Patents by Inventor Michael Paul Timko

Michael Paul Timko 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).

  • MODIFIED TOBACCO PLANTS WITH ALTERED TRICHOME CHARACTERISTICS AND RELATED METHODS
    Publication number: 20260226491
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions and methods related to improving trichome characteristics in tobacco plants. Plants comprising non-natural mutations in genes involved in trichome growth are provided, as are products and cured tobacco material made from said plants. Plants comprising RNAi constructs against genes involved in trichome growth are provided, as are products and cured tobacco material made from said plants. Methods of making and using the provided plants are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2026
    Publication date: August 6, 2026
    Applicant: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Michael Paul Timko, Hai Liu
  • COMPOSITIONS AND RELATED METHODS FOR MODULATING TRANSCRIPTIONAL ACTIVATION BY INCORPORATING GAG MOTIFS UPSTREAM OF CORE PROMOTER ELEMENTS
    Publication number: 20250361276
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for genetically modifying the production levels of nicotine and other alkaloids in plants are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2025
    Publication date: November 27, 2025
    Applicant: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Michael Paul Timko, Paul J. Rushton, Marta Tatiana Bokowiec
  • TISSUE-SPECIFIC PROMOTERS IN PLANTS
    Publication number: 20250290086
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods related to tissue-specific promoters and their uses in plants, including tobacco and cannabis. The provided trichome-specific promoters enable the expression of heterologous polynucleotides in trichome tissues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2025
    Publication date: September 18, 2025
    Applicants: Altria Client Services LLC, University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Chengalrayan Kudithipudi, Yanxin Shen, Dongmei Xu, Michael Paul Timko, Roel Rabara
  • INCREASING TRICHOME DENSITY AND IMPROVING TRANSPORT OF METABOLITES IN PLANT TRICHOMES
    Publication number: 20250263735
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods related to modification of trichome density and transport of metabolite and their uses in plants, including tobacco and cannabis. The provided transcription factors enable the increase in trichome density in plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2025
    Publication date: August 21, 2025
    Applicants: Altria Client Services LLC, University Of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Chengalrayan Kudithipudi, Yanxin Shen, Dongmei Xu, Michael Paul Timko, Roel Rabara
  • Tissue-specific promoters in plants
    Patent number: 12351809
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods related to tissue-specific promoters and their uses in plants, including tobacco and cannabis. The provided trichome-specific promoters enable the expression of heterologous polynucleotides in trichome tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignees: Altria Client Services LLC, University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Chengalrayan Kudithipudi, Yanxin Shen, Dongmei Xu, Michael Paul Timko, Roel Rabara
  • Compositions and related methods for modulating transcriptional activation by incorporating gag motifs upstream of core promoter elements
    Patent number: 12351606
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for genetically modifying the production levels of nicotine and other alkaloids in plants are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: University Of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Michael Paul Timko, Paul J. Rushton, Marta Tatiana Bokowiec
  • Increasing trichome density and improving transport of metabolites in plant trichomes
    Patent number: 12319923
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods related to modification of trichome density and transport of metabolite and their uses in plants, including tobacco and cannabis. The provided transcription factors enable the increase in trichome density in plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignees: Altria Client Services LLC, University Of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Chengalrayan Kudithipudi, Yanxin Shen, Dongmei Xu, Michael Paul Timko, Roel Rabara
  • COMPOSITIONS AND RELATED METHODS FOR MODULATING ALKALOID PRODUCTION BY CONTROLLING PMT PROMOTER ACTIVATION MEDIATED BY TRANSCRIPTIONAL FACTORS ERF AND MYC
    Publication number: 20240336662
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for modifying the production levels of alkaloids in plants are provided. Alkaloid production can be genetically controlled by modulating the transcriptional activation of PMT genes mediated by members of the ERF family and/or Myc family of transcription factors. Novel nucleotide sequences encoding the Myc family of transcription factors are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Michael Paul TIMKO, Paul J. RUSHTON, Sheng-Cheng HAN, Hongbo ZHANG, Marta Tatiana BOKOWIEC
  • Compositions and related methods for modulating alkaloid production by controlling PMT promoter activation mediated by transcriptional factors ERF and Myc
    Patent number: 12054523
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for modifying the production levels of alkaloids in plants are provided. Alkaloid production can be genetically controlled by modulating the transcriptional activation of PMT genes mediated by members of the ERF family and/or Myc family of transcription factors. Novel nucleotide sequences encoding the Myc family of transcription factors are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Michael Paul Timko, Paul J Rushton, Sheng-Cheng Han, Hongbo Zhang, Marta Tatiana Bokowiec
  • TISSUE-SPECIFIC PROMOTERS IN PLANTS
    Publication number: 20240018536
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods related to tissue-specific promoters and their uses in plants, including tobacco and Cannabis. The provided trichome-specific promoters enable the expression of heterologous polynucleotides in trichome tissues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Chengalrayan KUDITHIPUDI, Yanxin SHEN, Dongmei XU, Michael Paul TIMKO, Roel RABARA
