Patents by Inventor Donald J. Merlo
Donald J. Merlo 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).
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Publication number: 20110203017Abstract: The subject invention provides novel plants that are not only resistant to 2,4-D, but also to pyridyloxyacetate herbicides. Heretofore, there was no expectation or suggestion that a plant with both of these advantageous properties could be produced by the introduction of a single gene. The subject invention also includes plants that produce one or more enzymes of the subject invention “stacked” together with one or more other herbicide resistance genes. The subject invention enables novel combinations of herbicides to be used in new ways. Furthermore, the subject invention provides novel methods of preventing the development of, and controlling, strains of weeds that are resistant to one or more herbicides such as glyphosate. The preferred enzyme and gene for use according to the subject invention are referred to herein as AAD-12 (AryloxyAlkanoate Dioxygenase). This highly novel discovery is the basis of significant herbicide tolerant crop trait and selectable marker opportunities.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2006Publication date: August 18, 2011Applicant: DOW AGROSCIENCES, LLCInventors: Terry R. Wright, Justin M. Lira, Terence Anthony Walsh, Donald J. Merlo, Jayakumar P. Samuel, Gaofeng Lin
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Patent number: 7982006Abstract: This invention pertains in part to the development of a vaccine for poultry against necrotic enteritis (NE). The vaccine utilizes a protective antigen that is a mutated, full-length, non-toxic Clostridium perfringens (Cp) ?-toxin protein (Mcpa). Utility of this vaccine was demonstrated by reduction of lesion severity in NE challenge trails, for example. Also disclosed herein are novel approaches for producing this vaccine in significant quantities. One exemplified approach involves producing NE vaccine (mutated alpha toxin) in bacterial expression systems, preferably utilizing the Pseudomonas fluorescens system, for commercial use in controlling NE in the poultry industry. The subject vaccines can be administered preferably to chickens in several different ways. A novel, Type VI alpha toxin from chicken isolates of Cp is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2010Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Dow AgroSciences LLCInventors: William M. Ainley, Janna Armstrong, Krishna Madduri, Donald J. Merlo, Kelley A. Smith, Mark A. Thompson, Steven R. Webb, Liu Y. Shen
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Publication number: 20110124503Abstract: The subject invention provides novel plants that are not only resistant to 2,4-D and other phenoxy auxin herbicides, but also to aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicides. Heretofore, there was no expectation or suggestion that a plant with both of these advantageous properties could be produced by the introduction of a single gene. The subject invention also includes plants that produce one or more enzymes of the subject invention alone or “stacked” together with another herbicide resistance gene, preferably a glyphosate resistance gene, so as to provide broader and more robust weed control, increased treatment flexibility, and improved herbicide resistance management options. More specifically, preferred enzymes and genes for use according to the subject invention are referred to herein as AAD (aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase) genes and proteins. No ?-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase enzyme has previously been reported to have the ability to degrade herbicides of different chemical classes and modes of action.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2010Publication date: May 26, 2011Applicant: Dow AgroSciences LLCInventors: Terry R. Wright, Justin M. Lira, Donald J. Merlo, Nicole L. Arnold
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Publication number: 20110107455Abstract: The subject invention relates to a novel gene referred to herein as DSM-2. This gene was identified in Sterptomyces coelicolor A3. The DSM-2 protein is distantly related to PAT and BAR. The subject invention also provides plant-optimized genes encoding DSM-2 proteins, DSM-2 can be used as a transgenic trait to impart tolerance in plants and plant cells to the herbicides glufosinate and bialaphos. One preferred use of the subject genes are as selectable markers. The use of this gene as a selectable marker in a bacterial system can increase efficiency for plant transformations. Use of DSM-2 as the sole selection marker eliminates the need for an additional medicinal antibiotic marker (such as ampicillin resistance) during cloning. Various other uses are also possible according to the subject invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2007Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: Dow AgroSciences LLCInventors: Justin M. Lira, Terry R. Wright, Sean M. Russell, Donald J. Merlo, Steven Robert Webb, Nicole L. Arnold, Andrew E. Robinson, Kelley A. Smith
