Patents Issued in January 26, 2016
  • Patent number: 9243244
    Abstract: This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for reducing ?-catenin target RNA and protein levels via use of dsRNAs, e.g., Dicer substrate siRNA (DsiRNA) agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob D. Brown, Henryk T. Dudek
  • Patent number: 9243245
    Abstract: The invention provides means and methods for alleviating one or more symptom(s) of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and/or Becker Muscular Dystrophy. Therapies using compounds for providing patients with functional muscle proteins are combined with at least one adjunct compound for reducing inflammation, preferably for reducing muscle tissue inflammation, and/or at least one adjunct compound for improving muscle fiber function, integrity and/or survival.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignees: Academisch Ziekenhuis Leiden, BioMarin Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Josephus Johannes De Kimpe, Gerard Johannes Platenburg, Judith Christina Theodora Van Deutekom, Annemieke Aartsma-Rus, Garrit-Jan Boudewijn Van Ommen
  • Patent number: 9243246
    Abstract: Single-stranded RNA molecules comprise one or more internal, non-nucleotide spacers, covalently linked with nucleotide portions of the molecule are provided. The single-stranded RNA molecules function as guide or antisense strands that are capable of inhibiting gene expression via an RNA interference mechanism, and thus represent single-stranded RNAi agents. The single-stranded RNAi molecules can be used in methods for a variety of therapeutic, diagnostic, target validation, genomic discovery, genetic engineering, and pharmacogenomic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Sirna Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Lim, Guillaume Chorn, Aarron Willingham, Lihong Zhao
  • Patent number: 9243247
    Abstract: Provided is a use of an miRNA of an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), more specifically, EBV miR-BART4-5p, miR-BART4-3p, miR-BART1-5p, miR-BART15-3p, miR-BART5-5p, miR-BART5-3p, miR-BART16-5p, miR-BART16-3p, miR-BART17-3p, miR-BART21-3p, miR-BART18-5p, miR-BART7-5p, miR-BART9-5p, miR-BART22-5p, miR-BART20-3p, miR-BART13-5p, miR-BART13-3p, miR-BART2-3p, and mimics thereof for promoting apoptosis or inhibiting cell growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Catholic University Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Suk Kyeong Lee, Hoyun Choi
  • Patent number: 9243248
    Abstract: The invention relates to compositions comprising double-stranded oligonucleotides of identical or different sequences and/or length, said oligonucleotides having sequences 3?N1N2 . . . Ni-1Ni . . . Nj5? wherein—3?Ni . . . Nj5? is half of a double-stranded 19-28 mer oligonucleotide of sequence complementary to a target nucleic acid sequence present in a living cell, and—3?N1 . . . Ni-15? is a 3-50 mer overhang of sequence allowing oligomerization of said double-stranded oligonucleotide. Compositions of transfection comprising said oligonucleotide compositions and there used for therapeutical application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: POLYPLUS-TRANSFECTION SA
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Behr, Anne-Laure Bolcato Bellemin, Patrick Erbacher
  • Patent number: 9243249
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for the treatment of metabolic disorders. Also provided herein are methods and compositions for the reduction of blood glucose level, the reduction of gluceoneogenesis, the improvement of insulin resistance and the reduction of plasma cholesterol level. In certain embodiments, the methods comprise inhibiting the activity of miR-103. In certain embodiments, the methods comprise inhibiting the activity of miR-107. In certain embodiments, the activity of both miR-103 and miR-107 is inhibited. In certain embodiments, such methods comprise administering a compound comprising an oligonucleotide targeted to a microRNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ETH ZURICH
    Inventors: Markus Stoffel, Mirko Trajkovski
  • Patent number: 9243250
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of quantifying miR-185 as a potential biomarker in lipid disorder or cardiovascular diseases in human. The present invention also provides a method of modulating miR-185 in regulating LDL and cholesterol metabolism in cells. The present invention has therapeutic potential in the treatment of cholesterol/LDL related cardiovascular diseases in humans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Muhua Yang, Joseph T Nickels, Jr., Weidong Liu, Christina Ann Pellicane
  • Patent number: 9243251
    Abstract: Molecules are provided for inducing or facilitating exon skipping in forming spliced mRNA products from pre-mRNA molecules in cells. The molecules may be provided directly as oligonucleotides or expression products of vectors that are administered to a subject. High rates of skipping can be achieved. High rates of skipping reduce the severity of a disease like Duchene Muscular Dystrophy so that the disease is more like Becker Muscular Dystrophy. This is a severe reduction in symptom severity and mortality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Royal Holloway, University of London
    Inventors: Linda Popplewell, Ian Graham, John George Dickson
  • Patent number: 9243252
