Patents Issued in April 11, 2017
  • Patent number: 9617525
    Abstract: The instant invention provides methods and related compositions for identifying polypeptides with improved stability and/or enzymatic activity in comparison to native forms, wherein the identified polypeptides comprise one or more non-natural amino acids. In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to novel phosphotriesterase enzymes comprising one or more non-natural amino acids. In a particular embodiment, the instant invention provides novel phosphotriesterase enzymes with greater stability and/or enhanced activity in comparison to native forms of the enzyme. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising novel phophotriesterase enzymes, such as prophylactics, decontaminants, animal feedstocks, and assay kits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Jin Kim Montclare, Richard Bonneau, P. Douglas Renfrew, Ching-Yao Yang, Carlo Yuvienco
  • Patent number: 9617526
    Abstract: The invention is directed toward non-wild-type organophosphorus acid anhydrolases having three site mutations, method of production, and method of use to effectively degrade toxic chemical compounds such as (Ethyl({2-[bis(propan-2-yl)amino]ethyl}sulfanyl)(methyl)phosphinate (“VX”).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Steven P. Harvey, Mark A. Guelta
  • Patent number: 9617527
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having glucoamylase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Ming Li, Junxin Duan, Zheng Liu, Shiro Fukuyama, Keiichi Ayabe, Guillermo Coward-Kelly, Randall Deinhammer
  • Patent number: 9617528
    Abstract: Provided are isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase activity, catalytic domains, cellulose binding domains and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains or cellulose binding domains. Also provided are nucleic acid constructs, vectors and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides catalytic domains or cellulose binding domains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Novozymes A/S
    Inventors: Weijian Lai, Nikolaj Spodsberg, Lars Anderson
  • Patent number: 9617529
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for production of recombinant human alpha-galactosidase A (rh alpha-Gal A) in a large scale, with a high purity. The method comprises the steps of (a) culturing rh alpha-Gal A-producing mammalian cells in a serum-free medium, (b) collecting culture supernatant, (c) subjecting the culture supernatant to anion-exchange column chromatography, (d) to hydrophobic column chromatography, (e) to a column chromatography employing as solid phase a material having affinity for phosphate group, (f) to cation-exchange column chromatography, and (g) to gel filtration column chromatography, in the order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: JCR PHARMACEUTICALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Asano, Toshihiro Yagi, Tsuyoshi Fukui, Atsuko Kawasaki, Yukichi Hatano, Kazutoshi Mihara, Atsushi Sugimura
  • Patent number: 9617530
    Abstract: The present invention provides for compositions and methods for producing crop plants that are resistant to herbicides. In particular, the present invention provides for sorghum plants, plant tissues and plant seeds that contain altered acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) genes and proteins that are resistant to inhibition by herbicides that normally inhibit the activity of the ACC protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Kansas State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell R. Tuinstra, Kassim Al-Khatib
  • Patent number: 9617531
    Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and compositions for forming cytokine-antibody complexes using dock-and-lock technology. In preferred embodiments, the cytokine-MAb DNL complex comprises an IgG antibody attached to two AD (anchor domain) moieties and four cytokines, each attached to a DDD (docking and dimerization domain) moiety. The DDD moieties form dimers that bind to the AD moieties, resulting in a 2:1 ratio of DDD to AD. The cytokine-MAb complex exhibits improved pharmacokinetics, with a significantly longer serum half-life than either naked cytokine or PEGylated cytokine. The cytokine-MAb complex also exhibits significantly improved in vitro and in vivo efficacy compared to cytokine alone, antibody alone, unconjugated cytokine plus antibody or cytokine-MAb DNL complexes incorporating an irrelevant antibody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: IBC Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Chien-Hsing Chang, David M. Goldenberg, Edmund A. Rossi
  • Patent number: 9617532
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lysis, binding and/or wash reagent for isolating and/or purifying nucleic acids and a method for isolating and/or purifying nucleic acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: QIAGEN GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Fabis, Anke Homann-Wischinski, Thorsten Voss, Thomas Hanselle
  • Patent number: 9617533
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a composition possessing cell-free protein synthesis activity with reduced contaminating lipopolysaccharide, and a method for producing a protein using the same are provided. When ribosome display is performed using the composition and method for protein production of the present invention, the background that is caused by non-specific binding is reduced, so that a nucleic acid that encodes the desired polypeptide can be selected with high accuracy and high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: GeneFrontier Corporation, The Univeristy of Tokyo
