Patents by Inventor Luke Alphey

Luke Alphey 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: 20240093230
    Abstract: The invention provides a splice control module for sex-specific splicing and expression of a gene of interest. In certain embodiments, a dsx-based splice control module is used to express a lethal gene in an insect that is spliced in a sex-specific manner to impart lethality to female insects but not male insects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: Oxitec Ltd.
    Inventors: Luke ALPHEY, Tarig DAFA'ALLA, Amandine COLLADO, Simon WARNER, Kelly MATZEN, Sian SPINNER
  • Publication number: 20240016132
    Abstract: Two or more conditional, dominant, lethal gene expression systems provide high levels of penetrance in insects. Lethality is induced at an earlier stage of development and the risk of biochemical resistance is reduced, as compared to a single insect conditional, dominant, lethal gene expression system. The invention is useful for the control of insect populations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: Oxitec Limited
    Inventors: Martha Koukidou, Luke Alphey, Simon Warner
  • Patent number: 11827876
    Abstract: The invention provides a splice control module for sex-specific splicing and expression of a gene of interest. In certain embodiments, a dsx-based splice control module is used to express a lethal gene in an insect that is spliced in a sex-specific manner to impart lethality to female insects but not male insects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: OXITEC LTD.
    Inventors: Luke Alphey, Tarig Dafa'alla, Amandine Collado, Simon Warner, Kelly Matzen, Sian Spinner
  • Patent number: 11737436
    Abstract: Two or more conditional, dominant, lethal gene expression systems provide high levels of penetrance in insects. Lethality is induced at an earlier stage of development and the risk of biochemical resistance is reduced, as compared to a single insect conditional, dominant, lethal gene expression system. The invention is useful for the control of insect populations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Oxitec Limited
    Inventors: Martha Koukidou, Luke Alphey, Simon Warner
  • Publication number: 20210137083
    Abstract: Two or more conditional, dominant, lethal gene expression systems provide high levels of penetrance in insects. Lethality is induced at an earlier stage of development and the risk of biochemical resistance is reduced, as compared to a single insect conditional, dominant, lethal gene expression system. The invention is useful for the control of insect populations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Martha Koukidou, Luke Alphey, Simon Warner
  • Patent number: 10941416
    Abstract: A polynucleotide expression system is provided that is capable of alternative splicing of RNA transcripts of a polynucleotide sequence to be expressed in an organism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Oxitec Limited
    Inventor: Luke Alphey
  • Publication number: 20200407748
    Abstract: The invention provides a splice control module for sex-specific splicing and expression of a gene of interest. In certain embodiments, a dsx-based splice control module is used to express a lethal gene in an insect that is spliced in a sex-specific manner to impart lethality to female insects but not male insects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: OXITEC LTD.
    Inventors: Luke ALPHEY, Tarig DAFA'ALLA, Amandine COLLADO, Simon WARNER, Kelly MATZEN, Sian SPINNER
  • Patent number: 10844402
    Abstract: A gene expression system is provided. The system comprises at least one coding sequence to be expressed in an organism, and at least one promoter operably linked thereto. It further comprises at least one splice control sequence which, in cooperation with a spliceosome, mediates alternative splicing of RNA transcripts of the coding sequence. The mediation of alternative splicing is in a sex-specific, stage-specific, germline-specific and tissue-specific manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Oxitec Limited
    Inventor: Luke Alphey
  • Patent number: 10426147
    Abstract: Provided is a gene expression system, suitable for expression in an insect, comprising an insect muscle actin promoter operably linked to a marker gene, which overcomes or ameliorates one or more of: cost of rearing; amount of handling; errors in identification due to human error or loss of marker by the insect; and health concerns related to the effects of marker powders on workers in mass rearing facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Oxitec Limited
    Inventors: Martha Koukidou, Sarah Scaife, Luke Alphey
  • Publication number: 20180312870
    Abstract: A gene expression system is provided. The system comprises at least one coding sequence to be expressed in an organism, and at least one promoter operably linked thereto. It further comprises at least one splice control sequence which, in cooperation with a spliceosome, mediates alternative splicing of RNA transcripts of the coding sequence. The mediation of alternative splicing is in a sex-specific, stage-specific, germline-specific and tissue-specific manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventor: Luke Alphey
  • Publication number: 20180251785
    Abstract: A polynucleotide expression system is provided that is capable of alternative splicing of RNA transcripts of a polynucleotide sequence to be expressed in an organism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: Oxitec Limited
    Inventor: Luke ALPHEY
  • Patent number: 10059961
