Patents by Inventor William P. Donovan

William P. Donovan 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: 6093695
    Abstract: Disclosed is a novel .delta.-endotoxin, designated CryET29, that exhibits insecticidal activity against siphonapteran insects, including larvae of the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis), as well as against colcopteran insects, including the southern corn rootworm (Diabrotica undecimpunctata), western corn rootworm (D. virgifera), Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica), and red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneur). Also disclosed are nucleic acid segments encoding CryET29, recombinant vectors, host cells, and transgenic plants comprising a cryET29 DNA segment. Methods for making and using the disclosed protein and nucleic acid segments are disclosed as well as assays and diagnostic kits for detecting cryET29 and CryET29 sequences in vivo and in vitro.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Mark J. Rupar, William P. Donovan, Yuping Tan, Annette C. Slaney
  • Patent number: 6063756
    Abstract: Disclosed are Bacillus thuringiensis strains comprising novel crystal proteins which exhibit insecticidal activity against coleopteran insects including red flour beetle larvae (Tribolium castaneum) and Japanese beetle larvae (Popillia japonica). Also disclosed are novel B. thuringiensis crystal toxin genes, designated cryET33 and cryET34, which encode the colepteran-toxic crystal proteins, CryET33 (29-kDa) crystal protein, and the cryET34 gene encodes the 14-kDa CryET34 crystal protein. The CryET33 and CryET34 crystal proteins are toxic to red flour beetle larvae and Japanese beetle larvae. Also disclosed are methods of making and using transgenic cells comprising the novel nucleic acid sequences of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: William P. Donovan, Judith C. Donovan, Annette C. Slaney
  • Patent number: 5962264
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery, isolation, sequencing and characterization of two protease genes present in B.t. One is an alkaline protease gene generally designated "apr." The other is a neutral protease gene generally designated "npr." The invention also includes genetically disabling the apr and the npr genes to reduce proteolytic activity of the proteases encoded by the genes, and using the disabled genes in insecticidal B.t. constructs along with one or more B.t. protein toxin genes. These resulting B.t. constructs are useful for the enhanced production of B.t. toxin protein. The B.t. toxin protein recovered from the fermentation production of these B.t. constructs also exhibits improved stability with respect to its insecticidal activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: William P. Donovan, Yuping Tan
  • Patent number: 5942658
    Abstract: A Bacillus thuringiensis strain isolate, designated B.t. strain EG5847, exhibits insecticidal activity against lepidopteran insects. Two novel toxin genes from B.t. strain EG5847 designated cryET4 and cryET5 produce insecticidal proteins with activity against a broad spectrum of insects of the order Lepidoptera, The cryET4 gene has a nucleotide base sequence shown in FIG. 1 and listed in SEQ ID NO:1 and produces a CryET4 gene product having the deduced amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1 and listed in SEQ ID NO:2. The cryET5 gene has a nucleotide base sequence shown in FIG. 2 and listed in SEQ ID NO:3 and produces a CryET5 gene product having the deduced amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 2 and listed in SEQ ID NO:4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: William P. Donovan, Yuping Tan, Christine S. Jany, Jose M. Gonzalez, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5854053
    Abstract: A Bacillus thuringiensis strain isolate, designated B.t. strain EG5847, exhibits insecticidal activity against lepidopteran insects. Two novel toxin genes from B.t. strain EG5847 designated cryET4 and cryET5 produce insecticidal proteins with activity against a broad spectrum of insects of the order Lepidoptera. The cryET4 gene has a nucleotide base sequence shown in FIG. 1 and listed in SEQ ID NO:1 and produces a CryET4 gene product having the deduced amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1 and listed in SEQ ID NO:2. The cryET5 gene has a nucleotide base sequence shown in FIG. 2 and listed in SEQ ID NO:3 and produces a CryET5 gene product having the deduced amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 2 and listed in SEQ ID NO:4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Ecogen, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Donovan, Jose M. Gonzalez, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5759538
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery, isolation, sequencing and characterization of two protease genes present in Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.). One is an alkaline protease gene generally designated "apr. " The other is a neutral protease gene generally designated "npr." The invention also includes genetically disabling the apr and the npr genes to reduce proteolytic activity of the proteases encoded by the genes, and using the disabled genes in insecticidal B.t. constructs along with one or more B.t. protein toxin genes. These resulting B.t. constructs are useful for the enhanced production of B.t. toxin protein. The B.t. toxin protein recovered from the fermentation production of these B.t. constructs also exhibits improved stability with respect to its insecticidal activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: William P. Donovan, Yuping Tan
  • Patent number: 5679343
    Abstract: A Bacillus thuringiensis strain isolate, designated B.t. strain EG5847, exhibits insecticidal activity against lepidopteran insects. Two novel toxin genes from B.t. strain EG5847 designated cryET4 and cryET5 produce insecticidal proteins with activity against a broad spectrum of insects of the order Lepidoptera. The cryET4 gene has a nucleotide base sequence shown in FIG. 1 and listed in SEQ ID NO:1 and produces a CryET4 gene product having the deduced amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1 and listed in SEQ ID NO:2. The cryET5 gene has a nucleotide base sequence shown in FIG. 2 and listed in SEQ ID NO:3 and produces a CryET5 gene product having the deduced amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 2 and listed in SEQ ID NO:4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: William P. Donovan, Yuping Tan, Christine S. Jany, Jose M. Gonzalez, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5616319