    Inventors: Takashi Kanamori, Yuki Hayami, Kanehisa Kojoh, Takuya Ueda, Kumiko Tsuihiji, Tomoe Fuse, Mikiko Nakamura, Shizue Kato
  • Patent number: 9617534
    Abstract: A method for producing silicate-containing magnetic particles having a closed and tight silicate layer and high purity. In addition, the novel method prevents an uncontrolled formation of aggregates and clusters of silicates on the magnetite surface, thereby having a positive influence on the properties and biological applications. The method enables depletion of nanoparticulate solid substance particles on the basis of a fractionated centrifugation. The silicate-coated magnetic particles exhibit optimized magnetization and suspension behavior as well as advantageous run-off behavior from plastic surfaces. These highly pure magnetic particles coated with silicon dioxide are preferably used for isolating nucleic acids from cell and tissue samples, whereby the separating out from a sample matrix ensues by means of magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics GmbH
    Inventors: Guido Hennig, Karlheinz Hildenbrand
  • Patent number: 9617535
    Abstract: Compositions and methods of treatments of cells are provided for altering the phenotype of a cell by administering an oligonucleotide complex to the cell, the complex having two strands and chemical modifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: David R. Tabatadze, Paul C. Zamecnik, Malay K. Raychowdhury, Horacio F. Cantiello
  • Patent number: 9617536
    Abstract: Focused libraries of vectors or genetic packages that display, display and express, or comprise a member of a diverse family of antibody peptides, polypeptides or proteins and collectively display, display and express, or comprise at least a portion of the focused diversity of the family. The libraries have length and sequence diversities that mimic that found in native human antibodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Dyax Corp.
    Inventor: Robert Charles Ladner
  • Patent number: 9617537
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an efficient method of generating a library of variants of a sequence of interest, such as may be used in directed evolution. In one embodiment, the method includes an amplification reaction, e.g., error-prone PCR, to generate double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) variants of a sequence of interest, after which one strand of the dsDNA variants may be selectively degraded to produce single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) variants. The ssDNA variants may be hybridized to ssDNA intermediaries, e.g., uracilated circular ssDNA intermediaries, to form heteroduplex DNA, which may be transformed into cells, such as E. coli cells, yielding a library of variants. This method eliminates the inefficient sub-cloning steps and the need for costly primer sets required by many prior methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: AxioMx, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Weiner, Margaret Kiss
  • Patent number: 9617538
    Abstract: There is provided a heptamer-type small guide nucleic acid that comprises any of the 7-base sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 15, and induces apoptosis of human leukemia cells. A leukemia therapeutic agent containing the heptamer-type small guide nucleic acid as an active ingredient is also provided. The novel heptamer-type sg nucleic acid can induce apoptosis of human leukemia cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: NIIGATA UNIVERSITY OF PHARMACY AND APPLIED LIFE SCIENCE, NIIGATA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Masayuki Nashimoto, Masuhiro Takahashi, Miwako Narita, Tetsuo Yoshida, Tatsuya Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 9617539
    Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to methods and compounds for inhibiting UBE3A-ATS, the endogenous antisense transcript of ubiquitin protein ligase E3A (UBE3A). Such methods and compounds are useful for inducing expression of paternal UBE3A in cells and animals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Baylor College of Medicine
    Inventors: Frank Rigo, Amanda Ward, Linyan Meng, Arthur L. Beaudet
  • Patent number: 9617540
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes short antisense compounds, including such compounds comprising chemically-modified high-affinity monomers 8-16 monomers in length. Certain such short antisense compound are useful for the reduction of target nucleic acids and/or proteins in cells, tissues, and animals with increased potency and improved therapeutic index. Thus, provided herein are short antisense compounds comprising high-affinity nucleotide modifications useful for reducing a target RNA in vivo. Such short antisense compounds are effective at lower doses than previously described antisense compounds, allowing for a reduction in toxicity and cost of treatment. In addition, the described short antisense compounds have greater potential for oral dosing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjay Bhanot, Richard S. Geary, Robert McKay, Brett P. Monia, Punit P. Seth, Andrew M. Siwkowski, Eric E. Swayze, Edward Wancewicz
  • Patent number: 9617541
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are metal-ligand complexes containing polynucleotides, compounds for making the same, and methods of using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chad A. Mirkin, Colin Michael Calabrese, William E. Briley, Timothy J. Merkel
  • Patent number: 9617542
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dsRNA construct that relates to a method to control Lepidopteran moths via double-stranded RNA interference of the PBAN/Pyrokinin gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America, as representd by The Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Robert K. Vander Meer, Man-Yeon Choi
  • Patent number: 9617543
    Abstract: A sugar chain-containing polymer that enables targeting to the lesion area of liver fibrosis and is useful for imaging, diagnosis and therapy of liver fibrosis; and a sugar chain-containing polymer complex comprising the polymer as a carrier for an anionic substance useful fix therapy and the like; are provided. The polymer is a sugar chain-containing polymer which is a cationic polymer comprising an amine, which polymer comprises N-acetylglucosamine bound thereto. The polymer preferably has a disulfide bond. The polymer preferably has a structure in which polyethyleneimine is linked via a disulfide bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: SOMAR CORP., KOREA RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Bong Hyun Chung, Hirohiko Ise, Toshihiro Akaike, Sun-Jung Kim
  • Patent number: 9617544
    Abstract: The invention provides multifunctional supramolecular self-assembled nanoparticles (SSNPs) comprising a set of rationally designed components that collectively facilitate efficient intestinal absorption of siRNA. The nanoparticles can induce potent TNF-? silencing in macrophages. Single gavage of SSNPs in mice depleted systemic TNF-? production at an siRNA dose as low as 50 ?g/kg, and protected the mice from lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatic injury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Jianjun Cheng, Lichen Yin
  • Patent number: 9617545
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for inhibiting growth of cancer stem cells, which includes an EXT1, LDHB, CD109, EFEMP2, RASIP1 or SERPINE1 gene expression inhibitor as an active ingredient, and a method of treating cancer using the same. The composition has targeted therapeutic activities against cancer stem cells important for resistance, metastasis and recurrence of breast cancer, and thus can be useful in fundamentally treating, preventing or alleviating cancer such as breast cancer by directly inhibiting expression of EXT1, LDHB, CD109, EFEMP2, RASIP1 or SERPINE1 which are very important for growth of the cancer stem cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Kyungpook National University Industry—Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventor: You-Mie Lee
  • Patent number: 9617546
    Abstract: The invention provides nucleic acid therapeutics and methods for using these nucleic acid therapeutics in the treatment of complement-related disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Archemix LLC
    Inventors: Claude Benedict, David Epstein, Charles Wilson, Dilara McCauley, Jeffrey Kurz, Markus Kurz, Thomas Greene McCauley, James Rottman
  • Patent number: 9617547
    Abstract: Problem The purpose of the present invention is to provide: a stereo isomer of a novel CpG oligonucleotide, which has excellent stability; and a CpG oligonucleotide which has a capability of producing interferon-? (IFN?). Solution The present invention relates to an oligonucleotide which contains two to four sequences each represented by the formula 5?-X1X2CpGX3X4-3? (formula (I)) and has a length of 14 to 32 nucleotides. In formula (I), CpG represents a non-methylated CpG residue having a phosphate skeleton modification, X1X2 represents any one of AA, AT, GA and GT, and X3X4 represents any one of TT, AT, AC and CG. The oligonucleotide has at least one phosphate skeleton modification at an S-form stereoisomer located at a site other than the CpG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd., WAVE LIFE SCIENCES JAPAN
    Inventor: Takefumi Gemba
  • Patent number: 9617548
    Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid regulatory elements that are able to enhance liver-specific expression of genes, methods employing these regulatory elements and uses of these elements. Expression cassettes and vectors containing these nucleic acid regulatory elements are also disclosed. The present invention is particularly useful for applications using gene therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: VIB VZW, Life Sciences Research Partners VZW, Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Marinee Chuah, Thierry Vandendriessche, Pieter De Bleser
  • Patent number: 9617549
    Abstract: The present invention provides cells that have been genetically manipulated to have an altered capacity to produce expressed proteins. In particular, the present invention relates to Gram-positive microorganisms, such as Bacillus species having enhanced expression of a protein of interest, wherein one or more chromosomal genes have been inactivated, and preferably wherein one or more chromosomal genes have been deleted from the Bacillus chromosome. In some further embodiments, one or more indigenous chromosomal regions have been deleted from a corresponding wild-type Bacillus host chromosome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Danisco US Inc.