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Patent number: 7902334Abstract: The subject invention provides unique biological alternatives for pest control. More specifically, the present invention relates to novel pesticidal proteins, novel sources of pesticidal proteins, polynucleotides that encode such toxins, and to methods of using these toxins to control insects and other plant pests. The subject invention relates to the surprising discovery that Paenibacillus species, and proteins therefrom, have toxicity to lepidopterans. There have been no known reports of a Paenibacillus species, strain, or protein having toxicity to lepidopterans. This is also the first known example of a Paenibacillus Cry protein that is toxic to lepidopterans. Furthermore, this is the first known report of a Paenibacillus having toxin complex (TC)-like proteins. The DAS1529 isolate disclosed here is also the first known example of a natural bacterium that produces both a Cry toxin and TC proteins. The subject invention also relates to new classes of Cry and TC proteins that are pesticidally active.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2007Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Dow AgroSciences LLCInventors: Scott B. Bintrim, Scott A. Bevan, Baolong Zhu, Donald J. Merlo
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Patent number: 7888069Abstract: The subject application provides various compositions of matter directed to West Nile virus (WNV) polypeptides and fragments thereof and polynucleotides, vectors and transformed host cells that encode, direct the expression of, or produce WNV polypeptides as set forth herein. Methods of using the polypeptides and polynucleotides for the production of immune responses in individuals or detecting the presence of WNV specific or neutralizing antibodies are also provided herein.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2007Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignees: Dow Agrosciences LLC, The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of ArgricultureInventors: Kelley A. Smith, Steven R. Webb, Steven L. Evans, Charles A. Mihaliak, Donald J. Merlo, Geoffrey J. Letchworth
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Publication number: 20100261884Abstract: This invention pertains in part to the development of a vaccine for poultry against necrotic enteritis (NE). The vaccine utilizes a protective antigen that is a mutated, full-length, non-toxic Clostridium perfringens (Cp) ?-toxin protein (Mcpa). Utility of this vaccine was demonstrated by reduction of lesion severity in NE challenge trails, for example. Also disclosed herein are novel approaches for producing this vaccine in significant quantities. One exemplified approach involves producing NE vaccine (mutated alpha toxin) in bacterial expression systems, preferably utilizing the Pseudomonas fluorescens system, for commercial use in controlling NE in the poultry industry. The subject vaccines can be administered preferably to chickens in several different ways. A novel, Type VI alpha toxin from chicken isolates of Cp is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2010Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: Dow AgroSciences LLCInventors: William M. Ainley, Janna Armstrong, Krishna Madduri, Donald J. Merlo, Kelley A. Smith, Mark A. Thompson, Steven R. Webb, Liu Y. Shen
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Publication number: 20100251432Abstract: The subject invention provides novel plants that are not only resistant to 2,4-D, but also to a pyridyloxyacetate herbicide. The subject invention also includes plants that produce one or more enzymes of the subject invention “stacked” together with one or more other herbicide resistance genes. The subject invention enables novel combinations of herbicides to be used in new ways. Furthermore, the subject invention provides novel methods of preventing the development of, and controlling, strains of weeds that are resistant to one or more herbicides such as glyphosate. The preferred enzyme and gene for use according to the subject invention are referred to herein as AAD-13 (AryloxyAlkanoate Dioxygenase). This highly novel discovery is the basis of significant herbicide tolerant crop trait and selectable marker opportunities.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2008Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: Dow AgroSciences LLCInventors: Justin M. Lira, Erika Megan Snodderley, Andrew E. Robinson, Terry R. Wright, Donald J. Merlo
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Patent number: 7745175Abstract: This invention pertains in part to the development of a vaccine for poultry against necrotic enteritis (NE). The vaccine utilizes a protective antigen that is a mutated, full-length, non-toxic Clostridium perfringens (Cp) ?-toxin protein (Mcpa). Utility of this vaccine was demonstrated by reduction of lesion severity in NE challenge trails, for example. Also disclosed herein are novel approaches for producing this vaccine in significant quantities. One exemplified approach involves producing NE vaccine (mutated alpha toxin) in bacterial expression systems, preferably utilizing the Pseudomonas fluorescens system, for commercial use in controlling NE in the poultry industry. The subject vaccines can be administered preferably to chickens in several different ways. A novel, Type VI alpha toxin from chicken isolates of Cp is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2007Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Dow AgroSciences LLCInventors: William M. Ainley, Janna Armstrong, Krishna Madduri, Donald J. Merlo, Kelley A. Smith, Mark A. Thompson, Steven R. Webb, Liu Y. Shen
