Patents Issued in May 1, 2018
  • Patent number: 9957511
    Abstract: Various aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods and compositions for functionalizing endogenous bacteria in vivo. The methods include delivering to endogenous bacterial cells a recombinant bacteriophage or phagemid that is engineered to contain at least one genetic circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Trustees of Boston University
    Inventors: Timothy Kuan-Ta Lu, Robert James Citorik, James Collins, Russell-John Krom
  • Patent number: 9957512
    Abstract: The technology relates in part to biological methods for producing a fatty dicarboxylic acid and engineered microorganisms capable of such production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Verdezyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Beardslee, Stephen Picataggio, Alex Hutagalung, Tom Fahland
  • Patent number: 9957513
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the development of genetically engineered yeasts that can produce hydrocarbons in a controllable and economic fashion. More specifically the invention relates to the production of liquid alkanes and alkenes that can be used for liquid transportation fuels, specialty chemicals, or feed stock for further chemical conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BIOPETROLIA AB
    Inventors: Jens Nielsen, Verena Siewers, Paulo Alexandre Goncalves Teixeira, Yongjin Zhou, Nicolaas A. A. Buijs, Florian David
  • Patent number: 9957514
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for genetic transformation of Lemnaceae species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC
    Inventors: Rob Martienssen, Almudena Molla-Morales, Alex Cantó-Pastor, Evan Ernst, John Shanklin, Yiheng Yan
  • Patent number: 9957515
    Abstract: Provided herein include methods and compositions for effecting a targeted genetic change in DNA in a cell. Certain aspects and embodiments relate to improving the efficiency of the targeting of modifications to specific locations in genomic or other nucleotide sequences. As described herein, nucleic acids which direct specific changes to the genome may be combined with various approaches to enhance the availability of components of the natural repair systems present in the cells being targeted for modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: CIBUS US LLC, CIBUS EUROPE, B.V.
    Inventors: Peter R. Beetham, Gregory F. W. Gocal, Christian Schopke, Noel Sauer, James Pearce, Rosa E. Segami, Jerry Mozoruk
  • Patent number: 9957516
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for enhancing the polyisoprenoid biosynthesis pathway. The present invention further provides isoprenoid-producing plants having an enhanced polyisoprenoid biosynthesis pathway, and methods for producing a polyisoprenoid using such an isoprenoid-producing plant. The present invention relates to methods for regulating the expression of specific protein(s) by a specific transcription factor; isoprenoid-producing plants into which has been introduced a gene encoding a specific transcription factor; and methods for producing a polyisoprenoid using such an isoprenoid-producing plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Yamaguchi, Yukino Inoue, Satoshi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 9957517
    Abstract: The present invention concerns methods and reagents useful in modulating gene expression in a variety of applications, including use in therapeutic, diagnostic, target validation, and genomic discovery applications. Specifically, the invention relates to synthetic chemically modified small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules capable of mediating RNA interference (RNAi) against target nucleic acid sequences. The small nucleic acid molecules are useful in the treatment of any disease or condition that responds to modulation of gene expression or activity in a cell, tissue, or organism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: SIRNA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Leonid Beigelman, James McSwiggen, Chandra Vargeese
  • Patent number: 9957518
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for regulation of gene expression in plants. In particular, the invention provides nucleic acids that can confer tissue specific and constitutive expression to operably linked polynucleotides of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Clemson University
    Inventors: Hong Luo, Ning Yuan
  • Patent number: 9957519
    Abstract: The invention provides a novel DGAT1 protein with improved properties over known DGAT proteins, particularly known DGAT1 proteins from plants. The novel DGAT1 protein of the invention can be expressed in cells to increase cellular lipid accumulation. Expression of the DGAT1 protein of the invention in cells results in a higher level of lipid than any of several other plant DGAT1 proteins tested by the applicants. The invention provides polynucleotides encoding the novel DGAT1 protein of SEQ ID NO:39, constructs, cells, plant, plant parts and progeny comprising the polynucleotides, and methods of use of the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Agresearch Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas John Roberts, Amy Christina Curran, Somrutai Winichayakul, Marissa Roldan, Richard William Scott
  • Patent number: 9957520
    Abstract: Methods of increasing the resistance of a crop plant to heat stress and in particular methods of improving the grain yield and quality of crop plants grown under heat stress in the form of increased minimal temperatures are provided. The methods include selecting plants with increased expression of HYR and growing these plants in regions expected to experience minimal temperatures above 25° C. during the growing season. Methods of screening plants for increased resistance to heat stress and methods of producing grain in regions having minimal temperatures of 25° C. or more are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
    Inventors: Andy Pereira, Ramegowda Venkategowda
  • Patent number: 9957521
    Abstract: Isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides encoded thereby are described, together with the use of those products for making transgenic plants with increased tolerance to abiotic stress (e.g., high or low temperature, drought, flood).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Ceres, Inc.
    Inventors: Cory Christensen, Nestor Apuya, Kenneth Feldmann
  • Patent number: 9957522
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of increasing resistance against fungal pathogens of the family Phacopsoraceae in plants and/or plant cells. This is achieved by increasing the expression of a CASAR protein or fragment thereof in a plant, plant part and/or plant cell in comparison to wild type plants, wild type plant parts and/or wild type plant cells. Furthermore, the invention relates to transgenic plants, plant parts, and/or plant cells having an increased resistance against fungal pathogens, in particular, pathogens of the family Phacopsoraceae, and to recombinant expression vectors comprising a sequence that is identical or homologous to a sequence encoding a CASAR protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BASF PLANT SCIENCE COMPANY GMBH
    Inventors: Holger Schultheiss, Nadine Tresch, Ralf Flachmann
  • Patent number: 9957523
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for controlling pest infestation using double stranded RNA molecules. The invention provides methods for making transgenic plants that express the double stranded RNA molecules, as well as pesticidal agents and commodity products produced by the inventive plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Devgen NV
    Inventors: Romaan Raemaekers, Pascale Feldmann, Irene Nooren, Geert Plaetinck, Frederic Pecqueur, Els Van Bleu, Thierry Bogaert
  • Patent number: 9957524
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to the field of insect inhibitory toxin proteins. A novel class of proteins exhibiting insect inhibitory activity against agriculturally relevant pests of crop plants and seeds are disclosed. Insecticidal activity is particularly effective against the Coleopteran order of insect pests. Plants, plant parts, and seed are provided containing a polynucleotide construct encoding one or more of the toxin proteins disclosed herein. The proteins are referred to herein variously as the TIC2463-related toxin protein class or family, the TIC2463-related toxin proteins, the TIC2463-related protein genus, toxin proteins related to the TIC2463 toxin protein, proteins related to TIC2463, TIC2463-related toxin polypeptides, TIC2463-related pesticidal proteins, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: David J. Bowen, Catherine A. Chay, Stanislaw Flasinski, Xiaoran Fu, Uma R. Kesanapalli, Jason S. Milligan, Rachael N. Slightom, Daqi Tu, Andrew M. Wollacott, Yong Yin
  • Patent number: 9957525
    Abstract: The invention provides expression vectors and host cells for high-level expression of recombinant proteins. The expression vectors comprise Chinese hamster ovary elongation factor 1-? (CHEF1) transcriptional regulatory DNA elements and a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter and/or a human adenovirus tripartite leader (AdTPL) sequence. The invention achieves increased protein expression and better productivity of host cells compared to previously described expression systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: CMC ICOS BIOLOGICS, INC.
    Inventor: Howard R. Clarke
  • Patent number: 9957526
    Abstract: The present disclosure is in the field of genome engineering, particularly targeted modification of the genome of a cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Holmes, Jianbin Wang
  • Patent number: 9957527
    Abstract: The invention relates to the production of one or more terpenoids through microbial engineering, and relates to the manufacture of products comprising terpenoids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, National University of Singapore
    Inventors: Parayil K. Ajikumar, Gregory Stephanopoulos, Heng Phon Too
  • Patent number: 9957528
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a sugar product from ligno-cellulosic material, comprising the following steps: a) optionally pre-treatment of the ligno-cellulosic material; b) optionally washing of the optionally pre-treated ligno-cellulosic material; c) enzymatic hydrolysis of the optionally washed and/or optionally pre-treated ligno-cellulosic material using an enzyme composition comprising at least two cellulase and whereby the enzyme composition at least comprises GH61; and d) optionally recovery of a sugar product; wherein during part of the time of the enzymatic hydrolysis, oxygen is added to the ligno-cellulosic material and during part of the time of the enzymatic hydrolysis less oxygen is added to the ligno-cellulosic material compared to the other part of the time of the enzymatic hydrolysis, preferably no oxygen is added to the ligno-cellulosic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: DSM IP ASSETS B.V.
