Patents by Inventor Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu

Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu 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: 20180305703
    Abstract: Various aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods and compositions for functionalizing endogenous bacteria in vivo. The methods include delivering to endogenous bacterial cells a recombinant bacteriophage or phagemid that is engineered to contain at least one genetic circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicants: Trustees of Boston University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu, Robert James Citorik, James Collins, Russell-John Krom
  • Publication number: 20180291372
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed, in some embodiments, to engineered nucleic acids comprising a promoter operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a guide ribonucleic acid (gRNA) that comprises a specificity determining sequence (SDS) and a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM). The present disclosure is directed, in some embodiments, to cells comprising, vectors comprising, and methods of producing the engineered nucleic acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu, Samuel David Perli, Hao Cui
  • Publication number: 20180274004
    Abstract: Composition and methods for the detection of one or more target microbe(s) are provided. Compositions of the disclosure include at least one recombinant phage capable of infecting a target microbe, said phage comprising at least a capsid protein sequence, a ribosome binding site, and a codon-optimized marker. Compositions of the disclosure may further include an aqueous solution that enhances the ability to detect marker expression upon phage infection of the target microbe. In some embodiments the target microbe is Listeria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Sandor Koeris, Michael Cappillino, Edyta Krzymanska-Olejnik, Daniel Robert Brownell, Robert Patrick Shivers, Jayson L. Bowers, Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu
  • Patent number: 10073087
    Abstract: Various aspects and embodiments provided herein are directed to compositions that include at least one nanoparticle linked to a first polypeptide, and a biologically synthesizable polymer linked to at least one second polypeptide that binds covalently to the first polypeptide. Other aspects and embodiments provided herein are directed to methods of producing the foregoing compositions and components therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Zhengtao Deng, Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu
  • Publication number: 20180163216
    Abstract: Provided herein, in some aspects, are tools (e.g., methods, compositions and nucleic acids) for building genetic circuits in Bacteroides and Parabacteroides bacteria, as well as the bacteria containing the genetic circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu, Mark K. Mimee, Christopher Voigt, Alex C. Tucker
  • Publication number: 20180155721
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel synthetic bacteriophages and bacteriophage compositions, methods of production thereof, and therapeutic uses thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu, Sebastien Lemire, Andrew C. Yang, Kevin M. Yehl
  • Publication number: 20180155400
    Abstract: Provided herein are synthetic pathways from Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae genes for the production of new, synthetic nonribosomal peptides, and methods and compositions comprising the same. Some aspects of the present disclosure are directed to modified bacterial cells comprising a compressed biosynthetic pathway that comprises (a) biosynthetic genes obtained from one species encoding enzymes active in the bioassembly of a nonribosomal molecule, (b) biosynthetic genes obtained from another species encoding enzymes active in the bioassembly of a nonribosomal molecule that is different from the nonribosomal molecule of (a). In some embodiments, the biosynthetic genes of (a) are Escherichia coli biosynthetic genes and may include entD gene, an entC gene, an entE gene, an entB gene and an entA gene. In some embodiments, the biosynthetic genes of (b) are Vibrio cholera biosynthetic genes and may include a vibH gene and a vibF gene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu, Sara da Luz Areosa Cleto
  • Publication number: 20180127759
    Abstract: Provided herein, in some embodiments, are genomic editing constructs that can achieve nearly 100% recombination efficiency within a select population of bacterial cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu, Fahim Farzadfard
  • Publication number: 20180119141
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for identifying genetic networks and methods of treating neurodegenerative disorders associated with ?-synuclein dysfunction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Ying-Chou Chen, Fahim Farzadfard, Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu
  • Patent number: 9957511
    Abstract: Various aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods and compositions for functionalizing endogenous bacteria in vivo. The methods include delivering to endogenous bacterial cells a recombinant bacteriophage or phagemid that is engineered to contain at least one genetic circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Trustees of Boston University
    Inventors: Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu, Robert James Citorik, James Collins, Russell-John Krom
  • Publication number: 20180111968
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to the engineering of biological nanostructures and materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu, Allen Yuyin Chen
  • Publication number: 20170369878
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and compositions of combinations of microRNAs that enhance the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents or reduce proliferation of cancer cells. Also described herein are methods for the identification of combinations of microRNAs that result in desired effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu, Alan Siu Lun Wong, Ching Gee Choi
  • Publication number: 20170373700
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to analog signal processing circuits and methods for cellular computation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu, Jacob Rosenblum, Gianluca Selvaggio
  • Publication number: 20170362599
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to analog signal processing circuits and methods for cellular computation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Ramez Daniel, Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu, Jacob Rosenblum Rubens
  • Publication number: 20170360850
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to genetically engineered organisms useful for the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Synlogic, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu, Jacob Rosenblum Rubens, Isaak Elis Mueller, Gianluca Selvaggio, Paul Miller, Dean Falb, Vincent Isabella, Jonathan Kotula
  • Patent number: 9828625
    Abstract: Methods of detecting target bacteria are provided. In some embodiments the methods comprise exposing the sample to a phage capable of infecting a set of target bacteria and comprising a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding a marker. In some embodiments the target bacteria comprise Listeria. In some embodiments the target bacteria are all Listeria. Recombinant Listeria phage comprising a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding a marker are also provided as are useful combinations of such phage and articles of manufacture comprising such phage, among other things.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Phage Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sandor Koeris, Julie Thomason, Michael Cappillino, Robert Patrick Shivers, Daniel Robert Brownell, Jayson L. Bowers, Timothy Kuan Ta Lu, Edyta Krzymanska-Olejnik
  • Publication number: 20170338943
    Abstract: In some aspects, the instant disclosure relates to the multiplexed encryption of information on nucleic acid molecules. In some aspects, the instant disclosure relates to a method of secure communication of information disseminated across at least one nucleic acid molecule, the method comprising (a) obtaining a modified keyboard comprising a personalized platform for translating text into a nucleic acid sequence; (b) translating a quantum of information into a nucleic acid message sequence using the modified keyboard of (a); and, (c) obtaining an at least one nucleic acid molecule, each molecule comprising: (i) the complete or a portion of the nucleic acid message sequence, and (ii) at least one contiguous stretch of randomized variable nucleic acid sequence flanking and/or inserted into the message sequence, thereby producing a nucleic acid molecule or a set of nucleic acid molecules containing the entire quantum of information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu, Peter A. Carr, Bijan Zakeri
  • Publication number: 20170335334
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to the use of steganographic methods to camouflage information encoded on nucleic acids. Specifically, the method comprising preparing a pool of recombinant nucleic acid constructs, wherein at least one of the constnjcts comprises the nucleic acid sequence to be camouflaged and wherein the pool is heterogeneous with respect to the orientation of the nucleic acid sequence to be camouflaged, and the information is camouflaged using genetic recombination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu, Peter A. Carr, Bijan Zakeri
  • Publication number: 20170335411
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to biosensing circuits that correct crosstalk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu, Isaak Elis Mueller, Jacob Rosenblum Rubens
  • Publication number: 20170306336
    Abstract: Provided herein are genetic constructs comprising genetic perturbation cassettes and methods of using such to assess the timing and order of gene expression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu