Patents by Inventor Erik J. Sontheimer

Erik J. Sontheimer 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: 20240067982
    Abstract: Disclosed are components and methods for RNA-directed DNA cleavage and gene editing. The components include and the methods utilize a Cas9 protein from Neisseria and one or more RNA molecules in order to direct the Cas9 protein to bind to and optionally cleave or nick a target sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Erik J. Sontheimer, Yan Zhang, Alfonzo Mondragon, Rakhi Rajan, James Thomson, Zhonggang Hou
  • Publication number: 20230132569
    Abstract: Many strains of the human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis carry a compact Cas9 (NmeCas9) that can serve to limit genetic exchange via natural transformation. Cas9 orthologues (including NmeCas9) have recently been adopted for RNA-guided genome engineering and DNA binding, adding to the need to define better their activities and properties. The present invention examines DNA cleavage activities and substrate requirements of NmeCas9, including a set of unusually complex PAM recognition patterns. Unexpectedly, NmeCas9 is found able to cleave single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) targets in a manner that is RNA-guided but both PAM- and tracrRNA-independent. Beyond the requirement for guide-target pairing, this activity has no apparent sequence requirements, and the cleavage sites are measured from the 5? end of the DNA substrate's RNA-paired region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Erik J. Sontheimer, Yan Zhang
  • Patent number: 11530394
    Abstract: The present invention is related to the field of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing platforms. In particular, the present invention has identified Type II-C Cas9 anti-CRISPR (Acr) inhibitors that control Cas9 gene editing activity. Co-administration of such Acr inhibitors may provide an advantageous adjunct in permitting safe and practical biological therapeutics through spatial or temporal control of Cas9 activity; controlling Cas9-based gene drives in wild populations to reduce the ecological consequences of such forced inheritance schemes; and contributing to general research into various biotechnological, agricultural, and medical applications of gene editing technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
    Inventors: Erik J. Sontheimer, Alan Davidson, Karen Maxwell, April Pawluk, Yan Zhang, Jooyoung Lee, Nadia Amrani
  • Publication number: 20220389447
    Abstract: The present invention is related to compositions and methods for gene therapy. Several approaches described herein utilize the Neisseria meningitidis Cas9 system that provides a hyperaccurate CRISPR gene editing platform. Furthermore, the invention incorporates full length and truncated single guide RNA sequences that permit a complete sgRNA-Nme1Cas9 vector to be inserted into an adeno-associated viral plasmid that is compatible for in vivo administration. Furthermore, Type II-C Cas9 orthologs have been identified that target protospacer adjacent motif sequences limited to between one-four required nucleotides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Erik J. Sontheimer, Raed Ibraheim, Wen Xue, Aamir Mir, Alireza Edraki, Ildar Gainetdinov
  • Patent number: 11453864
    Abstract: Many strains of the human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis carry a compact Cas9 (NmeCas9) that can serve to limit genetic exchange via natural transformation. Cas9 orthologues (including NmeCas9) have recently been adopted for RNA-guided genome engineering and DNA binding, adding to the need to define better their activities and properties. The present invention examines DNA cleavage activities and substrate requirements of NmeCas9, including a set of unusually complex PAM recognition patterns. Unexpectedly, NmeCas9 is found able to cleave single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) targets in a manner that is RNA-guided but both PAM- and tracrRNA-independent. Beyond the requirement for guide-target pairing, this activity has no apparent sequence requirements, and the cleavage sites are measured from the 5? end of the DNA substrate's RNA-paired region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
    Inventors: Erik J. Sontheimer, Yan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20220290113
    Abstract: The present invention is related to the field of gene editing. In particular, the gene editing is directed toward single nucleotide base editing. For example, such single nucleotide base editing results in a conversion of a OG base pair to a T*A base pair. The high accuracy and precision of the presently disclosed single nucleotide base gene editor is accomplished by an NmeCas9 nuclease that is fused to a nucleotide deaminase protein. The compact nature of the NmeCas9 coupled with a larger number of compatible protospacer adjacent motifs provide the Cas9 fusion constructs contemplated herein to have a gene editing window that can edit sites that are not targetable by other conventional SpyCas9 base editor platforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Erik J. Sontheimer, Xin Gao, Aamir Mir, Alireza Edraki, Scot A. Wolfe, Pengpeng Liu