    Inventors: Bertus Noordam, Michael Petrus Jozef Berkhout, Aida Hiseni
  • Patent number: 9957529
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant microorganism with improved butanol production ability which has an acetyl-CoA synthesis pathway and a butyryl-CoA synthesis pathway, wherein a pathway converting acetyl-CoA to acetate is inhibited and a pathway converting acetyl-CoA to butyryl-CoA is promoted. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for producing butanol using the recombinant microorganism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GS CALTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sang-Hyun Lee, Moon-Ho Eom
  • Patent number: 9957530
    Abstract: The present invention provides for novel metabolic pathways leading to propanol, alcohol or polyol formation in a consolidated bioprocessing system (CBP), where lignocellulosic biomass is efficiently converted to such products. More specifically, the invention provides for a recombinant microorganism, where the microorganism expresses one or more native and/or heterologous enzymes; where the one or more enzymes function in one or more engineered metabolic pathways to achieve: (1) conversion of a carbohydrate source to 1,2-propanediol, isopropropanol, ethanol and/or glycerol; (2) conversion of a carbohydrate source to n-propanol and isopropanol; (3) conversion of a carbohydrate source to isopropanol and methanol; or (4) conversion of a carbohydrate source to propanediol and acetone; wherein the one or more native and/or heterologous enzymes is activated, upregulated or downregulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Lallemand Hungary Liquidity Management LLC
    Inventors: John E. McBride, Vineet Rajgarhia, Arthur J. Shaw, IV, Shital A. Tripathi, Elena Brevnova, Nicky Caiazza, Johannes Pieter Van Dijken, Allan C. Froehlich, William Ryan Sillers, James H. Flatt
  • Patent number: 9957531
    Abstract: The invention relates to a genetically engineered bacterium having an enzyme that converts acetyl-CoA to acetoacetyl-CoA, an enzyme that converts acetoacetyl-CoA to 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA, and an enzyme that converts 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA to 3-hydroxybutyrate. The bacterium may also have enzymes to produce other downstream products, such as 3-hydroxybutyryaldehyde, and 1,3-butanediol. Typically, the bacterium is capable of producing these products from a gaseous substrate, such as syngas or an industrial waste gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: LANZATECH NEW ZEALAND LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Koepke, Rasmus Overgaard Jensen, James Bruce Yarnton Haycock Behrendorff, Ryan Edward Hill, Darmawi Juminaga, Alexander Paul Mueller
  • Patent number: 9957532
    Abstract: This invention relates to improvements in the fermentation process used in the production of organic acids from biological feedstock using bacterial catalysts. The improvements in the fermentation process involve providing a fermentation medium comprising an appropriate form of inorganic carbon, an appropriate amount of aeration and a biocatalyst with an enhanced ability to uptake and assimilate the inorganic carbon into the organic acids. This invention also provides, as a part of an integrated fermentation facility, a novel process for producing a solid source of inorganic carbon by sequestering carbon released from the fermentation in an alkali solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Myriant Corporation
    Inventors: Theron Hermann, James Reinhardt, Xiaohui Yu, Russell Udani, Lauren Staples
  • Patent number: 9957533
    Abstract: Provided is a mutant of propionyl-CoA transferase from Clostridium propionicum that can convert lactate into lactyl-CoA with high efficiency in a method of preparing a polylactate (PLA) or PLA copolymer using microorganisms. Unlike conventional propionyl-CoA transferase which is weakly expressed in E. coli, when a mutant of propiony-CoA transferase from Clostridium propionicum is introduced into recombinant E. coli, lactyl-CoA can be supplied very smoothly, thereby enabling highly efficient preparation of polylactate (PLA) and PLA copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Si Jae Park, Taek Ho Yang, Hye Ok Kang, Sang Hyun Lee, Eun Jung Lee, Tae Wan Kim
  • Patent number: 9957534
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are microorganisms containing exogenous or heterologous nucleic acid sequences, wherein the microorganisms are capable of growing on gaseous carbon dioxide, gaseous hydrogen, syngas, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments the microorganisms are chemotrophic bacteria that produce or secrete at least 10% of lipid by weight. Also disclosed are methods of fixing gaseous carbon into organic carbon molecules useful for industrial processes. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing chemicals or producing precursors to chemicals useful in jet fuel, diesel fuel, and biodiesel fuel. Exemplary chemicals or precursors to chemicals useful in fuel production are alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, fatty acid alcohols, fatty acid aldehydes, desaturated hydrocarbons, unsaturated fatty acids, hydroxyl acids, or diacids with carbon chains between six and thirty carbon atoms long.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Kiverdi, Inc.
