Patents by Inventor Ruth Cong

Ruth Cong 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: 9109231
    Abstract: Traditionally, the primary method for impacting insect pest populations is the application of broad-spectrum chemical insecticides. However, there is increasing concern about the environmental hazards associated with the production and use of synthetic chemical pesticides. Thus, there is substantial interest in developing alternative pesticides, including biological control of insect pests of agricultural significance using a microbial agent or another species of insect. The present invention provides compositions and methods for such biological control. Modified Cry3 pesticidal polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, and methods of use are disclosed. The modified polynucleotides provided herein can be used to transform organisms and cells of hosts comprising plant, insects, and microorganisms. The expression of modified polypeptides can provide the host with improved insecticidal activity against one or more insect pathogens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: PIONEER HI BRED INTERNATIONAL INC
    Inventors: Ericka Bermudez, Ruth Cong, Jingtong Hou, Takashi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20140274885
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for controlling pests are provided. The methods involve transforming organisms with a nucleic acid sequence encoding an insecticidal protein. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences are useful for preparing plants and microorganisms that possess insecticidal activity. Thus, transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, plant tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions are insecticidal nucleic acids and proteins of bacterial species. The sequences find use in the construction of expression vectors for subsequent transformation into organisms of interest, as probes for the isolation of other homologous (or partially homologous) genes. The insecticidal proteins find use in controlling, inhibiting growth or killing lepidopteran, coleopteran, dipteran, fungal, hemipteran, and nematode pest populations and for producing compositions with insecticidal activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC
    Inventors: Ruth Cong, Jingtong Hou, Zhenglin Hou, Phillip Patten, Takashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8686233
    Abstract: The present invention provides insecticidal polypeptides related to shuffled Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1 polypeptides. Nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides of the invention are also provided. Methods for using the polypeptides and nucleic acids of the invention to enhance resistance of plants to insect predation are encompassed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Pioneer Hi Bred International Inc
    Inventors: David Cerf, Ruth Cong, Michael Freeman, Kevin McBride, Takashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8575433
    Abstract: The present invention provides insecticidal polypeptides related to shuffled Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1 polypeptides. Nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides of the invention are also provided. Methods for using the polypeptides and nucleic acids of the invention to enhance resistance of plants to insect predation are encompassed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Pioneer Hi Bred International Inc
    Inventors: David Cerf, Ruth Cong, Michael Freeman, Kevin E. McBride, Takashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8530411
    Abstract: The present invention provides insecticidal polypeptides related to shuffled Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1 polypeptides. Nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides of the invention are also provided. Methods for using the polypeptides and nucleic acids of the invention to enhance resistance of plants to insect predation are encompassed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: David Cerf, Ruth Cong, Michael Freeman, Kevin E. McBride, Takashi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20120210462
    Abstract: Traditionally, the primary method for impacting insect pest populations is the application of broad-spectrum chemical insecticides. However, there is increasing concern about the environmental hazards associated with the production and use of synthetic chemical pesticides. Thus, there is substantial interest in developing alternative pesticides, including biological control of insect pests of agricultural significance using a microbial agent or another species of insect. The present invention provides compositions and methods for such biological control. Modified Cry3 pesticidal polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, and methods of use are disclosed. The modified polynucleotides provided herein can be used to transform organisms and cells of hosts comprising plant, insects, and microorganisms. The expression of modified polypeptides can provide the host with improved insecticidal activity against one or more insect pathogens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ericka Bermudez, Ruth Cong, Jingtong Hou, Takashi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20120117690
    Abstract: The present invention provides insecticidal polypeptides related to shuffled Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1 polypeptides. Nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides of the invention are also provided. Methods for using the polypeptides and nucleic acids of the invention to enhance resistance of plants to insect predation are encompassed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: David Cerf, Ruth Cong, Michael Freeman, Kevin McBride, Takashi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20110055968
    Abstract: The present invention provides insecticidal polypeptides related to shuffled Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1 polypeptides. Nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides of the invention are also provided. Methods for using the polypeptides and nucleic acids of the invention to enhance resistance of plants to insect predation are encompassed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: DAVID CERF, RUTH CONG, MICHAEL FREEMAN, KEVIN E. McBRIDE, TAKASHI YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 7858849
    Abstract: The present invention provides insecticidal polypeptides related to shuffled Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1 polypeptides. Nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides of the invention are also provided. Methods for using the polypeptides and nucleic acids of the invention to enhance resistance of plants to insect predation are encompassed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: David Cerf, Ruth Cong, Michael Freeman, Kevin McBride, Takashi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20090226998
    Abstract: The present invention provides insecticidal polypeptides related to shuffled Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1 polypeptides. Nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides of the invention are also provided. Methods for using the polypeptides and nucleic acids of the invention to enhance resistance of plants to insect predation are encompassed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: DAVID CERF, RUTH CONG, MICHAEL FREEMAN, KEVIN E. McBRIDE, TAKASHI YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20080172762
    Abstract: The present invention provides insecticidal polypeptides related to shuffled Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1 polypeptides. Nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides of the invention are also provided. Methods for using the polypeptides and nucleic acids of the invention to enhance resistance of plants to insect predation are encompassed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: David Cerf, Ruth Cong, Michael Freeman, Kevin McBride, Takashi Yamamoto