    Abstract: Molecules are provided for inducing or facilitating exon skipping in forming spliced mRNA products from pre-mRNA molecules in cells. The molecules may be provided directly as oligonucleotides or expression products of vectors that are administered to a subject. High rates of skipping can be achieved. High rates of skipping reduce the severity of a disease like Duchene Muscular Dystrophy so that the disease is more like Becker Muscular Dystrophy. This is a severe reduction in symptom severity and mortality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Royal Holloway, University of London
    Inventors: Linda Popplewell, Ian Graham, John George Dickson
  • Patent number: 9243253
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for expression of a nucleic acid construct comprising nucleic acids encoding a) a recombinant polypeptide, and b) a prototrophy-restoring enzyme in a host cell that is auxotrophic for at least one metabolite. In various embodiments, the host cell is auxotrophic for a nitrogenous base compound or an amino acid. The invention involves introducing an analogue into the growth media for the host cell such that the analogue is incorporated into the recombinant polypeptide or a nucleic acid coding sequence thereof. In various embodiments, the compositions and methods disclosed herein result in improved recombinant protein expression compared to expression of recombinant protein in an antibiotic selection system, or compared to expression of the recombinant protein in an expression system that lacks a metabolite analogue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Pfenex, Inc.
    Inventors: Diane M. Retallack, Lawrence C. Chew, Charles H. Squires
  • Patent number: 9243254
    Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides, nucleic acids and methods for transforming a bacterium belonging to the Streptococcus genus by natural competence and their use in the food and feed industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: DUPONT NUTRITION BIOSCIENCES APS
    Inventors: Patrick Boyaval, Christophe Fremaux, Pascal Hols, Laetitia Fontaine, Philippe Horvath
  • Patent number: 9243255
    Abstract: The invention provides novel strains Agrobacterium tumefaciens KKP 2039p and Paracoccus alcaliphilus KKP 2040p, the plasmid pSinA and its functional derivative, method for producing bacterial strains capable of chemolithotrophic arsenite oxidation and novel bacterial strains produced by this method. The invention also relates to the composition, comprising the novel bacterial strain or the plasmid pSinA and the use of these novel strains, as well as the method of bioaugmentation of an arsenic contaminated environment, particularly the method for the removal of arsenic from waters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: UNIWERSYTET WARSZAWSKI
    Inventors: Lukasz Drewniak, Aleksandra Sklodowska, Monika Radlinska, Martyna Ciezkowska
  • Patent number: 9243256
    Abstract: The invention relates to the combination of the TLG1 glucoamylase from Thermomyces lanuginoses with: (i) the SFA1 alpha-amylase from Saccharomycopsis fibuligera; and/or (ii) the LKA alpha-amylase. The enzyme combinations may be expressed in a host cell (e.g. in Saccharomyces cerevisiae) or provided as an enzyme composition. Methods for making the enzyme combinations of the invention are provided. The invention also relates to a yeast strain which exhibits amylolytic activity and promising fermentative abilities. Processes for producing a fermentation product (in particular alcohol) from starch-containing material are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignees: Stellenbosch University, Universita Degli Studi Di Padova
    Inventors: Willem Heber Van Zyl, Tania Jooste, Johann Ferdinand Gorgens, Maryna Saayman, Lorenzo Favaro, Marina Basaglia, Sergio Casella
  • Patent number: 9243257
    Abstract: Provided is a peptide which is capable of repressing transcription in a plant and which can be used in the CRES-T (a simple and widely applicable means for repressing gene transcription). Also provided is a gene encoding the peptide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Masaru Takagi, Miho Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9243258
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions include a novel nucleotide sequence for a promoter for the gene encoding Sorghum bicolor TIP2-3. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises transforming a plant or plant cell with a nucleotide sequence operably linked to one of the promoters of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: PIONEER HI BRED INTERNATIONAL INC
    Inventors: Andrew C. Crow, Scott Diehn, Brooke Peterson-Burch
  • Patent number: 9243259
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for conferring nematicidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions including a coding sequence for nematicidal polypeptides are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also include transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated nematicidal nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules including nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:4, 5, 8, 9, 13, 14, 47, 48, or 49, the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 15, 45, or 46, as well as variants and fragments thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ATHENIX CORP.