    Inventors: Itzhak Kurek, John S. Reed, Lisa Dyson, Henrik Fyrst, Christer Jansson, David Galgoczy
  • Patent number: 9957535
    Abstract: This document describes biochemical pathways for producing glutaric acid, 5-aminopentanoic acid, 5-hydroxypentanoic acid, cadaverine or 1,5-pentanediol by forming one or two terminal functional groups, comprised of carboxyl, amine or hydroxyl group, in a C5 backbone substrate such as 2-oxoglutarate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: INVISTA NORTH AMERICA S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Alex Van Eck Conradie, Adriana Leonora Botes
  • Patent number: 9957536
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydantoinase having an amino acid sequence selected from (i) or (ii), with (i) amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 6-20 and SEQ ID NO: 73-119 (ii) amino acid sequence wherein in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6-20 and SEQ ID NO: 73-119, 1 to 75 amino acid residues have been substituted, deleted, inserted and/or added, and wherein further the catalytic activity of the hydantoinase is higher by a factor of at least 1.2 than the catalytic activity of the hydantoinase having amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1, The present invention further relates to a process for preparing amino acids, wherein said hydantoinase is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Evonik Technochemie GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Osswald, Heiko Schuster, Jurgen Roos, Andreas Karau, Ulrich Schwaneberg, Ronny Martinez, Hemanshu Mundhada, Ursula Holter
  • Patent number: 9957537
    Abstract: A food product comprises an oligosaccharide composition that is digestion resistant or slowly digestible. The oligosaccharide composition can be produced by a process that comprises producing an aqueous composition that comprises at least one oligosaccharide and at least one monosaccharide by saccharification of starch, membrane filtering the aqueous composition to form a monosaccharide-rich stream and an oligosaccharide-rich stream, and recovering the oligosaccharide-rich stream. Alternatively, the oligosaccharide composition can be produced by a process that comprises heating an aqueous feed composition that comprises at least one monosaccharide or linear saccharide oligomer, and that has a solids concentration of at least about 70% by weight, to a temperature of at least about 40° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Harrison, Andrew J. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 9957538
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a soft biomass decomposition method, a production method for a target substance from soft biomass, and an enzyme or group of enzymes for decomposing soft biomass. Provided is a soft biomass decomposition method, including a step of bringing an enzyme selected from specific exocellulase, endocellulase, and processive endocellulase into contact with soft biomass such as bagasse and rice straw. Also provided is a production method for a target substance from soft biomass by incorporating the soft biomass decomposition method as a step. Further provided is an enzyme or group of enzymes for decomposing soft biomass selected from specific exocellulase, endocellulase, and processive endocellulase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION MIE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yutaka Tamaru, Takeshi Katsuyama
  • Patent number: 9957539
    Abstract: A method for producing a hexenol glycoside using a hexenol glycosyltransferase. A transformant transformed with a gene encoding a hexenol glycosyltransferase and a method for preparing such a transformant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: SUNTORY HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventor: Eiichiro Ono
  • Patent number: 9957540
    Abstract: Methods for recombinant production of steviol glycoside and compositions containing steviol glycosides are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: EVOLVA SA
    Inventors: Michael Dalgaard Mikkelsen, Jorgen Hansen, Ernesto Simon, Federico Brianza, Angelika Semmler, Kim Olsson, Simon Carlsen, Louis Düring, Alexei Ouspenski, Paula Hicks
  • Patent number: 9957541
    Abstract: An expression system for expressing a protein comprising: a eukaryotic host cell carrying a dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) deficiency; and an expression vector, the expression vector encoding the human growth hormone gene; a expression vector, the expression vector comprising: a eukaryotic selectable marker including a minimal SV 40 early promoter driving expression of a sequence encoding dihydrofolate reductase for complementing the DHFR deficiency in the host cell; a prokaryotic selectable marker conveying Ampicillin resistance to a prokaryotic host cell; a prokaryotic Origin of Replication; a plurality of multiple cloning sites (MCS); and at least one protein expression module comprising: a Simian Vacuolating Virus 40 (SV40) early promoter, inclusive of its 72 bp enhancer repeats; and a rabbit ?-globin intron sequence being separable from a SV40 p A sequence by a first multiple cloning site, for receiving a coding sequence and expressing a desired protein therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: NeuClone Biologics Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Noelle Sunstrom