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Publication number: 20090221501Abstract: The subject invention relates to the surprising discovery that toxin complex (TC) proteins, obtainable from Xenorhabdus, Photorhabdus, and Paenibacillus, can be used interchangeably with each other. In particularly preferred embodiments of the subject invention, the toxicity of a “stand-alone” TC protein (from Photorhabdus, Xenorhabdus, or Paenibacillus, for example) is enhanced by one or more TC protein “potentiators” derived from a source organism of a different genus from which the toxin was derived. As one skilled in the art will recognize with the benefit of this disclosure, this has broad implications and expands the range of utility that individual types of TC proteins will now be recognized to have. Among the most important advantages is that one skilled in the art will now be able to use a single set of potentiators to enhance the activity of a stand-alone Xenorhabdus protein toxin as well as a stand-alone Photorhabdus protein toxin.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2009Publication date: September 3, 2009Applicant: Dow AgroSciences LLCInventors: Timothy D. Hey, Amanda D. Schleper, Scott A. Bevan, Scott B. Bintrim, Jon C. Mitchell, Ze Sheng Li, Weiting Ni, Baolong Zhu, Donald J. Merlo, Patricia C. Apel-Birkhold, Thomas Meade
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Patent number: 7569748Abstract: Proteins from the genus Photorhabdus are toxic to insects upon exposure. Photorhabdus luminescens (formerly Xenorhabdus luminescens) have been found in mammalian clinical samples and as a bacterial symbiont of entomopathogenic nematodes of genus Heterohabditis. These protein toxins can be applied to, or genetically engineered into, insect larvae food and plants for insect control.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2002Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: Jerald C. Ensign, David J. Bowen, James Petell, Raymond Fatig, Sue Schoonover, Richard H. Ffrench-Constant, Thomas A. Rocheleau, Michael B. Blackburn, Timothy D. Hey, Donald J. Merlo, Gregory L Orr, Jean L. Roberts, James A. Strickland, Lining Guo, Todd A. Ciche, Kitisri Sukhapinda
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Publication number: 20090093366Abstract: The subject invention provides novel plants that are not only resistant to 2,4-D and other phenoxy auxin herbicides, but also to aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicides. Heretofore, there was no expectation or suggestion that a plant with both of these advantageous properties could be produced by the introduction of a single gene. The subject invention also includes plants that produce one or more enzymes of the subject invention alone or “stacked” together with another herbicide resistance gene, preferably a glyphosate resistance gene, so as to provide broader and more robust weed control, increased treatment flexibility, and improved herbicide resistance management options. More specifically, preferred enzymes and genes for use according to the subject invention are referred to herein as AAD (aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase) genes and proteins. No ?-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase enzyme has previously been reported to have the ability to degrade herbicides of different chemical classes and modes of action.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2005Publication date: April 9, 2009Applicant: Dow AgroSciences LLCInventors: Terry R. Wright, Justin M. Lira, Donald J. Merlo, Nicole L. Arnold
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Publication number: 20090069229Abstract: The subject application provides various compositions of matter directed to West Nile virus (WNV) polypeptides and fragments thereof and polynucleotides, vectors and transformed host cells that encode, direct the expression of, or produce WNV polypeptides as set forth herein. Methods of using the polypeptides and polynucleotides for the production of immune responses in individuals or detecting the presence of WNV specific or neutralizing antibodies are also provided herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2007Publication date: March 12, 2009Inventors: Kelley A. Smith, Steven R. Webb, Steven L. Evans, Charles A. Mihaliak, Donald J. Merlo, Geoffrey Letchworth
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Patent number: 7491698Abstract: The subject invention relates to the surprising discovery that toxin complex (TC) proteins, obtainable from Xenorhabdus, Photorhabdus, and Paenibacillus, can be used interchangeably with each other. In particularly preferred embodiments of the subject invention, the toxicity of a “stand-alone” TC protein (from Photorhabdus, Xenorhabdus, or Paenibacillus, for example) is enhanced by one or more TC protein “potentiators” derived from a source organism of a different genus from which the toxin was derived. As one skilled in the art will recognize with the benefit of this disclosure, this has broad implications and expands the range of utility that individual types of TC proteins will now be recognized to have. Among the most important advantages is that one skilled in the art will now be able to use a single set of potentiators to enhance the activity of a stand-alone Xenorhabdus protein toxin as well as a stand-alone Photorhabdus protein toxin.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2004Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Dow AgroSciences LLCInventors: Timothy D. Hey, Amanda D. Schleper, Scott A. Bevan, Scott B. Bintrim, Jon C. Mitchell, Ze Sheng Li, Weiting Ni, Baolong Zhu, Donald J. Merlo, Patricia C. Apel-Birkhold, Thomas Meade
