Patents by Inventor Maureen S. Wright

Maureen S. Wright 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: 8263526
    Abstract: The combination of keratin hydrolysate with viable cells or infectious propagules of a fungal biological control agent such as Paecilomyces species, Metarhizium species, Beauveria species, and/or Verticillium species, provides effective control of soil-dwelling or subterranean insects, including termites, and particularly those belonging to the family Rhinotermitidae, such as the Formosan subterranean termite and native North American subterranean termites. In use, a foam-forming composition comprising the keratin hydrolysate and an insecticidally effective amount of the fungus are applied to the insects, the locus of the insects, to material susceptible to infestation by said insects, or to the locus of material susceptible to infestation by said insects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Christopher A. Dunlap, Mark A. Jackson, Maureen S. Wright
  • Patent number: 7790151
    Abstract: Alates of the Formosan subterranean termite (FST), Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, collected after swarming in 2002 died within 48 hrs, and the cadavers were visibly infected with a fungus. Fungi were picked from the cadavers, transferred to media and ultimately isolated to purity. A single fungal isolate, C4-B, taxonomically identified as Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff), was found to cause rapid mortality of FST alates. This is the first report of a biological control agent for termite alates. Strain C4-B was more lethal to both alates and workers when compared to M. anisopliae strain ESC1, marketed as the termite biocontrol agent BioBlast®. 100% of FST alates exposed to C4-B spores (106 spores/?l) were killed in 3 days. Field studies where C4-B spores were dispersed on grassy lawns resulted in 100% mortality of alates by day 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Agriculture
    Inventors: Ashok K. Raina, Maureen S. Wright, Alan R. Lax
  • Publication number: 20090269308
    Abstract: The combination of keratin hydrolysate with viable cells or infectious propagules of a fungal biological control agent such as Paecilomyces species, Metarhizium species, Beauveria species, and/or Verticillium species, provides effective control of soil-dwelling or subterranean insects, including termites, and particularly those belonging to the family Rhinotermitidae, such as the Formosan subterranean termite and native North American subterranean termites. In use, a foam-forming composition comprising the keratin hydrolysate and an insecticidally effective amount of the fungus are applied to the insects, the locus of the insects, to material susceptible to infestation by said insects, or to the locus of material susceptible to infestation by said insects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher A. Dunlap, Mark A. Jackson, Maureen S. Wright
  • Patent number: 7390480
    Abstract: The entomopathogenic fungus Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and certain related species, such as P. javanicus are useful for controlling infestations by subterranean termites, particularly those belonging to the family Rhinotermitidae. The family Rhinotermitidae includes two species of subterranean termites having extremely high economic importance in the United States; namely the Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki), and the native (North American) subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes). Large numbers of infectious propagules of the fungus, such as blastospores and conidia can be readily cultured on media that are easily and inexpensively prepared and incorporated into formulations for controlling termites. These fungi are useful for protecting living trees, plants, wood, wood structures, and other cellulosic materials susceptible to termite infestation and damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Maureen S. Wright, William J. Connick, Jr., Mark A. Jackson
  • Publication number: 20040047841
    Abstract: The entomopathogenic fungus Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and certain related species, such as P. javanicus are useful for controlling infestations by subterranean termites, particularly those belonging to the family Rhinotermitidae. The family Rhinotermitidae includes two species of subterranean termites having extremely high economic importance in the United States; namely the Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki), and the native (North American) subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes). Large numbers of infectious propagules of the fungus, such as blastospores and conidia can be readily cultured on media that are easily and inexpensively prepared and incorporated into formulations for controlling termites. These fungi are useful for protecting living trees, plants, wood, wood structures, and other cellulosic materials susceptible to termite infestation and damage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Maureen S. Wright, William J. Connick, Mark A. Jackson
  • Patent number: 6660291
    Abstract: The entomopathogenic fungus Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and certain related species, such as P. javanicus are useful for controlling infestations by subterranean termites, particularly those belonging to the family Rhinotermitidae. The family Rhinotermitidae includes two species of subterranean termites having extremely high economic importance in the United States; namely the Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki), and the native (North American) subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes). Large numbers of infectious propagules of the fungus, such as blastospores and conidia can be readily cultured on media that are easily and inexpensively prepared and incorporated into formulations for controlling termites. These fungi are useful for protecting living trees, plants, wood, wood structures, and other cellulosic materials susceptible to termite infestation and damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Maureen S. Wright, William J. Connick, Jr., Mark A. Jackson
  • Publication number: 20030095951
    Abstract: The entomopathogenic fungus Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and certain related species, such as P. javanicus are useful for controlling infestations by subterranean termites, particularly those belonging to the family Rhinotermitidae. The family Rhinotermitidae includes two species of subterranean termites having extremely high economic importance in the United States; namely the Formosan subterranean termite (Coptoterimes formosanus Shiraki), and the native (North American) subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes). Large numbers of infectious propagules of the fungus, such as blastospores and conidia can be readily cultured on media that are easily and inexpensively prepared and incorporated into formulations for controlling termites. These fungi are useful for protecting living trees, plants, wood, wood structures, and other cellulosic materials susceptible to termite infestation and damage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Maureen S. Wright, William J. Connick, Mark A. Jackson