Patents by Inventor Richard Dixon

Richard Dixon 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: 7709701
    Abstract: The invention provides method and compositions for the modulation of condensed tannin production in plants. The methods of the invention allow creation of plants having novel phenotypes. Increased expression of condensed tannins in plants may be used to increase the nutritional value of food plants for both human and animal consumption. Increased condensed tannin content also reduces the potential for bloat in animals fed certain forage plants low in condensed tannin content. The invention may also be used to modify plant pigmentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
    Inventors: Richard A. Dixon, Shashi B. Sharma
  • Publication number: 20100064387
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for the modulation of epicatechin glucosyltransferase activity in plants. Increased expression of epicatechin glucosides, and ultimately anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, in plants may be used to increase the nutritional value of food plants for both human and animal consumption. Increased proanthocyanidin content also reduces the potential for bloat in animals fed certain forage plants low in condensed tannin content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Richard A. Dixon, Yongzhen Pang, Gregory J. Peel
  • Patent number: 7663023
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for decreasing lignin content and improving lignin profiles. Also provided are the plants prepared by the methods of the invention. Such plants may exhibit improved digestibility relative to prior plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
    Inventors: Richard A. Dixon, M. S. Srinivasa Reddy, Fang Chen
  • Publication number: 20100017913
    Abstract: The invention provides transgenic plants with resistance to infection by a root-infecting fungal plant pathogen such as Phymatotrichopsis omnivora. Also provided are methods of making such plants. Further provided are nucleic acid vectors for producing such a plant. Additionally, methods are provided for growing a dicotyledonous plant that is resistant to root rot disease in soil that comprises Phymatotrichopsis omnivora, or another pathogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Srinivasa Rao Uppalapati, Kirankumar Mysore, Wensheng Li, Lloyd Sumner, Richard A. Dixon
  • Publication number: 20090299329
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of reducing or ameliorating one or more symptoms of a cold or flu in a subject, comprising the steps of providing a source of water vapour, manipulating the subject's nose to occlude one nasal passageway, inhaling the water vapour through the remaining nasal passageway, and exhaling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventor: Charles Richard DIXON
  • Patent number: 7622638
    Abstract: The invention provides method and compositions for the modulation of condensed tannin production in plants. The methods of the invention allow creation of plants having novel phenotypes. Increased expression of condensed tannins in plants may be used to increase the nutritional value of food plants for both human and animal consumption. Increased condensed tannin content also reduces the potential for bloat in animals fed certain forage plants low in condensed tannin content. The invention may also be used to modify plant pigmentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
    Inventors: Richard A. Dixon, Nancy L. Paiva, Deyu Xie, Shashi Sharma
  • Publication number: 20090232736
    Abstract: Antibodies having dual specificity for two different but structurally related antigens are provided. The antibodies can be, for example, entirely human antibodies, recombinant antibodies, or monoclonal antibodies. Preferred antibodies have dual specificity for IL-1? and IL-1? and neutralize IL-1? and IL-1? activity in vitro and in vivo. An antibody of the invention can be a full-length antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof. Methods of making and methods of using the antibodies of the invention are also provided. The antibodies, or antibody portions, of the invention are useful for detecting two different but structurally related antigens (e.g., IL-1? and IL-1?) and for inhibiting the activity of the antigens, e.g., in a human subject suffering from a disorder in which IL-1? and/or IL-1? activity is detrimental.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Albert Collinson, George Avgerinos, Richard Dixon, Tariq Ghayur, Zehra Kaymakcalan
  • Publication number: 20090192720
    Abstract: The invention provides crystalline O-methyltransferases and isolated non-native O-methyltransferases as well as sets of their structural coordinates. Also provided are methods of predicting the activity or substrate specificity of putative O-methyl-transferases, methods of identifying potential substrates of O-methyltransferases, and methods of identifying potential inhibitors of methyltransferases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Joseph P. Noel, Chloe Zubieta, Richard Dixon
  • Publication number: 20090142471
    Abstract: The invention provides plant isoflavonoid hydroxylase coding sequences. Also provided are constructs comprising these sequences, plants transformed therewith and methods of use thereof. In certain aspects of the invention, plants transformed with the nucleic acids are provided exhibiting improved pest and disease resistance. Plants provided by the invention may also exhibit improved nutritional qualities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Richard A. Dixon, Chang-Jun Liu
  • Publication number: 20090083874
    Abstract: The invention provides method and compositions for the modulation of anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin production in plants. The methods of the invention allow creation of plants having novel phenotypes. Increased expression of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins in plants may be used to increase the nutritional value of food plants for both human and animal consumption. Increased proanthocyanidin content also reduces the potential for bloat in animals fed certain forage plants low in condensed tannin content. The invention may also be used to modify plant pigmentation, and for nutraceutical and food colorant production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Richard A. Dixon, Luzia V. Modolo, Gregory Peel
  • Patent number: 7491516
