Process Of Mutation, Cell Fusion, Or Genetic Modification Patents (Class 435/440)
  • Patent number: 8889126
    Abstract: Methods of treating or preventing axonal degradation in neuropathic diseases in mammals are disclosed. The methods can comprise administering to the mammal an effective amount of an agent that acts by increasing sirtuin activity in diseased and/or injured neurons. The methods can also comprise administering to the mammal an effective amount of an agent that acts by increasing NAD activity in diseased and/or injured neurons. Also disclosed are methods of screening agents for treating a neuropathies and recombinant vectors for treating or preventing neuropathies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Washington University
    Inventors: Jeffrey Milbrandt, Toshiyuki Araki, Yo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8883467
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods of producing fatty alcohols from recombinant host cells comprising genes encoding heterologous fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR) enzymes. The disclosure further relates to FAR enzymes and functional fragments thereof derived from marine bacterium and particularly marine gamma proteobacterium such as Marinobacter and Oceanobacter; polynucleotides encoding the FAR enzymes and vectors and host cells comprising the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Codexis, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert McDaniel, Behnaz Behrouzian, Louis Clark, Douglas Hattendorf, Fernando Valle
  • Patent number: 8883477
    Abstract: The invention describes novel pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of virus infections and cancer. The pharmaceutical compositions include mutant oligoadenylate synthetases (OAS) that have either enhanced cell permeability, reduced oxidative potential, improved antiviral activity, improved enzymatic activity, or absent enzymatic activity. The pharmaceutical compositions have improved drug properties and retain or have enhanced antiviral activity relative to their native forms. The pharmaceutical compositions further include chemically modified oligoadenylate synthetases, such chemical modifications being designed to increase serum stability and reduce immunogenicity in vivo. Such chemical modifications further increase drug stability and manufacturability in vitro. Compositions composed of more than ninety novel modifications are described. Also described are antibodies to polypeptides of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kineta Two, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn P. Iadonato, Charles L. Magness, Mark Branum, Maralee McVean, Christina Scherer
  • Patent number: 8883453
    Abstract: Materials and methods are provided for replacing one or more amino acids in a polypeptide with an amino acid of choice to form mutant proteins. Both naturally and non-naturally occurring amino acids can be inserted. A population of mutant proteins can be created in which an amino acid residue has replaced an existing residue at random locations along the primary sequence of the protein. The provided techniques allow for the study of proteins and development of proteins with improved functionalities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: University of Maryland
    Inventors: Thomas Ashton Cropp, Kelly Anne Daggett
  • Publication number: 20140329325
    Abstract: A device for use in laser optical transfection of biological targets including an optofluidic microdevice and a piece of optical glass. The optofluidic microdevice has a central vertical outlet and a microchannel network that includes a plurality of entrapping channels with narrowings. The microchannel network is fused with the optical glass. In one aspect the device is used with a petri dish having an optical window. In another aspect the device is used with a well plate having a plurality of wells and associated optical windows. In a third aspect the device is used with a barrier. Each of the aspects forms a peripheral space around the optofluidic microdevice capable of retaining a live culture of biological targets and material that is desired to be injected into those biological targets. Polymer tubing is inserted into the central vertical outlet which connects the device to an external pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventor: David Fozdar
  • Patent number: 8871516
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for preparing an expression vector encoding a tailored recombinase, wherein said tailored recombinase recombines asymmetric target sites within the LTR of proviral DNA of a retrovirus inserted into the genome of a host cell and is useful as means for excising the provirus from the genome of the host cell. The present invention further relates to an in vitro-method of optimising the treatment of a retroviral infection of a subject and to the use of tailored recombinases for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for reducing the viral load in a subjected infected by a retrovirus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Technische Universität Dresden, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften E.V., Heinrich-Pette-Institut für Experimentelle Virologie und Immunologie an der Universität Hamburg