    Inventors: Eugenio Ferrari, Carole Harbison, M. Harunur Rashid, Walter Weyler
  • Patent number: 9617550
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel Pichia pastoris strains for expression of exogenous proteins with substantially homogeneous N-glycans. The strains are genetically engineered to include a mutant OCH1 allele which is transcribed into an mRNA coding for a mutant OCH1 gene product (i.e., ?-1,6-mannosyltransferase, or “OCH1 protein”). The mutant OCH1 protein contains a catalytic domain substantially identical to that of the wild type OCH1 protein, but lacks an N-terminal sequence necessary to target the OCH1 protein to the Golgi apparatus. The strains disclosed herein are robust, stable, and transformable, and the mutant OCH1 allele and the ability to produce substantially homogeneous N-glycans are maintained for generations after rounds of freezing and thawing and after subsequent transformations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Research Corporation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt R. Gehlsen, Thomas G. Chappell
  • Patent number: 9617551
    Abstract: Agrobacterium strains that harbor transformation-enhancing genes on a plasmid capable of replication independently of the Agrobacterium chromosome, the Ti plasmid, and plant transformation binary vectors, and uses for these Agrobacterium strains are provided. Additionally, Agrobacterium strains that are deficient in DNA recombination functions that result in instability or rearrangement of plant transformation binary vectors, and that harbor transformation-enhancing genes on a plasmid capable of replication independently of the Agrobacterium chromosome, the Ti plasmid, and plant transformation binary vectors, and uses for these strains, are also provided. Further included are Agrobacterium strains that harbor transformation-enhancing genes integrated into the Agrobacterium chromosome at a locus that does not interfere with or otherwise compromise the normal growth and plant transformation ability of the Agrobacterium cells, and uses for these Agrobacterium strains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Dow AgroSciences LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Merlo, Sean M. Russell, Diane M. Retallack, Aaron T. Woosley, Thomas Meade, Kenneth Narva
  • Patent number: 9617552
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for identifying regenerated transformed plants and differentiated transformed plant parts, obtained without subjecting plant cells to selective conditions prior to regenerating the cells to obtain differentiated tissues. In particular embodiments, the plant cells are corn plant cells. Methods for growing and handling plants, including identifying plants that demonstrate specific traits of interest are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventor: Jyoti R. Rout
  • Patent number: 9617553
    Abstract: The invention provides recombinant DNA molecules and constructs, and their nucleotide sequences, useful for modulating gene expression in plants. The invention also provides transgenic plants, plant cells, plant parts, and seeds comprising a recombinant DNA molecule comprising a DNA molecule operably linked to a heterologous transcribable DNA molecule, as well as methods of their use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Stanislaw Flasinski, Jun Zhang, Suling Zhao
  • Patent number: 9617554
    Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods relating to the elevation of glucoraphanin compared to standard Brassica oleracea varieties. The invention also relates to the production of hybrid varieties having desired glucosinolate contents. The invention further provides plants, plant parts, and seeds comprising such traits and comprising a Myb28 allele from Brassica villosa that is not genetically linked to an ELONG allele from Brassica villosa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Inc.