    Inventors: Cheryl L. Peters, Brian Vande Berg, Brian Carr, Julia T. Daum, Vadim Beilinson, Sandra Volrath, Candace Poutre, Kimberly Sampson
  • Patent number: 9243260
    Abstract: The present invention relates to materials and methods for the expression of a gene of interest selectively in cotton fibers. In particular, the invention provides an expression cassette for regulating fiber-selective expression in plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignees: Bayer CropScience NV, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
    Inventors: Danny Llewellyn, Frank Meulewaeter
  • Patent number: 9243261
    Abstract: A transgenic plant engineered to have increased desiccation tolerance, increased drought tolerance or increased water use efficiency, the plant transformed with an artificial DNA construct comprising a transcribable nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide requiring both ABA and ABI3 to influence desiccation tolerance. Also provided are DNA constructs and methods of producing a transgenic plant engineered to have increased desiccation tolerance, increased drought tolerance or increased water use efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Washington University
    Inventors: Ralph S. Quatrano, Yoichi Sakata, Izumi Yotsui
  • Patent number: 9243262
    Abstract: Improved compositions and methods for controlling pests are disclosed. In particular, novel engineered Cry1Ba (eCry1Ba) proteins having improved toxicity to lepidopteran insect pests are provided. By substituting at least one amino acid in domain I of a Cry1Ba protein an engineered Cry1Ba protein having substantially altered insecticidal properties is designed. Further, a method of making the engineered Cry1Ba proteins and methods of using the ecry1Ba nucleic acid sequences, for example in transgenic plants to express eCry1B proteins to confer protection from insect damage are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Syngenta Participations AG
    Inventors: Yan Gao, Jared Conville, Jeng Shong Chen
  • Patent number: 9243263
    Abstract: The present invention relates to steroidal ligands for use in nuclear receptor-based inducible gene expression systems. The invention further relates to methods of modulating the expression of genes of interest with a system containing one or more nuclear receptor complexes and one or more steroidal ligands. Further aspects include ligand compositions including therapeutic compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Intrexon Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Hormann, Silvia Lapenna, Laurence Neil Dinan
  • Patent number: 9243264
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of hydrogen and methanogen/s, the methanogen/s is/are provided in an aqueous growth substrate and the aqueous growth substrate is pressurized to a pressure of from 5 to 1000 bar with a pressurizing fluid containing or comprising carbon dioxide. In an embodiment of the invention, a cathode is provided to generate hydrogen and also to control the pH of the aqueous growth substrate. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: FFGF Limited
    Inventor: Steven Alan Wolfowitz
  • Patent number: 9243265
    Abstract: Provided are a recombinant Ralstonia eutropha capable of producing polylactate or a hydroxyalkanoate-lactate copolymer, and a method of preparing polylactate or a hydroxyalkanoate-lactate copolymer using the same. The recombinant Ralstonia eutropha, which is prepared by introducing a gene of an enzyme converting lactate into lactyl-CoA and a gene of a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase using lactyl-CoA as a substrate thereto, may be cultured, thereby efficiently preparing a lactate polymer and a lactate copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taek Ho Yang, Si Jae Park, Eun Jeong Lee, Hye Ok Kang, Tae Wan Kim, Sang Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 9243266
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to the microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoic acids, or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), from substrates which cannot be used as a source of carbon and/or energy for microbial growth or PHA synthesis and which have microbial and environmental toxicity. According to one embodiment of the invention, a process for the production of PHA is provided wherein an enzyme such as methane monooxygenase is used to convert volatile organic compounds into PHA through the use of microorganisms that are unable to use volatile organic compounds as a source of carbon for growth or PHA production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Newlight Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Markus Herrema, Kenton Kimmel
  • Patent number: 9243267
    Abstract: The invention provides novel methods for making or modifying oils, e.g., plant animal or microbial oils, such as vegetable oils or related compounds, that are low in a particular fatty acid(s), for example, low linoleic oils, linolenic oils, low palmitic oils, low stearic oils or oils low in a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: DSM IP ASSETS B.V.