  • Publication number: 20210395710
    Abstract: The present invention provides a Cas9 platform to facilitate single-site nuclease gene editing precision within a human genome. For example, a Cas9 nuclease/DNA-targeting unit (Cas9-DTU) fusion protein precisely delivers a Cas9/sgRNA complex to a specific target site within the genome for subsequent sgRNA-dependent cleavage of an adjacent target sequence. Alternatively, attenuating Cas9 binding using mutations to the a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) recognition domain makes Cas9 target site recognition dependent on the associated DTU, all while retaining Cas9's sgRNA-mediated DNA cleavage fidelity. Cas9-DTU fusion proteins have improved target site binding precision, greater nuclease activity, and a broader sequence targeting range than standard Cas9 systems. Existing Cas9 or sgRNA variants (e.g., truncated sgRNAs (tru-gRNAs), nickases and FokI fusions) are compatible with these improvements to further reduce off-target cleavage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Scot A Wolfe, Mehmet Fatih Bolukbasi, Ankit Gupta, Erik J. Sontheimer, Nadia Amrani
  • Patent number: 11028380
    Abstract: The present invention provides a Cas9 platform to facilitate single-site nuclease gene editing precision within a human genome. For example, a Cas9 nuclease/DNA-targeting unit (Cas9-DTU) fusion protein precisely delivers a Cas9/sgRNA complex to a specific target site within the genome for subsequent sgRNA-dependent cleavage of an adjacent target sequence. Alternatively, attenuating Cas9 binding using mutations to the a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) recognition domain makes Cas9 target site recognition dependent on the associated DTU, all while retaining Cas9's sgRNA-mediated DNA cleavage fidelity. Cas9-DTU fusion proteins have improved target site binding precision, greater nuclease activity, and a broader sequence targeting range than standard Cas9 systems. Existing Cas9 or sgRNA variants (e.g., truncated sgRNAs (tru-gRNAs), nickases and FokI fusions) are compatible with these improvements to further reduce off-target cleavage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Scot Andrew Wolfe, Mehmet Fatih Bolukbasi, Ankit Gupta, Erik J Sontheimer, Nadia Amrani
  • Publication number: 20190382741
    Abstract: The present invention is related to the field of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing platforms. In particular, the present invention has identified Type II-C Cas9 anti-CRISPR (Acr) inhibitors that control Cas9 gene editing activity. Co-administration of such Acr inhibitors may provide an advantageous adjunct in permitting safe and practical biological therapeutics through spatial or temporal control of Cas9 activity; controlling Cas9-based gene drives in wild populations to reduce the ecological consequences of such forced inheritance schemes; and contributing to general research into various biotechnological, agricultural, and medical applications of gene editing technologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Erik J. Sontheimer, Alan Davidson, Karen Maxwell
  • Publication number: 20190338308
    Abstract: The present invention is related to compositions and methods for gene therapy. Several approaches described herein utilize the Neisseria meningitidis Cas9 system that provides a hyperaccurate CRISPR gene editing platform. Furthermore, the invention incorporates full length and truncated single guide RNA sequences that permit a complete sgRNA-Nme1Cas9 vector to be inserted into an adeno-associated viral plasmid that is compatible for in vivo administration. Furthermore, Type II-C Cas9 orthologs have been identified that target protospacer adjacent motif sequences limited to between one-four required nucleotides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Erik J. Sontheimer, Raed Ibraheim, Wen Xue, Aamir Mir, Alireza Edraki, Ildar Gainetdinov
  • Publication number: 20190276810
    Abstract: The present invention provides a Cas9 platform to facilitate single-site nuclease gene editing precision within a human genome. For example, a Cas9 nuclease/DNA-targeting unit (Cas9-DTU) fusion protein precisely delivers a Cas9/sgRNA complex to a specific target site within the genome for subsequent sgRNA-dependent cleavage of an adjacent target sequence. Alternatively, attenuating Cas9 binding using mutations to the a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) recognition domain makes Cas9 target site recognition dependent on the associated DTU, all while retaining Cas9's sgRNA-mediated DNA cleavage fidelity. Cas9-DTU fusion proteins have improved target site binding precision, greater nuclease activity, and a broader sequence targeting range than standard Cas9 systems. Existing Cas9 or sgRNA variants (e.g., truncated sgRNAs (tru-gRNAs), nickases and FokI fusions) are compatible with these improvements to further reduce off-target cleavage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Scot A. Wolfe, Mehmet Fatih Bolukbasi, Ankit Gupta, Erik J. Sontheimer, Nadia Amrani