    Inventors: Franciscus G. van den Bosch, Gerard N. Koorevaar
  • Patent number: 9617555
    Abstract: Compositions and methods include genetically encoding and expressing a novel delta-9 desaturase in plant cells. In some embodiments, methods of expressing nucleic acids in a plant cell to take advantage of the delta-9 desaturase enzyme's activity, such that the percent composition of saturated fatty acids in plant seeds is decreased and there is a concomitant increase in ?9 fatty acids. In other embodiments, amino acid sequences have delta-9 desaturase activity. Methods can involve expression of delta-9 desaturase in plant cells, plant materials, and whole plants for the purpose of increasing the amount of mono unsaturated fatty acids in whole plants, plant seeds, and plant materials, for example, seeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Dow AgroSciences LLC
    Inventors: Daniel J. Gachotte, Ann Owens Merlo, Mark A. Thompson, Terence A. Walsh, Beth Rubin Wilson, Mary Welter
  • Patent number: 9617556
    Abstract: This invention is in the field of plant molecular biology. More specifically, this invention pertains to isolated nucleic acid fragments encoding ORM proteins in plants and seeds and the use of such fragments to modulate expression of a gene encoding ORM protein activity in a transformed host cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Knut Meyer, Kevin L Stecca
  • Patent number: 9617557
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of molecular biology and concerns a method for increasing various plant yield-related traits by increasing expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a GRF polypeptide. The present invention also concerns plants having increased expression of a nucleic acid encoding a GRF polypeptide, which plants have increased yield-related traits relative to control plants. The invention also provides constructs useful in the methods of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: BASF Plant Science GmbH
    Inventors: Christophe Reuzeau, Ana Isabel Sanz Molinero, Valerie Frankard, Ramon Serrano Salom, José Miguel Mulet Salort
  • Patent number: 9617558
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for modulating the juvenile to adult developmental growth transition in plants, such as grasses (e.g. maize). In particular, the invention provides methods for enhancing agronomic properties in plants by modulating expression of GRMZM2G362718, GRMZM2G096016, or homologs thereof. Modulation of expression of one or more additional genes which affect juvenile to adult developmental growth transition such as Glossy15 or Cg1, in conjunction with such modulation of expression is also contemplated. Nucleic acid constructs for down-regulation of GRMZM2G362718 and/or GRMZM2G096016 are also contemplated, as are transgenic plants and products produced there from, that demonstrate altered, such as extended juvenile growth, and display associated phenotypes such as enhanced yield, improved digestibility, and increased disease resistance. Plants described herein may be used, for example, as improved forage or feed crops or in biofuel production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Wiconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Shawn Kaeppler, Natalia de Leon Gatti, Jillian Foerster
  • Patent number: 9617559
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided which employ a silencing element that, when ingested by a pest, such as a pest from the Lepidoptera order, they are capable of decreasing the expression of a target sequence in the pest. Further provided are silencing elements which when ingested by the pest decrease the level of the target polypeptide and thereby control the pest. In specific embodiment, the pest is Spodoptera frugiperda. Plants, plant part, bacteria and other host cells comprising the silencing elements or an active variant or fragment thereof of the invention are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC., E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Rafael Herrmann, Michael Lassner, Albert L. Lu, Mark Edward Nelson, James Kevin Presnail, Janet A. Rice
  • Patent number: 9617560
    Abstract: The invention provides an adenovirus or adenoviral vector characterized by comprising one or more particular nucleic acid sequences or one or more particular amino acid sequences, or portions thereof, pertaining to, for example, an adenoviral pIX protein, DNA polymerase protein, penton protein, hexon protein, and/or fiber protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: GenVec, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas E. Brough, Jason G. D. Gall, Duncan McVey
  • Patent number: 9617561
    Abstract: Novel simian adenovirus 41 and two isolates thereof are described. Various uses of these isolates, including construction of a recombinant vector which comprises simian adenovirus 41 sequences and a heterologous gene under the control of regulatory sequences are provided. A cell line which expresses simian adenovirus 41 gene(s) is also disclosed. Methods of using the vectors and cell lines are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