    Inventors: David Lam, David Weiner, Tim S. Hitchman, Nelson R. Barton, Jonathan D. Lyon
  • Patent number: 9243268
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing cysteine or derivatives thereof using novel O-phosphoserine sulfhydrylase. According to the present invention, a method for producing cysteine by novel O-phosphoserine sulfhydrylase (OPSS) using O-phosphoserine as a substrate is provided, and this method is advantageous in that cysteine can be simply and environmental-friendly produced in a high yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: CJ CHEILJEDANG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Byeong Cheol Song, Jin Sook Chang, Jae Hyun Jo, Hye Won Kim
  • Patent number: 9243269
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for an expression system for the production of blue pigment indigoidine. The system comprises a heterologous host cell, a DNA sequence encoding a Sc-IndB protein, and a DNA sequence encoding a Sc-IndC protein. The system may be configured for the co-expression of the Sc-IndB and Sc-IndC. DNA sequences encoding the Sc-IndB and Sc-IndC may be provided on at least one vector. Alternatively, the DNA sequences encoding the Sc-IndB and Sc-IndC may optionally be integrated into the genome of the heterologous host genome. The expression system may further comprise a sfp gene or a PPTase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Utah State University
    Inventor: Jixun Zhan
  • Patent number: 9243270
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method for producing metabolites from omeprazole using bacterial cytochrome P450, and a composition therefor, and more specifically, to a composition and a kit for producing a 5?-hydroxyl product from omeprazole, containing bacterial cytochrome P450 BM3 (CYP102A1) or mutants thereof, and to a method for producing the same. The composition, the kit, and the method are capable of economically and highly efficiently mass-producing the 5?-hydroxyl product from the omeprazole, and thus will significantly contribute to development of a novel drug using metabolites from the omeprazole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Inventor: Chul-Ho Yun
  • Patent number: 9243271
    Abstract: This invention is in the field of bacterial cultures and specifically relates to the optimization of culture conditions to improve the production of bacterial capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus strains in fed batch culture and to novel purification methods suitable for production scale purification of bacterial capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus strains resulting in higher levels of purity than previously obtained for production scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: NOVARTIS AG
    Inventors: Paolo Costantino, Francesco Norelli, Francesco Berti, Roberto Olivieri, Giulia Bazzocchi, Concetta Cicala, Silvia Fontani
  • Patent number: 9243272
    Abstract: Disclosed is a thermostable DNA polymerase preparation which can illimitably reduce the risk of false positivity in the detection of a subject microorganism utilizing a gene amplification reaction and therefore enables the selective amplification of DNA for detecting the subject microorganism even when the amount of the subject microorganism is small and therefore the amount of DNA collected therefrom is extremely small, and can be produced at a reduced cost. Also disclosed is a method for quantifying or quantifying/identifying a subject organism to be detected rapidly, conveniently and with high sensitivity using the preparation of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignees: HOKKAIDO MITSUI CHEMICALS INC., NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION UNIVERSITY OF TOYAMA
    Inventors: Homare Tabata, Hiroshi Minami, Hideki Niimi, Isao Kitajima, Tomohiro Ueno, Shiroh Hayashi, Masashi Mori
  • Patent number: 9243273
    Abstract: Methods of preparing highly purified steviol glycosides, particularly rebaudiosides A, D and X are described. The method includes expression of UDP-glucosyltransferases from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, which are capable converting certain steviol glycosides to rebaudiosides A, D and X. The highly purified rebaudiosides A, D and X, are useful as non-caloric sweetener in edible and chewable compositions such as any beverages, confectioneries, bakery products, cookies, and chewing gums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignees: PureCircle Sdn Bhd, The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Avetik Markosyan, Cyrille Jarrin, Patrick Robe, Rob ter Halle, Indra Prakash, Venkata Sai Prakash Chaturvedula
  • Patent number: 9243274