  • Patent number: 9957542
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a sensor, which is capable of measuring, quickly and in high accuracy, concentration of neutral fat from a sample such as a biological sample or the like, without executing pretreatment of the sample. This object is attained by a biosensor for measuring concentration of neutral fat, based on value of current flowing in the electrode system, having: an insulating substrate; an electrode system having a working electrode and a counter electrode, formed onto the insulating substrate: and a reaction layer having a lipoprotein lipase, a glycerol dehydrogenase and an electron mediator, formed at the upper part or the vicinity of the electrode system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: CCI Corporation
    Inventors: Hironobu Murase, Motoaki Kuwahara, Masayuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 9957543
    Abstract: The present invention provides members that produce on a large scale a coenzyme-linked glucose dehydrogenase which has excellent substrate-recognizing ability toward glucose while providing low action on maltose. The present invention relates to a polynucleotide encoding a soluble coenzyme-linked glucose dehydrogenase that catalyzes the oxidation of glucose in the presence of an electron acceptor and has an activity toward maltose of 5% or lower; a polypeptide encoded by the nucleotide sequence of the polynucleotide; a recombinant vector carrying the polynucleotide; a transformed cell produced using the recombinant vector; a method for producing a polypeptide comprising culturing the transformed cell and collecting from the cultivated products a polypeptide that links to FAD to exert the glucose dehydration activity; a method for determination of glucose using the polypeptide; a reagent composition for determination of glucose; and a biosensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Ikeda Food Research Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Omura, Hirokazu Sanada, Takako Yada, Ayaka Atsumi, Tetsunari Morita, Emi Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 9957544
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device comprising a sample receiving appliance, a receiving appliance for test organisms, preferably for a suspension comprising test organisms, in particular for a bacterial suspension, and a jet pump appliance, wherein the jet pump appliance is, or can be brought, into active connection with the receiving appliance, and wherein the jet pump appliance is designed and installed in order, by means of a propellant medium having a higher pressure than atmospheric pressure at the location of installation of the device to spray test organisms in the form of an aerosol in the direction of the sample receiving installation, wherein the device has an installation for controlling a reproducible pressure of the propellant medium during the spraying of the test organisms and also the use of a device according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSITATSKLINIKUM FREIBURG
    Inventors: Thorsten Steinberg, Ali Al-Ahmad, Karen Lienkamp, Norbert Nanko
  • Patent number: 9957545
    Abstract: A blood glucose measurement unit, a blood glucose measurement method, and a blood glucose measurement system comprising the same are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, provided is a blood glucose measurement unit comprising: a transparent first substrate consisting of a blood inflow region into which blood flows and a reaction region connected to the blood inflow region which are formed on one surface thereof; a transparent second substrate coupled to the first substrate and comprising a blood aperture through which the blood flowing into the blood inflow region passes; and a reagent distributed to the reaction region so as to react with the blood glucose of the blood which has flown into the blood inflow region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GACHON UNIVERSOTY OF INSUTRY—ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Sanghyo Kim
  • Patent number: 9957546
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a phospholipid-based NIR molecular beacon, having a phospholipid moiety; with an NIR fluorophore moiety covalently linked to a phospholipid glycerol backbone and a quencher moiety covalently linked to the phospholipid glycerol backbone. Additionally, provided herein is methods of analyzing a sample for the presence of a phospholipase and methods of identifying the activity of a phospholipase in vivo utilizing phospholipid-based NIR molecular beacon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
