Patents by Inventor Zhijian T. Li

Zhijian T. Li 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).

  • Antimicrobial peptides and uses thereof
    Patent number: 9074218
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to methods and materials for enhancing microbial resistance in plants. Specifically exemplified herein are grapevines transformed with polynucleotides that express a peptide which confers antimicrobial activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Zhijian T. Li, Dennis J. Gray
  • ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES AND USES THEREOF
    Publication number: 20140082766
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to methods and materials for enhancing microbial resistance in plants. Specifically exemplified herein are grapevines transformed with polynucleotides that express a peptide which confers antimicrobial activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventors: ZHIJIAN T. LI, DENNIS J. GRAY
  • Antimicrobial peptides and uses thereof
    Patent number: 8592651
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to methods and materials for enhancing microbial resistance in plants. Specifically exemplified herein are grapevines transformed with polynucleotides that express a peptide which confers antimicrobial activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhijian T. Li, Dennis J. Gray
  • HYBRID PEPTIDES HAVING ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING HYBRID PEPTIDES
    Publication number: 20100138957
    Abstract: The present invention concerns the development and utilization of hybrid lytic peptides derived from non-venomous molecular sources to confer a high level of sustainable resistance to phytopathogens in transgenic plants. In an exemplified embodiment, a composition of the invention comprises a cecropin-pleurocidin hybrid peptide of 27 amino acids. The peptide was designed based on optimization of critical molecular and physiochemical parameters. Peptides of the invention offer significantly enhanced antimicrobial activity and molecular properties associated with low cytotoxicity. Transgenic plants of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) that express a peptide of the invention show antimicrobial activity against xylem-limited phytopathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiasa at a level significantly higher than that from other existing lytic peptides. Thus, the hybrid peptides of the invention can be utilized as an antimicrobial agent for agricultural use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Zhijian T. Li, Dennis J Gray
  • Antimicrobial Peptides and Uses Thereof
    Publication number: 20100024068
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to methods and materials for enhancing microbial resistance in plants. Specifically exemplified herein are grapevines transformed with polynucleotides that express a peptide which confers antimicrobial resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Zhijian T. Li, Dennis J. Gray
  • Nucleotide sequences of 2S albumin gene and its promoter from grape and uses thereof
    Patent number: 7250296
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to the isolation of nucleotide sequences of the 2S albumin gene and its promoter from grape. Promoter sequences of the invention provide for seed-specific transcription of operably linked polynucleotide sequences. Seed-specific expression activity of the subject promoter was also characterized by using transient green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression analysis in transformed somatic embryos (SE) of grape (cv. Thompson Seedless). The subject invention also concerns expression constructs comprising a promoter of the present invention. Plants, plant tissues, and plant cells bred to contain or transformed with a polynucleotide of the invention are also contemplated by the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhijian T. Li, Dennis J. Gray
  • Nucleotide sequences of 2S albumin gene and its promoter from grape and uses thereof
    Publication number: 20040177404
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to the isolation of nucleotide sequences of the 2S albumin gene and its promoter from grape. Promoter sequences of the invention provide for seed-specific transcription of operably linked polynucleotide sequences. Seed-specific expression activity of the subject promoter was also characterized by using transient green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression analysis in transformed somatic embryos (SE) of grape (cv. Thompson Seedless). The subject invention also concerns expression constructs comprising a promoter of the present invention. Plants, plant tissues, and plant cells bred to contain or transformed with a polynucleotide of the invention are also contemplated by the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Zhijian T. Li, Dennis J. Gray