    Abstract: This invention pertains to methods for producing homogeneous recombinant proteins that contain polymer initiators at defined sites. The unnatural amino acid, 4-(2?-bromoisobutyramido)phenylalanine of formula 1, was designed and synthesized as a molecule comprising a functional group further comprising an initiator for an atom-transfer radical polymerization (‘ATRP”) that additionally would provide a stable linkage between the protein and growing polymer. We evolved a Methanococcus jannaschii (Mj) tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNACUA pair to genetically encode this unnatural amino acid in response to an amber codon. To demonstrate the utility of this functional amino acid, we produced Green Fluorescent Protein with the unnatural amino acid initiator of formula 1 site-specifically incorporated on its surface (GFP-1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Franklin and Marshall College
    Inventors: Ryan A. Mehl, Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, Saadyah Averick
  • Patent number: 9243275
    Abstract: Sensors suitable for the sensing/detection of biological or chemical agents may be fabricated by immobilizing biological and/or chemical recognition components (selectors or probes) on a substrate by the polymerization of a suitable monomer in the presence of the selectors or probes, for example, by Polysiloxane Monolayer Immobilization (PMI). PMI may involve the polymerization of polysiloxane onto a substrate, onto which selector molecules are adsorbed or otherwise immobilized. The resulting immobilized selector molecule may then be used to interact with specific molecules (targets) within a mixture of molecules, thereby enabling those specific molecules to be detected and/or quantified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Polytechnic Institute of New York University
    Inventors: Kalle Levon, Bin Yu, Yanxiu Zhou
  • Patent number: 9243276
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a technique to sample output signals at different time intervals from each of the electrodes in a biosensor to obtain respective glucose estimates including one where the output signals of at least one combination of electrodes measured at various time intervals are summed together to provide for a combined glucose estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: LifeScan Scotland Limited
    Inventor: Michael Malecha
  • Patent number: 9243277
    Abstract: The basic structure and functionality of a probe as disclosed herein allows for flexibly incorporating into the probe, various sensing elements for various sensing applications. Two example applications among these various sensing applications include bio-sensing and chemical-sensing applications. For bio-sensing applications the probe, which is fabricated upon a silicon substrate, includes a bio-sensing element such as a nano-pillar transistor, and for chemical-sensing applications the probe includes a sensing element that has a functionalized contact area whereby the sensing element generates a voltage when exposed to one or more chemicals of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Aditya Rajagopal, Axel Scherer, Michael D. Henry, Sameer Walavalkar, Thomas A. Tombrello, Andrew P. Homyk
  • Patent number: 9243278
    Abstract: The candidates are screened and then employed by administering to patients in need thereof of a drug candidate that affects heterotypic intercellular mechanotransduction. At least two types of cells are labeled with distinct intracellular fluorescent marker labels and combined to form a cell suspension and cultured to form a microtissue, such as spheroids. The cells or the spheroids are combined with a drug candidate, either before, during or after forming the spheroids. The distribution of the different cell types is compared to that of essentially the same suspension culture in the absence of the drug candidate. Alternatively, the cell power of cells cultured in a non-adherent mold that determines at least in part, the shape of microtissue formed is measured and compared with essentially the same cell suspension cultured in the same manner in the absence of a drug candidate. A patient in need thereof can be administered a drug identified as affecting heterotypic intercellular mechanotransduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Brown University
    Inventors: Jeffrey R Morgan, Toni-Marie Achilli, Jacquelyn Youssef Schell
  • Patent number: 9243279
    Abstract: A latent effervescent body comprising a selective agent is disclosed. A method of using the latent effervescent body in a method to selectively enrich a target microorganism is also disclosed. The method comprises providing a sample, a culture medium, and the latent effervescent body. The method further comprises contacting the sample, the culture medium, and the latent effervescent body under conditions to facilitate growth of the target microorganism. The method further comprises releasing the selective agent from the latent effervescent body. Optionally, the method includes detecting a microorganism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Wensheng Xia, Patrick A. Mach, Joseph M. Beaurline, Jason W. Bjork, Jie J. Liu