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Patent number: 7129212Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are novel Bacillus thuringiensis isolates, pesticidal toxins, and genes. The subject invention also provides novel methods of controlling diamond back moths.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2003Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: Mycogen CorporationInventors: Kenneth E. Narva, Donald J. Merlo
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Patent number: 7015001Abstract: Spinosyn biosynthetic genes from Saccharopolyspora spinosa, spinosyn producing microorganisms transformed with the biosynthetic genes, methods using the biosynthetic genes to increase production of spinosyn insecticidal macrolides, and methods using the genes or fragments thereof to change the products produced by spinosyn-producing microorganisms are provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2002Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Dow AgroSciences LLCInventors: Richard H. Baltz, M. Christine Broughton, Kathryn P. Crawford, Krishnamurthy Madduri, Donald J. Merlo, Patti J. Treadway, Jan R. Turner, Clive Waldron
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Publication number: 20040208907Abstract: The subject invention relates to the surprising discovery that toxin complex (TC) proteins, obtainable from Xenorhabdus, Photorhabdus, and Paenibacillus, can be used interchangeably with each other. In particularly preferred embodiments of the subject invention, the toxicity of a “stand-alone” TC protein (from Photorhabdus, Xenorhabdus, or Paenibacillus, for example) is enhanced by one or more TC protein “potentiators” derived from a source organism of a different genus from which the toxin was derived. As one skilled in the art will recognize with the benefit of this disclosure, this has broad implications and expands the range of utility that individual types of TC proteins will now be recognized to have. Among the most important advantages is that one skilled in the art will now be able to use a single set of potentiators to enhance the activity of a stand-alone Xenorhabdus protein toxin as well as a stand-alone Photorhabdus protein toxin.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2004Publication date: October 21, 2004Applicant: Dow AgroSciences, LLCInventors: Timothy D. Hey, Amanda D. Schleper, Scott A. Bevan, Scott B. Bintrim, Jon C. Mitchell, Ze Sheng Li, Weiting Ni, Baolong Zhu, Donald J. Merlo, Patricia C. Apel-Birkhold, Thomas Meade
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Publication number: 20040128716Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are novel Bacillus thuringiensis isolates, pesticidal toxins, and genes. The subject invention also provides novel methods of controlling diamond back moths.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2003Publication date: July 1, 2004Applicant: Mycogen CorporationInventors: Kenneth E. Narva, Donald J. Merlo
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Publication number: 20040110184Abstract: The subject invention provides unique biological alternatives for pest control. More specifically, the present invention relates to novel pesticidal proteins, novel sources of pesticidal proteins, polynucleotides that encode such toxins, and to methods of using these toxins to control insects and other plant pests. The subject invention relates to the surprising discovery that Paenibacillus species, and proteins therefrom, have toxicity to lepidopterans. There have been no known reports of a Paenibacillus species, strain, or protein having toxicity to lepidopterans. This is also the first known example of a Paenibacillus Cry protein that is toxic to lepidopterans. Furthermore, this is the first known report of Paenibacillus having toxin complex (TC)-like proteins. The DAS1529 isolate disclosed here is also the first known example of a natural bacterium that produces both a Cry toxin and TC proteins. The subject invention also relates to new classes of Cry and TC proteins that are pesticidally active.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2003Publication date: June 10, 2004Applicant: Dow AgroSciences LLCInventors: Scott B. Bintrim, Scott A. Bevan, Baolong Zhu, Donald J. Merlo
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Patent number: 6717035Abstract: Novel polynucleotide sequences that encode insect toxins TcdA and TcbA have base compositions that differ substantially from the native genes, making them more similar to plant genes. The new sequences are suitable for use for high expression in both monocots and dicots. Transgenic plants with a genome comprising the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO:4 are insect resistant.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2003Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: Dow AgroSciences LLCInventors: James K. Petell, Donald J. Merlo, Rod A. Herman, Jean L. Roberts, Lining Guo, Barry W. Schafer, Kitisri Sukhapinda, Ann Owens Merlo