    Inventors: Soumitra Roy, James M. Wilson, Luc H. Vandenberghe
  • Patent number: 9617562
    Abstract: The embodiments herein provide a nanoparticle system for targeted gene delivery or a drug delivery and a method of synthesizing the same. The nanoparticle composition for targeted gene transfer and drug delivery comprises a protein, a chitosan and a lipid. A method of synthesizing the nanoparticles involves preparing a gelatine and chitosan gel. A milky colloid solution is prepared with the gelatine, chitosan solution and a phosphatidylcholine. The milky colloid is homogenized for the self assembly of the nanoparticles. The milky colloid is subjected to high speed and high pressure homogenizer. The CHO cells are transfected with nanoparticles and lipofectamine 2000 for comparing the transfection efficiency. The nanoparticles deliver DNA, RNA, ribozyme and nucleotide sequences. The nanoparticles deliver lipophylic and hydrophilic drugs. The transfection efficiency of gene and drug is higher when the target cells are transferred with nanoparticles, compared to the cells transferred with lipofectamine 2000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventors: Jalaledin Ghanavi, Poopak Farnia
  • Patent number: 9617563
    Abstract: To provide a series of techniques for obtaining ?-phellandrene with high purity and in a large quantity. Provided is a recombinant cell capable of producing ?-phellandrene, prepared by introducing at least one nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of a nucleic acid encoding geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) synthase and a nucleic acid encoding neryl pyrophosphate (NPP) synthase, and a nucleic acid encoding ?-phellandrene synthase into a host cell in such a manner that these nucleic acids are expressed in the host cell. Also provided is a method for producing ?-phellandrene by culturing the recombinant cell to produce ?-phellandrene in the recombinant cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: TOHOKU UNIVERSITY, SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Furutani, Akihiro Uenishi, Koichiro Iwasa, Yasuyuki Kori, Seiji Takahashi, Takefumi Shimoyama
  • Patent number: 9617564
    Abstract: Described is a method for generating conjugated dienes through a biological process. More specifically, the application describes a method for producing conjugated dienes (for example butadiene, isoprene or dimethylbutadiene) from light alkenols via enzymatic dehydration, in particular by making use of an alkenol dehydratase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Scientist of Fortune, S.A.
    Inventor: Philippe Marliere
  • Patent number: 9617565
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide an alcoholic fermentation yeast having resistance to limonene, which is a fermentation inhibitor, and a method for producing ethanol using the alcoholic fermentation yeast. [Solution] An alcoholic fermentation yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Deposition No. NITE BP-890), which has resistance to limonene and can grow in the presence of limonene at a concentration of 0.1-0.5 wt %, and a method for producing ethanol using the alcoholic fermentation yeast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignees: NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN ENGINEERING CO., LTD., EHIME PREFECTURE
    Inventors: Natsuki Maekawa, Yasuhiko Katoh, Takafumi Kiuchi, Praneetrattananon Suthasinee, Shinji Okamoto, Kazuko Hirayama, Syunsuke Miyaoka, Hideaki Tadanobu, Masahiko Sudo
  • Patent number: 9617566
    Abstract: Processes, as well as associated systems and computer program (software) products, are disclosed for the biological conversion of CO into desired end products such as ethanol. The control methodologies used for these processes can advantageously result in a reduced time required for a batch operation or other initial operating period, prior to achieving a continuous operation, which may be demarcated either by the addition of fresh culture medium at a defined flow rate or by another process initiation target. The control methodologies may alternatively, or in combination, improve a process performance parameter, such as productivity of the desired end product or bacterial growth rate, during this batch operation or other initial operating period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Christophe Collet, Guy William Waters, Jason Carl Bromley, Justin Yi Yang, Jarod Nathan Wilson
  • Patent number: 9617567