  • Patent number: 10190106
    Abstract: The present invention provides a Cas9 platform to facilitate single-site nuclease gene editing precision within a human genome. For example, a Cas9 nuclease/DNA-targeting unit (Cas9-DTU) fusion protein precisely delivers a Cas9/sgRNA complex to a specific target site within the genome for subsequent sgRNA-dependent cleavage of an adjacent target sequence. Alternatively, attenuating Cas9 binding using mutations to the a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) recognition domain makes Cas9 target site recognition dependent on the associated DTU, all while retaining Cas9's sgRNA-mediated DNA cleavage fidelity. Cas9-DTU fusion proteins have improved target site binding precision, greater nuclease activity, and a broader sequence targeting range than standard Cas9 systems. Existing Cas9 or sgRNA variants (e.g., truncated sgRNAs (tru-gRNAs), nickases and FokI fusions) are compatible with these improvements to further reduce off-target cleavage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Univesity of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Scot Andrew Wolfe, Mehmet Fatih Bolukbasi, Ankit Gupta, Erik J Sontheimer, Nadia Amrani
  • Publication number: 20180355331
    Abstract: Many strains of the human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis carry a compact Cas9 (NmeCas9) that can serve to limit genetic exchange via natural transformation. Cas9 orthologues (including NmeCas9) have recently been adopted for RNA-guided genome engineering and DNA binding, adding to the need to define better their activities and properties. The present invention examines DNA cleavage activities and substrate requirements of NmeCas9, including a set of unusually complex PAM recognition patterns. Unexpectedly, NmeCas9 is found able to cleave single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) targets in a manner that is RNA-guided but both PAM- and tracrRNA-independent. Beyond the requirement for guide-target pairing, this activity has no apparent sequence requirements, and the cleavage sites are measured from the 5? end of the DNA substrate's RNA-paired region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Erik J. SONTHEIMER, Yan ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20160177278
    Abstract: The present invention provides a Cas9 platform to facilitate single-site nuclease gene editing precision within a human genome. For example, a Cas9 nuclease/DNA-targeting unit (Cas9-DTU) fusion protein precisely delivers a Cas9/sgRNA complex to a specific target site within the genome for subsequent sgRNA-dependent cleavage of an adjacent target sequence. Alternatively, attenuating Cas9 binding using mutations to the a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) recognition domain makes Cas9 target site recognition dependent on the associated DTU, all while retaining Cas9's sgRNA-mediated DNA cleavage fidelity. Cas9-DTU fusion proteins have improved target site binding precision, greater nuclease activity, and a broader sequence targeting range than standard Cas9 systems. Existing Cas9 or sgRNA variants (e.g., truncated sgRNAs (tru-gRNAs), nickases and FokI fusions) are compatible with these improvements to further reduce off-target cleavage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Scot Andrew Wolfe, Mehmet Fatih Bolukbasi, Ankit Gupta, Erik J. Sontheimer, Nadia Amrani
  • Publication number: 20140349405
    Abstract: Disclosed are components and methods for RNA-directed DNA cleavage and gene editing. The components include and the methods utilize a Cas9 protein from Neisseria and one or more RNA molecules in order to direct the Cas9 protein to bind to and optionally cleave or nick a target sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicants: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Erik J. Sontheimer, Yan Zhang, Alfonso Mondragon, Rakhi Rajan, James Thomson, Zhonggang Hou
  • Publication number: 20100076057
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, systems, and compositions for interfering with the function and/or presence of a target DNA sequence in a eukaryotic cell (e.g., located in vitro or in a subject) using crRNA and CRISPR-associated (cas) proteins or cas encoding nucleic acids. The present invention also relates to a method for interfering with horizontal gene transfer based on the use of clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) sequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Erik J. Sontheimer, Luciano A. Marraffini