Patents by Inventor Niles Pierce

Niles Pierce 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: 20250011843
    Abstract: The present application relates to hybridization chain reaction (HCR). The sensitivity and multiplexing of hybridization chain reaction (HCR) signal amplification are combined with target detection using barcode probes or barcode fusion probes, wherein a barcode probe or barcode fusion probe comprises a primary probe (comprising a target-binding domain) bound to a secondary probe (comprising a primary-probe-binding-domain and a barcode oligonucleotide comprising an HCR initiator or an HCR fractional initiator).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Kai Zinn, Shuwa Xu, Michael Anaya, Sheldon A. Zhu, Niles A. Pierce
  • Publication number: 20240336957
    Abstract: The present application relates to hybridization chain reaction (HCR). In particular, compositions and methods are presented for ultrasensitive molecular detection using HCR signal amplification. Some embodiments and methods involve cooperative probe junctions, reporter-labeled probes, and nonlinear HCR signal amplification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Harry MT Choi, Chun Hao R. Chen, Mike C. Liu, Aneesh Acharya, Sheldon Zhu, Niles A. Pierce
  • Publication number: 20240336956
    Abstract: The present application relates to hybridization chain reaction (HCR). In particular, compositions and methods are presented for ultrasensitive molecular detection using HCR signal amplification. Some embodiments and methods involve cooperative probe junctions, reporter-labeled probes, and nonlinear HCR signal amplification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Harry MT Choi, Chun Hao R. Chen, Mike C. Liu, Aneesh Acharya, Sheldon Zhu, Niles A. Pierce
  • Publication number: 20240294983
    Abstract: The present application relates to hybridization chain reaction (HCR). In particular, the sensitivity of hybridization chain reaction (HCR) signal amplification is combined with two or more fractional-initiator probes and one or more proximity probes able to colocalize a full HCR initiator that will trigger HCR when the targets are in proximity to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Inventors: Samuel J Schulte, Niles A Pierce
  • Publication number: 20240132882
    Abstract: Programmable guide RNAs (gRNAs) play a central role in the CRISPR revolution sweeping biology and medicine by directing the function of a Cas protein effector to a target gene of choice. To achieve programmable control over regulatory scope, the activity of a conditional guide RNA (cgRNA) depends on the presence or absence of an RNA trigger, allowing for cell-selective regulation of CRISPR/Cas function. Unlike a standard gRNA, a cgRNA is programmable at multiple levels, with the target-binding sequence controlling the target of Cas activity (edit, silence, induce, or bind a gene of choice) and the triggerbinding sequence controlling the scope of Cas activity. cgRNA mechanisms that are allosteric allow for independent design of the target and trigger sequences, providing the flexibility to select the regulatory target and scope independently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Lisa Hochrein, Mikhail H. Hanewich-Hollatz, Zhewei Chen, Heyun Li, Shashank Gandhi, Marianne Bronner, Niles A. Pierce
  • Publication number: 20240091762
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an HCR lateral flow device for amplified detection of a target in a sample and methods of using the same. In some embodiments, the device and methods of use combine the sensitivity of HCR signal amplification with the simplicity of the lateral flow assay format to facilitate user-friendly amplified detection of a target in a sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Samuel J. Schulte, Jining Huang, Nikhil T. Linaval, Niles A. Pierce
  • Patent number: 11873485
    Abstract: Programmable guide RNAs (gRNAs) play a central role in the CRISPR revolution sweeping biology and medicine by directing the function of a Cas protein effector to a target gene of choice. To achieve programmable control over regulatory scope, the activity of a conditional guide RNA (cgRNA) depends on the presence or absence of an RNA trigger, allowing for cell-selective regulation of CRISPR/Cas function. Unlike a standard gRNA, a cgRNA is programmable at multiple levels, with the target-binding sequence controlling the target of Cas activity (edit, silence, induce, or bind a gene of choice) and the trigger binding sequence controlling the scope of Cas activity. cgRNA mechanisms that are allosteric allow for independent design of the target and trigger sequences, providing the flexibility to select the regulatory target and scope independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Lisa Hochrein, Mikhail H. Hanewich-Hollatz, Zhewei Chen, Heyun Li, Shashank Gandhi, Marianne Bronner, Niles A. Pierce
  • Publication number: 20230193362
    Abstract: Methods of analysis of a sample using hybridization chain reaction (HCR) are provided herein. Some embodiments involve one, two, or all three of the following aspects: 1) repeated signal detection, 2) overlapping binding sites, and 3) catalytic reporter deposition (CARD). Compositions and kits relating to these are also provided. Some embodiments encompass a method for repeated signal detection with reporter-labeled HCR hairpins involving providing a sample possibly containing one or more targets as well as possibly other molecules that are not targets, providing one or more probe sets each comprising either: a) one or more HCR initiator-labeled probes, or b) one or more probe units each comprising two or more HCR fractional initiator probes, providing one or more HCR amplifiers (each labeled with one or more reporters), detecting one or more signals from one or more reporters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Niles A. Pierce, Harry Ming Tak Choi
  • Publication number: 20220348909
    Abstract: Programmable guide RNAs (gRNAs) play a central role in the CRISPR revolution sweeping biology and medicine by directing the function of a Cas protein effector to a target gene of choice. To achieve programmable control over regulatory scope, the activity of a conditional guide RNA (cgRNA) depends on the presence or absence of an RNA trigger, allowing for cell-selective regulation of CRISPR/Cas function. Unlike a standard gRNA, a cgRNA is programmable at multiple levels, with the target-binding sequence controlling the target of Cas activity (edit, silence, induce, or bind a gene of choice) and the trigger binding sequence controlling the scope of Cas activity. cgRNA mechanisms that are allosteric allow for independent design of the target and trigger sequences, providing the flexibility to select the regulatory target and scope independently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Lisa Hochrein, Mikhail H. Hanewich-Hollatz, Zhewei Chen, Heyun Li, Shashank Gandhi, Marianne Bronner, Niles A. Pierce
  • Publication number: 20220282300
    Abstract: Methods of analysis of a sample using hybridization chain reaction (HCR) are provided herein. Some embodiments involve one, two, or all three of the following aspects: 1) repeated signal detection, 2) overlapping binding sites, and 3) catalytic reporter deposition (CARD). Compositions and kits relating to these are also provided. Some embodiments encompass a method for repeated signal detection with reporter-labeled HCR hairpins involving providing a sample possibly containing one or more targets as well as possibly other molecules that are not targets, providing one or more probe sets each comprising either: a)one or more HCR initiator-labeled probes, or b) one or more probe units each comprising two or more HCR fractional initiator probes, providing one or more HCR amplifiers (each labeled with one or more reporters), detecting one or more signals from one or more reporters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Niles A. Pierce, Harry Ming Tak Choi
  • Publication number: 20220235353
    Abstract: Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) provide a versatile platform for engineering synthetic biology in a variety of technology areas including medicine, science, agriculture, and energy. In many settings, degradation of nucleic acid molecules poses a significant engineering challenge as the molecules do not function if they have been degraded. In some embodiments, nucleic acid protective elements (PELs) are used to protect chemically synthesized or expressed nucleic acid molecules from degradation. PELs may be derived from all or part of a viral xrRNA sequence and/or structural motif, PELs may include rationally designed sequences and/or structural motifs, PELs may be engineered using directed evolution, and in some embodiments, PELs comprise a mixture of biologically derived, rationally designed sequence and/or structural motifs, and/or sequences and/or structural motifs that are engineered by directed evolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Lisa Hochrein, Heyun Li, Evan Mun, Paul W. Rothemund, Niles A. Pierce
  • Publication number: 20220090163
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions involving HCR reactions that involve initiators that are split into two or more parts. Effective HCR is dependent upon two or more of these split initiators being brought into proximity (e.g., via binding events mediated by a target) such that a full initiator is formed that is capable of triggering HCR signal amplification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Niles A Pierce, Harry M.T. Choi
  • Patent number: 11214825
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions involving HCR reactions that involve initiators that are split into two or more parts. Effective HCR is dependent upon two or more of these split initiators being brought into proximity (e.g., via binding events mediated by a target) such that a full initiator is formed that is capable of triggering HCR signal amplification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Niles A. Pierce, Harry M. T. Choi
  • Patent number: 10815519
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods involving HCR reactions that involve using trigger oligos to activate probes that initiate HCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Naeem S Husain, Harry Ming Tak Choi, Long Cai, Niles A Pierce
  • Publication number: 20200140920
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions involving HCR reactions that involve initiators that are split into two or more parts. Effective HCR is dependent upon two or more of these split initiators being brought into proximity (e.g., via binding events mediated by a target) such that a full initiator is formed that is capable of triggering HCR signal amplification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Niles A. Pierce, Harry Ming Tak Choi
  • Patent number: 10450599
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions involving HCR reactions that involve initiators that are split into two or more parts. Effective HCR is dependent upon two or more of these split initiators being brought into proximity (e.g., via binding events mediated by a target) such that a full initiator is formed that is capable of triggering HCR signal amplification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Niles A. Pierce, Harry Ming Tak Choi
  • Publication number: 20180362944
    Abstract: Described herein are conditional guide RNAs that change their activity status depending on the presence or absence of an input target, forming a complex with an RNA-guided effector and conditionally performing a downstream function on a target nucleic acid. Methods for conditionally performing a downstream function on the target nucleic acid using conditional guide RNAs are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Mikhail H Hanewich-Hollatz, Zhewei Chen, Lisa Hochrein, Jining Huang, Niles A. Pierce
  • Publication number: 20180066303
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods involving HCR reactions that involve using trigger oligos to activate probes that initiate HCR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Naeem S Husain, Harry Ming Tak Choi, Long Cai, Niles A Pierce
  • Publication number: 20180010166
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions involving HCR reactions that involve initiators that are split into two or more parts. Effective HCR is dependent upon two or more of these split initiators being brought into proximity (e.g., via binding events mediated by a target) such that a full initiator is formed that is capable of triggering HCR signal amplification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Niles A. Pierce, Harry Ming Tak Choi
  • Patent number: 9856472
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to the use conditional hairpins, such as, but not limited to shRNAs. The conditional formation of these structures can allow for further events, such as gene silencing (in some embodiments).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Niles A. Pierce, Lisa Hochrein