  • Patent number: 9243280
    Abstract: The present application relates to methods, compositions and systems for the specific, controllable degradation of targeted proteins. Typically, the target proteins have a function which has not yet been elucidated. The disclosure enables one to study the effect of degrading a targeted protein, which in turn, will lead to a characterization of its function. In one embodiment, the invention pertains to a composition comprising a construct wherein the construct includes a peptide including a degradation tag. The degradation tag includes a ClpX binding sequence appended to a protein, wherein the sequence is YALAA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean D. Moore
  • Patent number: 9243281
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for identifying a compound having cell-protective (e.g., neuroprotective) activity. Compounds identified therefrom are also provided. These compounds can be used to treat various diseases, disorders, or conditions associated with, for example, unwanted cell death.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Board of Regents of The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Steven L. McKnight, Joseph M. Ready, Andrew A. Pieper, Gelin Wang, Ting Han
  • Patent number: 9243282
    Abstract: The present invention relates to droplet-based pyrosequencing including a method of identifying a base at a target position in a sample nucleic acid. The method includes: (a) providing a droplet microactuator including a first droplet including a sample nucleic acid immobilized on a bead; and (b) on the droplet microactuator: (i) contacting the first droplet with one or more reagent droplets to yield a second droplet, wherein the one or more reagent droplets include reagents for extending a double stranded portion of the sample nucleic acid by incorporating a nucleotide at the target position; (ii) splitting the second droplet to yield a third droplet including the bead and a fourth droplet lacking the bead; and (iii) assaying the third droplet to determine whether the nucleotide was incorporated at the target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignees: ADVANCED LIQUID LOGIC, INC, DUKE UNIVERSITY, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANDFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Richard B. Fair, Peter B. Griffin
  • Patent number: 9243283
    Abstract: Methods for authenticating and/or detecting tampering of an item of interest using a nucleic acid tag. A nucleic acid tag comprising a nucleotide-support platform attached to a nucleic acid molecule is created or obtained and then sealed within or on the item of interest. The surface of the item of interest is sampled for the presence of the seeded tag after the item of interest has been moved from one location to another or has been stored for a period of time, during which tampering can occur and/or authentication may necessary. The presence of the tag can indicate that tampering has occurred, or that the item of interest is authentic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: SRC, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary F. Swartz, Garrett D. Liddil, Adam J. Lowe
  • Patent number: 9243284
    Abstract: Nucleotide triphosphate probes containing a molecular and/or atomic tag on a ? and/or ? phosphate group and/or a base moiety having a detectable property are disclosed, and kits and method for using the tagged nucleotides in sequencing reactions and various assay. Also, phosphate and polyphosphate molecular fidelity altering agents are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Susan H. Hardin, Xiaolian Gao, James Briggs, Richard Willson, Shiao-Chun Tu
  • Patent number: 9243285
    Abstract: A genetic polymorphism and a hair shape susceptibility gene that are related to hair shape, and a method for determining the genetic susceptibility to hair shape in individual test subjects are provided. Disclosed is a hair shape susceptibility gene, which overlaps with a haplotype block in the 1q32.1 to 1q32.2 region (D1S249 to D1S2891) of human chromosome 1 and comprises a portion or the entirety of the base sequence of the haplotype block, wherein the haplotype block is determined by a linkage disequilibrium analysis conducted on a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker whose allele frequency differs statistically significantly between a group having a curly hair trait and a group having a non-curly hair trait, and consists of a base sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO:1 to NO:3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Taguchi, Hiroshi Yoshida, Chie Fuse, Tadao Arinami
  • Patent number: 9243286