    Inventors: E. J. Delikatny, Anatoliy V. Popov, Gang Zheng, Theresa Mawn
  • Patent number: 9957547
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for conducting a non-invasive analysis of a bodily fluid to determine the presence and level of a certain constituent carried by the bodily fluid. An indicator formulation of the device changes color in response to exposure to the constituent to provide a visible indication of the presence and level of the constituent carried by the bodily fluid. A carrier substrate of the device is constructed of a material having voids providing a high void volume within the substrate. The device is made by applying a chromagen to the carrier substrate to create a chromagen-laden carrier member. Then, a selected reagent having a particular constituent-specific formulation is applied to the chromagen-laden member. The selected reagent then combines with the chromagen thereby establishing the indicator formulation within the carrier substrate in place for reception of a sample of the bodily fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Pop Test LLC
    Inventors: Randice Lisa Altschul, Neil David Theise, Myron Rapkin, Rebecca O'Brien
  • Patent number: 9957548
    Abstract: A method of capturing a sperm deoxyribo nucleic acid (DNA) in a sample is disclosed. The method includes a step of contacting a lysis solution to the sample that includes at least a sperm cell or a sperm cell lysate to lyse the sperm cell. The sperm cell or sperm cell lysate includes a protamine-DNA complex. The method further includes applying at least a protamine-specific antibody to the lysed sperm cell, wherein the protamine-specific antibody binds to the protamine-DNA complex of the lysed sperm cell to form an antibody-protamine-DNA complex. The method further includes capturing the antibody-protamine-DNA complex; and isolating and detecting the sperm DNA from the captured antibody-protamine-DNA complex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael John Gerdes, John Richard Nelson, Patrick McCoy Spooner, Ralf Lenigk
  • Patent number: 9957549
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, compositions and kits for the generation of next generation sequencing (NGS) libraries in which non-desired nucleic acid sequences have been depleted or substantially reduced. The methods, compositions and kits provided herein are useful, for example, for the production of libraries from total RNA with reduced ribosomal RNA and for the reduction of common mRNA species in expression profiling from mixed samples where the mRNAs of interest are present at low levels. The methods of the invention can be employed for the elimination of non-desired nucleic acid sequences in a sequence-specific manner, and consequently, for the enrichment of nucleic acid sequences of interest in a nucleic acid library.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: NUGEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Armour, Doug Amorese, Bin Li, Nurith Kurn
  • Patent number: 9957550
    Abstract: Methods for detecting nucleic acid sequences, where attenuator oligonucleotides are provided to reduce the number of detection products resulting from highly abundant sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BIOSPYDER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Joanne M. Yeakley, Bruce Seligmann, Joel McComb
  • Patent number: 9957551
    Abstract: Systems and method for validation of sequencing results can amplify a target region of a nucleic acid sample in the presence of a primer pool including target specific and variant specific primers. The variant specific primers can include variant specific barcodes and variant specific sequences. An amplicon can be sequenced to determine the sequence of the variant specific barcode. The variant can be identified based on the sequence of the variant specific barcode, and the location of the variant can be determined by mapping the amplicon to a reference sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Dumitru Brinza, Fiona Hyland
  • Patent number: 9957552
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, compositions, kits, systems and apparatus that are useful for isolating nucleic acid molecules from a sample. In particular, the methods generally relate to normalizing the concentration of target nucleic acid molecules from a sample. In one aspect, the invention relates to purifying a primer extension product from a primer extension reaction mixture. In some aspects, nucleic acid molecules obtained using the disclosed methods, kits, systems and apparatuses can be used in various downstream processes including nucleic acid sequencing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Andersen, Steven Roman
  • Patent number: 9957553
    Abstract: This invention provides biochip cartridges and instrument devices for the detection and/or analysis of target analytes from patient samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GENMARK DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Jon Faiz Kayyem, Jayashankar Srinivasan, Sean Ford