    Abstract: A gene expression system is provided. The system comprises at least one coding sequence to be expressed in an organism, and at least one promoter operably linked thereto. It further comprises at least one splice control sequence which, in cooperation with a spliceosome, mediates alternative splicing of RNA transcripts of the coding sequence. The mediation of alternative splicing is in a sex-specific, stage-specific, germline-specific and tissue-specific manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Oxitec Limited
    Inventor: Luke Alphey
  • Patent number: 9970025
    Abstract: A polynucleotide expression system is provided that is capable of alternative splicing of RNA transcripts of a polynucleotide sequence to be expressed in an organism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Oxitec Limited
    Inventor: Luke Alphey
  • Publication number: 20170360015
    Abstract: Provided is a gene expression system, suitable for expression in an insect, comprising an insect muscle actin promoter operably linked to a marker gene, which overcomes or ameliorates one or more of: cost of rearing; amount of handling; errors in identification due to human error or loss of marker by the insect; and health concerns related to the effects of marker powders on workers in mass rearing facilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: Oxitec Limited
    Inventors: Martha KOUKIDOU, Sarah SCAIFE, Luke ALPHEY
  • Publication number: 20170188559
    Abstract: Two or more conditional, dominant, lethal gene expression systems provide high levels of penetrance in insects. Lethality is induced at an earlier stage of development and the risk of biochemical resistance is reduced, as compared to a single insect conditional, dominant, lethal gene expression system. The invention is useful for the control of insect populations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: Oxitec Limited
    Inventors: Martha KOUKIDOU, Luke ALPHEY, Simon WARNER
  • Publication number: 20170009253
    Abstract: Provided is an arthropod male germline gene expression system suitable for conditional expression of an effector gene in an Arthropod male germline. The system comprises a first expression unit comprising an effector gene and a promoter therefor operably linked thereto; and a second expression unit. Said second unit comprises a coding sequence for a transcription factor and an upstream regulatory element operably linked thereto, the transcription factor being capable of acting upon the promoter in the first expression unit to drive expression of the effector gene. The upstream regulatory element includes a promoter for the transcription factor; and a 5? UTR adjacent a start site for the transcription factor coding sequence. The upstream regulatory element driving sufficient expression of the transcription factor such that the transcription factor protein in turn drives transcription of the effector gene before meiosis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: Oxitec Limited
    Inventor: Luke ALPHEY
  • Patent number: 9487801
    Abstract: Provided is an arthropod male germline gene expression system suitable for conditional expression of an effector gene in an Arthropod male germline. The system comprises a first expression unit comprising an effector gene and a promoter therefor operably linked thereto; and a second expression unit. Said second unit comprises a coding sequence for a transcription factor and an upstream regulatory element operably linked thereto, the transcription factor being capable of acting upon the promoter in the first expression unit to drive expression of the effector gene. The upstream regulatory element includes a promoter for the transcription factor; and a 5? UTR adjacent a start site for the transcription factor coding sequence. The upstream regulatory element driving sufficient expression of the transcription factor such that the transcription factor protein in turn drives transcription of the effector gene before meiosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: OXITEC LIMITED
    Inventor: Luke Alphey
  • Publication number: 20160122780
    Abstract: A polynucleotide expression system is provided that is capable of alternative splicing of RNA transcripts of a polynucleotide sequence to be expressed in an organism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: Oxitec Limited
    Inventor: Luke Alphey
  • Publication number: 20160106078
    Abstract: Provided is a gene expression system, suitable for expression in an insect, comprising an insect muscle actin pro-moter operably linked to a marker gene, which overcomes or ameliorates one or more of: cost of rearing; amount of handling; errors in identification due to human error or loss of marker by the insect; and health concerns related to the effects of marker powders on workers in mass rearing facilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Applicant: Oxitec Limited
    Inventors: Martha KOUKIDOU, Sarah SCAIFE, Luke ALPHEY
  • Publication number: 20160060651
    Abstract: A gene expression system is provided. The system comprises at least one coding sequence to be expressed in an organism, and at least one promoter operably linked thereto. It further comprises at least one splice control sequence which, in cooperation with a spliceosome, mediates alternative splicing of RNA transcripts of the coding sequence. The mediation of alternative splicing is in a sex-specific, stage-specific, germline-specific and tissue-specific manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventor: Luke ALPHEY