Patents by Inventor Rafael Herrmann

Rafael Herrmann 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: 20090031449
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating development and defense responses are provided. Nucleotide sequences encoding defensin proteins are provided. The sequences can be used in expression cassettes for modulating development, developmental pathways, and defense responses. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seed are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicants: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Carl R. Simmons, Pedro A. Navarro Acevedo, Leslie Harvell, Rebecca Cahoon, Billy Fred McCutchen, Albert L. Lu, Rafael Herrmann, James F. H. Wong
  • Publication number: 20090031448
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating development and defense responses are provided. Nucleotide sequences encoding defensin proteins are provided. The sequences can be used in expression cassettes for modulating development, developmental pathways, and defense responses. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seed are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicants: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Carl R. Simmons, Pedro A. Navarro Acevedo, Leslie Harvell, Rebecca Cahoon, Billy Fred McCutchen, Albert L. Lu, Rafael Herrmann, James F.H. Wong
  • Publication number: 20090025103
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating development and defense responses are provided. Nucleotide sequences encoding defensin proteins are provided. The sequences can be used in expression cassettes for modulating development, developmental pathways, and defense responses. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seed are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicants: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Carl R. Simmons, Pedro A. Navarro Acevedo, Leslie Harvell, Rebecca Cahoon, Billy Fred McCutchen, Albert L. Lu, Rafael Herrmann, James F.H. Wong
  • Publication number: 20090011999
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for orally active Androctonus amoreuxi pesticidal polypeptides. Compositions include novel Androctonus amoreuxi pesticidal polypeptides and biologically active variants thereof. Further provided are methods for modulating the pesticide resistance of plants by expressing the sequences disclosed herein. One method comprises stably transforming into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence of the present invention operably linked to a heterologous promoter and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence. An additional method comprises incorporating a nucleotide sequence of the present invention operably linked to a heterologous promoter into a microorganism and applying said microorganism to the environment of a plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: E.I.du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Rafael Herrmann, Albert L. Lu, Billy F. McCutchen, James K. Presnail, James F.H. Wong
  • Patent number: 7473821
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for protecting a plant from an insect pest are provided. Nucleic acid molecules encoding insect protoxins or insect toxins modified to comprise at least one proteolytic activation site that is sensitive to an insect gut protease are provided. Cleavage of a modified insect protoxin at the proteolytic activation site by an insect gut protease produces an active insect toxin in the gut of the insect pest. Cleavage of a modified insect toxin of the invention at a proteolytic activation site results in the production of an active insect toxin in the insect gut that displays improved pesticidal activity relative to the insect toxin that lacks the proteolytic activation site. Methods of using the modified insect protoxin and modified insect toxin nucleic acid sequences and the polypeptides they encode to protect a plant from an insect pest are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Andre R. Abad, Gary C. Chun, Ronald D. Flannagan, Rafael Herrmann, Albert L. Lu, Janet A. Rice, Eric J. Schepers
  • Patent number: 7462760
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for protecting a plant from an insect pest are provided. The invention provides mutagenized nucleic acids that have been engineered to encode pesticidal polypeptides having increased resistance to proteolytic degradation by a plant protease. In particular, nucleic acid sequences encoding pesticidal polypeptides modified to comprise a proteolytic protection site that confers resistance to degradation or proteolytic inactivation by a plant protease are provided. Particular embodiments of the invention provide expression cassettes and transformed plants, plant cells, and seeds. These compositions find use in methods for protecting a plant from a pest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. duPont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: André Abad, Hua Dong, Rafael Herrmann, Albert Lu, Billy F. McCutchen, Janet A. Rice, Eric J. Schepers, James F. Wong
  • Patent number: 7442855