  • Patent number: 9957554
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a microfluidic device and platform configured to conduct multiplexed analysis within the device. In particular, the device allows multiple targets to be detected on a single-cell level. Also provided are methods of performing multiplexed analyses to detect one or more target nucleic acids, proteins, and post-translational modifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Meiye Wu, Anup K. Singh
  • Patent number: 9957555
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the detection of the occurrence of initiation of replication events in genomic DNA in a eukaryotic cell, involving contacting said eukaryotic cell comprising said genomic DNA with a first nucleotide probe, under conditions enabling in situ hybridization of said first nucleotide probe with a target region in the DNA genome, wherein said target region comprises a nucleic acid sequence which has no identified corresponding annealing RNA in a metabolically active cell and therefore remains RNA-free during transcription and replication of said DNA genome and detecting said first nucleotide probe hybridized to said DNA. Further detection of at least one RNA molecule can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: INSTITUT PASTEUR, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Laurent Arnaud Chatre, Miria Ricchetti
  • Patent number: 9957556
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods, compositions and software for enriching low abundance alleles in a sample. It is directed in particular to the use of an excess amount of reference blocking sequence in an amplification reaction mixture in order to improve the enrichment efficiency, and reduce cycle time, of full COLD-PCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerassimos Makrigiorgos
  • Patent number: 9957557
    Abstract: A process of quantifying the extent of degradation present in a human DNA sample is described. The process makes use of a real time PCR system to separately quantitate within a sample a first retrotransposon interspersed element and a relatively longer second retrotransposon interspersed element, where the longer element is expected to be disrupted at a faster pace than is the shorter element as the sample degrades. In one embodiment, the process makes use of the appearance of the relatively young (on an evolutionary scale) Alu Yb-lineage subfamily sequences appearing in every human genome and their virtual absence in non-human samples. In a preferred embodiment, the process quantifies longer 290 bp sequences of “SVA” elements and shorter 80 bp sequences of Alu Yb8-lineage. Newly designed primers and TaqMan probes that are useful in the process are presented. A related process additionally quantifies male specific human DNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: LIFE GENETICS LAB, LLC
    Inventor: Sudhir Sinha
  • Patent number: 9957558
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, compositions, kits, systems and apparatus that are useful for multiplex PCR of one or more nucleic acids present in a sample. In particular, various target-specific primers are provided that allow for the selective amplification of one or more target sequences. In one aspect, the invention relates to target-specific primers useful for the selective amplification of one or more target sequences associated with cancer or inherited disease. In some aspects, amplified target sequences obtained using the disclosed methods, kits, systems and apparatuses can be used in various downstream processes including nucleic acid sequencing and used to detect the presence of genetic variants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Leamon, Mark Andersen, Michael Thornton
  • Patent number: 9957559
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a novel system and method for amplification and detection of nucleic acids within a miniaturized device wherein sample administration occurs via capillary forces through a channel created by drying a hydrogel containing all components needed for a cell-free, enzymatic, nucleic-acid amplification system other than the template nucleic acid or precursor thereto, and wherein an aqueous sample is provided to the desiccated hydrogel, and the hydrogel is rehydrated, through capillary forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventor: Damikka Manage
  • Patent number: 9957560
    Abstract: The invention relates to a new method of sequencing a double stranded target polynucleotide. The two strands of the double stranded target polynucleotide are linked by a bridging moiety. The two strands of the target polynucleotide are separated using a polynucleotide binding protein and the target polynucleotide is sequenced using a transmembrane pore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Clive Gavin Brown, James Anthony Clarke, Graham Hall, Gavin Harper, Andrew John Heron, James White