    Inventors: Joachim Hauber, Frank Buchholz, Ilona Hauber, Francis A Stewart, Indrani Sarkar
  • Patent number: 8865450
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for production of continuous cell lines comprising providing living cells of an animal or a human, irradiating said cells with UV light, proliferating said cells and selecting multiplying cells as cells of a continuous cell line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Manfred Reiter, Wolfgang Mundt, Simone Feigl, Simone Von Fircks
  • Publication number: 20140308708
    Abstract: An enzymatic method for removing sequence errors in nucleic acid molecules are described. The method utilizes a CEL endonuclease that cuts heteroduplexes at mismatch sites containing the errors and an overlap extension polymerase chain reaction to re-assemble the cleaved fragments into full-length nucleic acid molecules free of the errors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: Jingdong TIAN
  • Patent number: 8859251
    Abstract: The invention describes novel pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of virus infections and cancer. The pharmaceutical compositions include mutant oligoadenylate synthetases (OAS) that have either enhanced cell permeability, reduced oxidative potential, improved antiviral activity, improved enzymatic activity, or absent enzymatic activity. The pharmaceutical compositions have improved drug properties and retain or have enhanced antiviral activity relative to their native forms. The pharmaceutical compositions further include chemically modified oligoadenylate synthetases, such chemical modifications being designed to increase serum stability and reduce immunogenicity in vivo. Such chemical modifications further increase drug stability and manufacturability in vitro. Compositions composed of more than ninety novel modifications are described. Also described are antibodies to polypeptides of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Kineta Two, LLC
    Inventors: Shawn P. Iadonato, Charles L. Magness, Mark Branum, Maralee McVean, Christina Scherer
  • Patent number: 8859278
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present invention are directed to new fully human fusion partner cell lines called human Karyochi cells, and to methods for making them. Human Karyochi cells are then fused with human antibody-secreting lymphoid cells to make fully human hybridomas called Karyochi-based hybridomas, which likewise secrete fully human monoclonal antibodies. Human Karyochi cells are made by isolating a donor nucleus that is substantially free of cytoplasm from either a first malignant B-lymphocyte cell line or a normal B-lymphocyte, and transferring the donor nucleus into the cytoplasm of a recipient cell from a second T- or B-lymphoid cell line. With time the nuclei synchronize and fuse to form the chimeric Karyochi fusion partner cell line. Nuclear transfer can be accomplished using intra-cytosolic nucleus injection or by impact-induced nucleus administration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Ilya Trakht, Gavreel Kalantarov
  • Publication number: 20140295556
    Abstract: Methods for increasing specificity of RNA-guided genome editing, e.g., editing using CRISPR/Cas9 systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: J. Keith Joung, Shengdar Tsai
  • Patent number: 8846402
    Abstract: A method for engineering and utilizing large DNA vectors to target, via homologous recombination, and modify, in any desirable fashion, endogenous genes and chromosomal loci in eukaryotic cells. These large DNA targeting vectors for eukaryotic cells, termed LTVECs, are derived from fragments of cloned genomic DNA larger than those typically used by other approaches intended to perform homologous targeting in eukaryotic cells. Also provided is a rapid and convenient method of detecting eukaryotic cells in which the LTVEC has correctly targeted and modified the desired endogenous gene(s) or chromosomal locus (loci) as well as the use of these cells to generate organisms bearing the genetic modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Aris N. Economides, Andrew J. Murphy, David M. Valenzuela, David Frendewey, George D. Yancopoulos
  • Patent number: 8846028
    Abstract: Certain embodiments disclosed herein include, but are not limited to, at least one of compositions, methods, devices, systems, kits, or products regarding rejuvenation or preservation of stem cells. Certain embodiments disclosed herein include, but are not limited to, methods of modifying stem cells, or methods of administering modified stem cells to at least one biological tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140287426
    Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods for labeling an endogenous protein, in particular, in a live cell, or for ablating an endogenous or target protein. The compositions relate to a fusion protein having a binding moiety such as an antibody, an antigen binding fragment of an antibody or an antibody mimetic that recognizes the endogenous or target protein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Don B. Arnold, Richard W. Roberts, Garrett G. Gross, Rudy Mora, Jason Junge
  • Patent number: 8841126