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acids encoding plant cyclotides. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the plant cyclotides, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in the production of altered levels of plant cyclotides in a transformed host cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont De Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Rafael Herrmann, Albert L. Lu, Billy F. McCutchen, James K. Presnail, Janet A. Rice, Clement W. K. Waine
  • Publication number: 20080200415
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for protecting a plant from an insect pest are provided. In particular, nucleic acid sequences encoding insect protoxins modified to comprise at least one proteolytic activation site that is sensitive to a plant protease or an insect gut protease are provided. Cleavage of the modified protoxin at the proteolytic activation site by a protease produces an active insect toxin. Methods of using the modified insect protoxin nucleic acid sequences and the polypeptides they encode to protect a plant from an insect pest are provided. Particular embodiments of the invention further provide modified insect protoxin compositions and formulations, expression cassettes, and transformed plants, plant cells, and seeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicants: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. du PONT de NEMOURS and COMPANY
    Inventors: Andre Abad, Ronald D. Flannagan, Rafael Herrmann, Albert L. Lu, Billy F. McCutchen, James K. Presnail, Janet A. Rice, James F. Wong, Cao-Guo Yu
  • Patent number: 7414173
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding orally active Androctonus amoreuxi pesticidal polypeptides. Compositions include novel nucleotide sequences encoding Androctonus amoreuxi pesticidal polypeptides, and biologically active variants thereof. Further provided are methods for modulating the pesticide resistance of plants using the nucleotide sequences disclosed herein. One method comprises stably transforming into the genome of a plant cell a nucleotide sequence of the present invention operably linked to a heterologous promoter and regenerating a stably transformed plant that expresses the nucleotide sequence. An additional method comprises incorporating a nucleotide sequence of the present invention operably linked to a heterologous promoter into a microorganism and applying said microorganism to the environment of a plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Rafael Herrmann, Albert L. Lu, Billy F. McCutchen, James K. Presnail, James F. H. Wong
  • Patent number: 7396980
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for modulating development and defense responses are provided. Nucleotide sequences encoding defensin proteins are provided. The sequences can be used in expression cassettes for modulating development, developmental pathways, and defense responses. Transformed plants, plant cells, tissues, and seed are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Carl R. Simmons, Pedro A. Navarro Acevedo, Leslie Harvell, Rebecca Cahoon, Billy F. McCutchen, Albert L. Lu, Rafael Herrmann, James F. Wong
  • Publication number: 20080124799
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for protecting a plant from an insect pest are provided. In particular, nucleic acid sequences encoding insect protoxins modified to comprise at least one proteolytic activation site that is sensitive to a plant protease or an insect gut protease are provided. Cleavage of the modified protoxin at the proteolytic activation site by a protease produces an active insect toxin. Methods of using the modified insect protoxin nucleic acid sequences and the polypeptides they encode to protect a plant from an insect pest are provided. Particular embodiments of the invention further provide modified insect protoxin compositions and formulations, expression cassettes, and transformed plants, plant cells, and seeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicants: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. du PONT de NEMOURS and COMPANY
    Inventors: Andre Abad, Ronald D. Flannagan, Rafael Herrmann, Albert L. Lu, Billy F. McCutchen, James K. Presnail, Janet A. Rice, James F. Wong, Cao-Guo Yu
  • Patent number: 7378499
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for protecting a plant from an insect pest are provided. The invention provides mutagenized nucleic acids that have been engineered to encode pesticidal polypeptides having increased resistance to proteolytic degradation by a plant protease. In particular, nucleic acid sequences encoding pesticidal polypeptides modified to comprise a proteolytic protection site that confers resistance to degradation or proteolytic inactivation by a plant protease are provided. Particular embodiments of the invention provide pesticidal polypeptide compositions and formulations, expression cassettes, and transformed plants, plant cells, and seeds. These compositions find use in methods for controlling pests, especially plant pests. Novel plant proteases, sequences encoding these proteases, and methods for their use are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company
    Inventors: André Abad, Hua Dong, Rafael Herrmann, Albert Lu, Billy F. McCutchen, Janet Rice, Eric Schepers, James Wong
  • Patent number: 7339092