    Abstract: A Bacillus thuringiensis strain isolate, designated B.t. strain EG5847, exhibits insecticidal activity against lepidopteran insects. Two novel toxin genes from B.t. strain EG5847 designated cryET4 and cryET5 produce insecticidal proteins with activity against a broad spectrum of insects of the order Lepidoptera. The cryET4 gene has a nucleotide base sequence shown in FIG. 1 and listed in SEQ ID NO:1 and produces a CryET4 gene product having the deduced amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1 and listed in SEQ ID NO:2. The cryET5 gene has a nucleotide base sequence shown in FIG. 2 and listed in SEQ ID NO:3 and produces a CryET5 gene product having the deduced amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 2 and listed in SEQ ID NO:4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: William P. Donovan, Yuping Tan, Christine S. Jany, Jos e M. Gonz alez, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5382429
    Abstract: A purified and isolated cryIII-type gene was obtained from a novel B.t. strain. The gene has a nucleotide base sequence coding for the amino acid sequence illustrated in FIG. 1 . The 74.4 kDa protein produced by this gene is an irregularly shaped crystal that is toxic to coleopteran insects, including Colorado potato beetle and insects of the genus Diabrotica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Ecogen Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Donovan, Mark J. Rupar, Annette C. Slaney, Timothy B. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5378625
    Abstract: A Bacillus thuringiensis strain isolate, designated EG5144, exhibits insecticidal activity against coleopteran insects, including Colorado potato beetle and insects of the genus Diabrotica. A novel toxin gene in B.t. strain EG5144 produces an irregularly shaped insecticidal crystal protein of approximately 70 kDa that is toxic to coleopteran insects. The cryIII-type gene (SEQ ID NO:1), designated as the cryIIIC(b) gene, has a nucleotide base sequence illustrated in FIG. 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Ecogen, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Donovan, Mark J. Rupar, Annette C. Slaney
  • Patent number: 5338544
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a CryIIB protein which is insecticidal against lepidopteran insects, insecticidal compositions comprising the CryIIB protein and methods for use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Ecogen Inc.
    Inventor: William P. Donovan
  • Patent number: 5322687
    Abstract: A Bacillus thuringiensis strain isolate, designated B.t. strain EG5847, exhibits insecticidal activity against lepidopteran insects. Two novel toxin genes from B.t. strain EG5847 designated cryET4 and cryET5 produce insecticidal proteins with activity against a broad spectrum of insects of the order Lepidoptera. The cryET4 gene has a nucleotide base sequence shown in FIG. 1 and listed in SEQ ID NO:1 and produces a CryET4 gene product having the deduced amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1 and listed in SEQ ID NO:2. The cryET5 gene has a nucleotide base sequence shown in FIG. 2 and listed in SEQ ID NO:3 and produces a CryET5 gene product having the deduced amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 2 and listed in SEQ ID NO:4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Ecogen Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Donovan, Yuping Tan, Christine S. Jany, Jose M. Gonzalez, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5196342
    Abstract: This invention relates to a crystalline protein toxin useful as a biological insecticide which is known as P-2 toxin, or P-2 delta-endotoxin and which is produced by Bacillus thuringiensis. More specifically, this invention relates to the cloning and expression in various microorganisms of the gene coding for the P-2 delta-endotoxin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: PruTech R&D Partnership II
    Inventor: William P. Donovan
  • Patent number: 5187091
    Abstract: A purified and isolated cryIII-type gene was obtained from a novel B.t. strain. The gene has a nucleotide base sequence coding for the amino acid sequence illustrated in FIG. 1. The 74.4 kDa protein produced by this gene is an irregularly shaped crystal that is toxic to coleopteran insects, including Colorado potato beetle and insects of the genus Diabrotica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Ecogen Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Donovan, Mark J. Rupar, Annette C. Slaney, Timothy B. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5073632
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a purified and isolated gene having a nucleotide sequence coding for the amino acid sequence for the CryIIB protein (the nucleotide coding sequence being illustrated in FIG. 6 extending from nucleotides 874 through 2775).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Ecogen Inc.
    Inventor: William P. Donovan
  • Patent number: 5024837
    Abstract: This invention relates to Bacillus thuringiensis strains that have insecticidal activity against lepidopteran and coleopteran insects, the coleopteran-active endotoxin being produced by an acquired plasmid. This invention also relates to the crystalline protein toxin useful as a biological insecticide against Coleoptera which toxin is produced by the strain of Bacillus thuringiensis. This invention also relates to the expression in various microorganisms of the gene, known as cryC, which codes for this toxin, and for related novel insecticide compositions and methods for their use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Inventors: William P. Donovan, Jose M. Gonzalez, Jr., Barry L. Levinson, Anthony Macaluso
  • Patent number: D310719
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Inventor: William P. Donovan
  • Patent number: D321936
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Inventor: William P. Donovan