    Abstract: Antibodies having dual specificity for two different but structurally related antigens are provided. The antibodies can be, for example, entirely human antibodies, recombinant antibodies, or monoclonal antibodies. Preferred antibodies have dual specificity for IL-1? and IL-1? and neutralize IL-1? and IL-1? activity in vitro and in vivo. An antibody of the invention can be a full-length antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof. Methods of making and methods of using the antibodies of the invention are also provided. The antibodies, or antibody portions, of the invention are useful for detecting two different but structurally related antigens (e.g., IL-1? and IL-1? ) and for inhibiting the activity of the antigens, e.g., in a human subject suffering from a disorder in which IL-1? and/or IL-1? activity is detrimental.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Albert Collinson, George Avgerinos, Richard Dixon, Tariq Ghayur, Zehra Kaymakcalan
  • Publication number: 20090044294
    Abstract: Methods for transforming forage legumes or woody plants with a DNA construct comprising at least one open reading frame encoding for a caffeoyl CoA 3-O-methyltransferase enzyme or a Medicago sativa caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase enzyme or a fragment thereof in either a sense or antisense orientation under a lignification-associated tissue specific promoter have been found, resulting in the down-regulation of the corresponding homologous gene either through antisense inhibition or sense suppression, as well as reduced lignin content and modified lignin composition in the transgenic plants. The expression of the caffeoyl CoA 3-O-methyltransferase transgene produces an increased syringyl lignin to guaiacyl lignin ratio in the transformed plant, and greatly improved forage digestibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Richard A. Dixon, Dianjing Guo
  • Publication number: 20080317880
    Abstract: The invention provides enzymes that encode O-methyltransferases (OMTs) from Medicago truncatula that allow modification to plant (iso)flavonoid biosynthetic pathways. In certain aspects of the invention, the genes encoding these enzymes are provided. The invention therefore allows the modification of plants for isoflavonoid content. Transgenic plants comprising such enzymes are also provided, as well as methods for improving disease resistance in plants. Methods for producing food and nutraceuticals, and the resulting compositions, are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Bettina E. Broeckling, Chang-Jun Liu, Richard A. Dixon
  • Publication number: 20080282423
    Abstract: The invention provides bifunctional plant biosynthetic enzymes that increase the efficiency by which modification can be made to plant biosynthetic pathways. In certain aspects of the invention, bifunctional isoflavone biosynthetic enzymes are provided. The invention therefore allows the modification of plants for isoflavone content. The inventors have demonstrated increased isoflavone biosynthesis can be obtained even in non-legume plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Li Tian, Richard A. Dixon
  • Publication number: 20080274528
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for increasing the level of fermentable carbohydrates in a biofuel crop plant such as alfalfa or switchgrass, by modification of the lignin biosynthetic pathway. Also provided are plants prepared by the methods of the invention. Methods for processing plant tissue and for producing ethanol by utilizing such plants are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Richard A. Dixon, Fang Chen, Zengyu Wang
  • Patent number: 7442851
    Abstract: The invention provides plant isoflavonoid hydroxylase coding sequences. Also provided are constructs comprising these sequences, plants transformed therewith and methods of use thereof. In certain aspects of the invention, plants transformed with the nucleic acids are provided exhibiting improved pest and disease resistance. Plants provided by the invention may also exhibit improved nutritional qualities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
    Inventors: Richard A. Dixon, Chang-Jun Liu
  • Publication number: 20080249466
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for back injecting an implant (30) into the skin (22) of a subject, said device (1) include a hollow main body (10), to which a hollow needle (28) is fixed into which the implant (30) is introduced, a secondary body (12; 114) coaxially arranged inside the main body (10) and surrounding the needle (28) and a piston rod (88) able to slide coaxially inside said hollow needle (28) and whose position relative to said needle (28) remains unchanged when the back injection device (1) is pressed against the subject's skin (22) to allow the needle (28) to penetrate said subject's skin and when the secondary body (12) retracts inside the main body (10), the piston rod (88) penetrating the interior of the hollow needle (28) to hold the implant (30) at the required depth in the subject's skin (22) during withdrawal of the hollow needle (28) from the subject's skin (22), during which the secondary body (12; 114) exits the main body (10), characterized in that it includes means for the elasti
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: S.C.R.A.S.
    Inventors: Christophe Aubert, Roland Cherif-Cheikh, Thierry Rimlinger, Fabrice Bonacci, Serge Barneaud, Grant Timothy Lewis Smetham, Julian Richard Dixon, Matthew Egerton Young
  • Patent number: 7432425
    Abstract: Methods of genetically manipulating biology active 4?-O-methylated isoflavonoids have been found based upon the regiospecifity of isoflavone 7-OMT in vivo. Upon transformation and expression of an isoflavonoid O-methyltransferase gene, up-regulation of IOMT in the transgenic plants can be used to increase the accumulation of 4?-O-methylated isoflavonoid phytolalexins, providing for increased disease resistance to the plant. Similar methods can be used to increase accumulation of 4?-O-methylated isoflavonoid nutraceuticals in plants. For down-regulation of IOMT in plants that naturally make 4?O-isoflavonoid phytoalexins and 4?-O-methylated isoflavonoid nutraceuticals, IOMT gene sequences can be transformed in the antisense orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
    Inventors: Richard A. Dixon, Xian Z. He
  • Patent number: 7384759
    Abstract: The invention provides crystalline O-methyltransferases and isolated non-native O-methyltransferases as well as sets of their structural coordinates. Also provided are methods of predicting the activity or substrate specificity of putative O-methyltransferases, methods of identifying potential substrates of O-methyltransferases, and methods of identifying potential inhibitors of methyltranferases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignees: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
    Inventors: Joseph P. Noel, Chloe Zubieta, Richard Dixon
  • Publication number: 20080085313
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of treatment of sleep apnea by administering an endothelin antagonist, such as sitaxsentan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a patient in need of the treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Bruce Given, Richard Dixon