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for protecting a plant from an insect pest are provided. In particular, nucleic acid sequences encoding insect protoxins modified to comprise at least one proteolytic activation site that is sensitive to a plant protease or an insect gut protease are provided. Cleavage of the modified protoxin at the proteolytic activation site by a protease produces an active insect toxin. Methods of using the modified insect protoxin nucleic acid sequences and the polypeptides they encode to protect a plant from an insect pest are provided. Particular embodiments of the invention further provide modified insect protoxin compositions and formulations, expression cassettes, and transformed plants, plant cells, and seeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. duPont deNemours & Company
    Inventors: Andre Abad, Ronald D. Flannagan, Rafael Herrmann, Albert L. Lu, Billy F. McCutchen, James K. Presnail, Janet A. Rice, James F. Wong, Cao-Guo Yu
  • Patent number: 7323623
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to nucleic acid molecules tat encode defensive polypeptides and methods of their use in enhancing disease resistance of a plant to a fungal pathogen. Vectors, expression cassettes, viruses, cells, and plants comprising a nucleotide sequence of the invention are farther provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. duPont deNemours & Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Altier, Rafael Herrmann, Albert L. Lu, Billy F. McCutchen, James K. Presnail, Janine L. Weaver, James F. H. Wong
  • Patent number: 7306946
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for protecting a plant from a pathogen, particularly a fungal pathogen, are provided. Compositions include novel amino acid sequences, and variants and fragments thereof, for antipathogenic polypeptides that were isolated from microbial fermentation broths. Nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences that encode the antipathogenic polypeptides of the invention are also provided. A method for inducing pathogen resistance in a plant using the nucleotide sequences disclosed herein is further provided. The method comprises introducing into a plant an expression cassette comprising a promoter operably linked to a nucleotide sequence that encodes an antipathogenic polypeptide of the invention. Compositions comprising an antipathogenic polypeptide or a transformed microorganism comprising a nucleic acid of the invention in combination with a carrier and methods of using these compositions to protect a plant from a pathogen are further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E.I. duPunt de Nemours and Company, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Daniel J. Altier, Glen Dahlbacka, Natalia Ellanskaya, legal representative, Rafael Herrmann, Jennie Hunter-Cevera, Billy F. McCutchen, James K. Presnail, Janet A. Rice, Eric Schepers, Carl R. Simmons, Tamas Torok, Nasser Yalpani, Irina Ellanskaya, deceased
  • Patent number: 7262342
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to nucleic acid molecules that encode Fus6 defensive polypeptides and methods of their use in enhancing disease resistance of a plant to a fungal pathogen. Vectors, expression cassettes, viruses, cells, and plants comprising a nucleotide sequence of the invention are further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Altier, Rafael Herrmann, Albert L. Lu, Billy F. McCutchen, James K. Presnail, Janine L. Weaver, James F. H. Wong
  • Publication number: 20070199101
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acids encoding plant cyclotides. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the plant cyclotides, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in the production of altered levels of plant cyclotides in a transformed host cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Rafael Herrmann, Albert Lu, Billy McCutchen, James Presnail, Clement Waine
  • Publication number: 20070179284
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acids encoding plant cyclotides. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the plant cyclotides, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in the production of altered levels of plant cyclotides in a transformed host cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Rafael Herrmann, Albert Lu, Billy McCutchen, James Presnail, Janet Rice, Clement Waine
  • Publication number: 20070157338
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acids encoding plant cyclotides. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the plant cyclotides, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in the production of altered levels of plant cyclotides in a transformed host cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Rafael Herrmann, Albert Lu, Billy McCutchen, James Presnail, Janet Rice, Clement Waine
  • Patent number: 7238781
    Abstract: This invention relates to plant defensin polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding them, and methods of use thereof. The invention also relates to a chimeric protein containing all or a portion of the plant defensin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Omolayo O. Famodu, Rafael Herrmann, Albert L. Lu, Billy Fred McCutchen, Guo-Hua Miao, James K. Presnail, Zude Weng