    Abstract: The present invention is relative to a method for producing 1,2-propanediol by fermentation, comprising: cultivating a microorganism producing 1,2-propanediol in an appropriate medium comprising a source of sucrose, and recovering the 1,2-propanediol being produced, wherein the microorganism is able to utilize sucrose as sole carbon source for the production of 1,2-propanediol. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the source of sucrose is obtained from plant biomass, and is in particular sugar cane juice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: METABOLIC EXPLORER
    Inventors: Francois Voelker, Rainer Figge, Philippe Soucaille
  • Patent number: 9617568
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to engineered enone reductase polypeptides having improved properties, polynucleotides encoding the engineered polypeptides, related vectors, host cells, and methods for making the engineered enone reductase polypeptides. The disclosure also provides methods of using the engineered enone reductase polypeptides for chemical transformations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Codexis, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher K. Savile, Vesna Mitchell, Xiyun Zhang, Gjalt W. Huisman
  • Patent number: 9617569
    Abstract: Provided is a genetically engineered yeast cell with lactate production capacity, including an enzyme that catalyzes conversion of acetaldehyde to acetyl-CoA and an enzyme that catalyzes conversion of pyruvate to lactate, which activities are increased compared to a parent cell of the yeast cell, as well as a method of producing the genetically engineered yeast cell and method of producing lactate using the genetically engineered yeast cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiyoon Song, Changduk Kang, Joonsong Park, Sungsoo Kim, Youngkyoung Park, Sunghaeng Lee, Soyoung Lee, Juyoung Lee, Kwangmyung Cho, Wooyong Lee
  • Patent number: 9617570
    Abstract: Saccharomyces cerevisiae having acid resistance at a pH of about 2.0 to about 5.0, a method of preparing the Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and a method of producing lactate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Huisub Lim, Changduk Kang, Jiyoon Song, Seunghyun Lee, Kwangmyung Cho
  • Patent number: 9617571
    Abstract: Methods of increasing the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the total lipid fraction and in the oil fraction of PUFA-producing, oleaginous eukaryotes, accomplished by modifying the activity of peroxisome biogenesis factor (Pex) proteins. Disruptions of a chromosomal Pex3 gene, Pex10p gene or Pex16p gene in a PUFA-producing, oleaginous eukaryotic strain resulted in an increased amount of PUFAs, as a percent of total fatty acids and as a percent of dry cell weight, in the total lipid fraction and in the oil fraction of the strain, as compared to the parental strain whose native Pex protein was not disrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Seung-Pyo Hong, Pamela L Sharpe, Zhixiong Xue, Narendra S Yadav, Quinn Qun Zhu
  • Patent number: 9617572
    Abstract: This document describes biochemical pathways for producing pimelic acid, 7-aminoheptanoate, 7-hydroxyheptanoate, heptamethylenediamine, or 1,7-heptanediol by forming two terminal functional groups, comprised of carboxyl, amine or hydroxyl group, in a C7 aliphatic backbone substrate produced from chorismate or benzoate. These pathways, metabolic engineering and cultivation strategies described herein rely on the anaerobic benzoyl-CoA degradation pathway enzymes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Adriana Leonora Botes, Alex Van Eck Conradie, Changlin Chen, Paul S. Pearlman
  • Patent number: 9617573
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides engineered transaminase polypeptides useful for the synthesis of chiral amine compounds under industrially relevant conditions. The disclosure also provides polynucleotides encoding the engineered transaminase polypeptides, host cells capable of expressing the engineered transaminases, and methods of using the engineered transaminases for the production of chiral amine compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Codexis, Inc.
    Inventors: Martina Quintanar-Audelo, Ellen Eberhard, Jovana Nazor, Derek Smith, Cuixia Wang
  • Patent number: 9617574
    Abstract: Described herein is a process for producing saccharides and ethanol from biomass feedstock that includes (a) producing an enzyme composition by culturing a fungal strain(s) in the presence of a lignocellulosic medium, (b) using the enzyme composition to saccharify the biomass feedstock, and (c) fermenting the saccharified biomass feedstock to produce ethanol. The process is scalable and, in certain aspects, is capable of being deployed on farms, thereby allowing local production of saccharides and ethanol and resulting in a reduction of energy and other costs for farm operators. Optional steps to improve the biomass-to-fuel conversion efficiency are also contemplated, as are uses for byproducts of the process described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Auburn University
    Inventors: Benedict C. Okeke, Ananda K. Nanjundaswamy