subsequent transformation into organisms of interest, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The insecticidal proteins find use in controlling, inhibiting growth or killing lepidopteran, coleopteran, dipteran, fungal, hemipteran, and nematode pest populations and for producing compositions with insecticidal activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Pioneer Hi Bred International Inc
    Inventors: David C. Cerf, James J. English, Carol A. Hendrick, Lu Liu, Jarred K. Oral, Phillip A. Patten, Barbara A. Rosen, Ute Schellenberger, Ingrid A. Udranszky, Jun-Zhi Wei, Genhai Zhu
  • Publication number: 20110301223
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided which employ a silencing element that, when ingested by a pest, such as a Pentatomidae plant pest or a N. viridula, Acrosternum hilare, Piezodorus guildini, and/or Halymorpha halys plant pest, decrease the expression of a target sequence in the pest. In specific embodiments, the decrease in expression of the target sequence controls the pest and thereby the methods and compositions are capable of limiting damage to a plant. The present invention provides various target polynucleotides set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1-292 or 302-304 or active variants and fragments thereof, wherein a decrease in expression of one or more the sequences in the target pest controls the pest (i.e., has insecticidal activity). Further provided are silencing elements which when ingested by the pest decrease the level of the target polypeptide and thereby control the pest. In specific embodiment, the pest is Pentatomidae.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicants: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen E. Broglie, David C. Cerf, Rafael Herrmann, Albert L. Lu, Brian McGonigle, James K. Presnail
  • Publication number: 20110165561
    Abstract: The present invention provides assays and methods for efficiently testing a polynucleotide of interest for a phenotype in a root. In some embodiments, the assays and methods include regenerating green tissue that is transgenic for at least one polynucleotide of interest into one or more transgenic plantlets that have at least one transgenic root. Further provided are methods of making a root assay by contacting green tissue with a first rooting medium to produce a plantlet and a plurality of roots. Additionally provided are methods of assaying for insecticidal activity on a live root. Accordingly provided herein is a substantially contamination-free, root bioassay. Further provided are methods of identifying a promoter having activity in a root.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: Myeong-Je Cho, David C. Cerf, Deping Xu, Zuo-Yu Zhao