    Abstract: This invention relates to oligonucleotides comprising a molecular switch which may exist in an “open” or “closed” position. The molecular switch portion of the probe is particularly sensitive to the identity of sequences complementary to the molecular switch. Oligonucleotides containing a molecular switch are applicable to all kinds of hybridization processes. Due to the sensitivity of the switch domain of the oligonucleotide, probes containing a molecular switch are particularly useful in the identification of single point mismatches. More specifically, a portion, but not all, of the oligonucleotide becomes unbound from a mismatched target. The invention further relates to methods of using said oligonucleotides for research reagents, and clinical diagnostics. An exemplary oligonucleotide comprises a first hybridizable domain, a second bridging block domain, and a third binding domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Lyle J. Arnold, Jr., Bob D. Brown
  • Patent number: 9243287
    Abstract: A method for zygosity analysis of the cotton Cry1Ac event 3006-210-23 is provided. The method provides 3006-210-23 event-specific and cotton-genome-specific primers and TaqMan probe combinations for use in an endpoint biplex TaqMan PCR assay capable of determining event zygosity and for assisting in event introgression and breeding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Dow AgroSciences LLC
    Inventors: Carolyn Brennan, Wesley A. Marchione
  • Patent number: 9243288
    Abstract: Systems, including apparatus, methods, compositions, kits, and software, for preparing, reacting, detecting, and/or analyzing samples in droplet-based assay systems, among others. The disclosure emphasizes, but is not limited to, a disposable cartridge with lysis chamber and droplet chamber, particularly for use in droplet-based assays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Dean Ness, Samuel Burd, Benjamin Joseph Hindson, Phillip Belgrader, Billy W. Colston, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9243289
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for screening of reagents used in the performance of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. The invention has applications for genotyping, pathogen detection and in vitro diagnostics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ROCHE MOLECULAR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Concordio Anacleto, Nancy Schoenbrunner
  • Patent number: 9243290
    Abstract: We describe ultra-high throughput polony genome sequencing that can permit, for example, generating raw data to re-sequencing the human genome in about one week (including library prep and sequencing) at a reasonable cost. The methods described herein include one or more of the following: (1) increasing polony sequencing read length, (2) improving library construction and emulsions protocols, (3) increasing bead density and/or moving to alternative clonal amplication strategies (other than emulsion PCR or ePCR), (4) extending software capabilities to allow SNP calls from our new sequencing raw data, (5) Dual Primer Emulsion PCR, and (6) diagnostic method exploiting one or more of the foregoing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventor: Jeremy Edwards
  • Patent number: 9243291
    Abstract: Described herein are compounds useful for the treatment and investigation of diseases, methods for the prediction of in vivo toxicity of compounds useful for the treatment and investigation of diseases, and methods of discovering and identifying compounds useful for the treatment and investigation of diseases that have reduced in vivo toxicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventor: Sebastien Burel
  • Patent number: 9243292
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the genomic typing of erythrocyte systems, oligonucleotide probes and relative diagnostic kits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: FONDAZIONE IRCCS CA' GRANDA-OSPEDALE MAGGIORE POLICLINICO
    Inventors: Francesca Drago, Katerina Karpasitou, Francesca Poli
  • Patent number: 9243293
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of identifying a predisposition for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a subject comprising assessing in a sample obtained from said subject the expression level of one or more genes selected from the FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) gene, the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT5B) gene and the nuclear factor I/A (NFIA) gene, wherein a decrease in the expression level of said one or more genes as compared to the expression level of the corresponding gene(s) of a control is indicative of a predisposition for developing PTSD. Further, the invention relates to a method of identifying a compound capable of preventing or treating PTSD or capable of serving as a lead compound for developing a compound capable of preventing or treating PTSD and also to a method of selecting a therapy to prevent or treat PTSD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN E.V.
    Inventors: Florian Holsboer, Marcus Ising, Rachel Yehuda, Joseph D. Buxbaum