  • COMPOSITIONS AND RELATED METHODS FOR MODULATING ALKALOID PRODUCTION BY CONTROLLING PMT PROMOTER ACTIVATION MEDIATED BY TRANSCRIPTIONAL FACTORS ERF AND MYC
    Publication number: 20240010691
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for modifying the production levels of alkaloids in plants are provided. Alkaloid production can be genetically controlled by modulating the transcriptional activation of PMT genes mediated by members of the ERF family and/or Myc family of transcription factors. Novel nucleotide sequences encoding the Myc family of transcription factors are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Michael Paul TIMKO, Paul J RUSHTON, Sheng-Cheng HAN, Hongbo ZHANG, Marta Tatiana Bokowiec
  • Compositions and related methods for modulating alkaloid production by controlling PMT promoter activation mediated by transcriptional factors ERF and Myc
    Patent number: 11760781
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for modifying the production levels of alkaloids in plants are provided. Alkaloid production can be genetically controlled by modulating the transcriptional activation of PMT genes mediated by members of the ERF family and/or Myc family of transcription factors. Novel nucleotide sequences encoding the Myc family of transcription factors are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PATENT FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Michael Paul Timko, Paul J Rushton, Sheng-Cheng Han, Hongbo Zhang, Marta Tatiana Bokowiec
  • INCREASING TRICHOME DENSITY AND IMPROVING TRANSPORT OF METABOLITES IN PLANT TRICHOMES
    Publication number: 20220243216
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods related to modification of trichome density and transport of metabolite and their uses in plants, including tobacco and cannabis. The provided transcription factors enable the increase in trichome density in plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Chengalrayan KUDITHIPUDI, Yanxin SHEN, Dongmei XU, Michael Paul TIMKO, Roel RABARA
  • TISSUE-SPECIFIC PROMOTERS IN PLANTS
    Publication number: 20220243214
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods related to tissue-specific promoters and their uses in plants, including tobacco and cannabis. The provided trichome-specific promoters enable the expression of heterologous polynucleotides in trichome tissues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Chengalrayan Kudithipudi, Yaxin Shen, Dongmei Xu, Michael Paul Timko, Roeol Rabara
  • TERPENE PRODUCTION IN PLANTS
    Publication number: 20220243215
    Abstract: Composition and methods for the modification of the secondary metabolic functions of glandular trichomes in plants, such as tobacco or Cannabis, that control the formation of terpenes that impart specific flavor and aroma characteristics to the plant leaves are provided. Enhanced terpene production and composition are achieved through targeted modification in the biochemical synthesis pathways for menthol and cis-abienol. This application provides novel nucleotide sequences encoding the enzymology for production of these terpenes in tobacco and Cannabis application to their use plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Chengalrayan KUDITHIPUDI, Yanxin SHEN, Dongmei XU, Michael Paul TIMKO, Roel RABARA
  • COMPOSITIONS AND RELATED METHODS FOR MODULATING ALKALOID PRODUCTION BY CONTROLLING PMT PROMOTER ACTIVATION MEDIATED BY TRANSCRIPTIONAL FACTORS ERF AND MYC
    Publication number: 20220153787
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for modifying the production levels of alkaloids in plants are provided. Alkaloid production can be genetically controlled by modulating the transcriptional activation of PMT genes mediated by members of the ERF family and/or Myc family of transcription factors. Novel nucleotide sequences encoding the Myc family of transcription factors are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Michael Paul Timko, Paul J. Rushton, Sheng-Cheng Han, Hongbo Zhang, Marta Tatiana Bokowiec
  • Tobacco plants with reduced nicotine production by suppressing transcriptional factor Myc
    Patent number: 11168118
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for modifying the production levels of alkaloids in plants are provided. Alkaloid production can be genetically controlled by modulating the transcriptional activation of PMT genes mediated by members of the ERF family and/or Myc family of transcription factors. Novel nucleotide sequences encoding the Myc family of transcription factors are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Michael Paul Timko, Paul J Rushton, Sheng-Cheng Han, Hongbo Zhang, Marta Tatiana Bokowiec
  • COMPOSITIONS AND RELATED METHODS FOR MODULATING TRANSCRIPTIONAL ACTIVATION BY INCORPORATING GAG MOTIFS UPSTREAM OF CORE PROMOTER ELEMENTS
    Publication number: 20200123211
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for genetically modifying the production levels of nicotine and other alkaloids in plants are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PATENT FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Michael Paul TIMKO, Paul J. RUSHTON, Marta Tatiana BOKOWIEC
  • Compositions and related methods for modulating transcriptional activation by incorporating GAG motifs upstream of core promoter elements
    Patent number: 10550162
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for genetically modifying the production levels of nicotine and other alkaloids in plants are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PATENT FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Michael Paul Timko, Paul J Rushton, Marta Tatiana Bokowiec
  • Compositions And Related Methods For Modulating Alkaloid Production By Controlling PMT Promoter Activation Mediated By Transcriptional Factors ERF and MYC
    Publication number: 20190218258
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for modifying the production levels of alkaloids in plants are provided. Alkaloid production can be genetically controlled by modulating the transcriptional activation of PMT genes mediated by members of the ERF family and/or Myc family of transcription factors. Novel nucleotide sequences encoding the Myc family of transcription factors are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Michael Paul Timko, Paul J Rushton, Sheng-Cheng Han, Hongbo Zhang, Marta Tatiana Bokowiec