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for introducing a gene into a target cell using a retrovirus vector, which is simple and highly efficient. Specifically disclosed is a method for introducing a gene into a target cell using a retrovirus vector, which comprises the steps of (a) placing a liquor containing a retrovirus vector having a foreign gene carried thereon into a culture vessel on which a retrovirus-binding substance has been immobilized, and incubating the liquor at a temperature lower than 25° C. for 4 hours or longer, thereby producing a culture vessel having the retrovirus vector bound thereto, and (b) adding a target cell to the culture vessel that has been produced in step (a) and incubating the culture vessel. The gene introduction method is simple and highly efficient, and is useful particularly in the fields of medicine, cell technology, gene technology, embryologic technology and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Takara Bio Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Dodo, Naoki Saito, Hideto Chono, Junichi Mineno
  • Patent number: 8840890
    Abstract: The present application provides methods for producing human monoclonal antibodies without using hybridoma technology, antibodies produced used the described methods, and methods for using the antibodies to treat or prevent disease conditions (e.g., infection by pathogens such as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: University of Maryland, Baltimore
    Inventors: George K. Lewis, Yongjun Guan
  • Publication number: 20140259217
    Abstract: This invention relates to isolated nucleic acid fragments encoding polypeptides involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing. The invention also relates to construction of a recombinant DNA construct encoding all or a portion of the polypeptide involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the recombinant DNA construct results in production of altered levels in a transformed host cell of the polypeptide involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: E I Du Pont De Nemours And Company
    Inventors: Rebecca E Cahoon, Hajime Sakai, J Antoni Rafalski
  • Patent number: 8828703
    Abstract: Proteins including engineered sequences which inhibit proteases are disclosed, including proteins having two or more engineered Kunitz domains, and uses of such proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Dyax Corp.
    Inventor: Robert C. Ladner
  • Patent number: 8828704
    Abstract: Methods for the fermentive production of four carbon alcohols are provided. Specifically, butanol, preferably 2-butanol is produced by the fermentive growth of a recombinant bacteria expressing a 2-butanol biosynthetic pathway. The recombinant microorganisms and methods of the invention can also be adapted to produce 2-butanone, an intermediate in the 2-butanol biosynthetic pathways disclosed herein. Specifically disclosed herein are the use of coenzyme B12-independent butanediol dehydratases that catalyzes the substrate to product conversion of 2,3-butanediol to 2-butanone in the process of producing 2-butanol and 2-butanone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC
    Inventors: Gail K. Donaldson, Andrew C. Eliot, Lori Ann Maggio-Hall, Vasantha Nagarajan, Charles E. Nakamura, Jean-Francois Tomb
  • Publication number: 20140248665
    Abstract: The invention concerns the field of recombinant gene engineering. It concerns novel introns and compositions comprising such introns as well as a method to improve expression of polypeptides from nucleic acids such as cloned genes with heterologous introns, especially genes encoding antibodies and antibody derived fragments, and the production of various polypeptides in eukaryotic host cells using said novel intron sequences as heterologous introns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventor: Barbara ENENKEL
  • Patent number: 8822660
    Abstract: Methods and products for the repair of genetically defective DNA in the region of a mutated exon, for the specific destruction of tumor cells, and for the identification of naturally trans-spliced RNA. The methods inter alia are based on the utilization of cellular RNA splicing components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Joachim Eul
  • Publication number: 20140242698
    Abstract: Electronic medical records have to evolve from the isolated hospital systems or insurance company owned storage data silos based on a binary code accessed by patients through portals to the patient themselves becoming the data silo with portals to which all hospital systems or insurance companies send data for storage and future access. Transfer processes for binary or non-binary data systems facilitate data into patient centered servers, which combine source of origination codes. Combining the patient specific genome sequence with binary data generates a 3D data set which has more information than each data set alone. The patient's binary code represents the externally expressed DNA sequence. From this combination, future medical events can be predicted. Also, the system enables bidirectional data transfer so that health systems no longer need to maintain expensive data silos which are incomplete.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Complete Consent, LLC
    Inventor: Sidney P. Smith
  • Patent number: 8815582
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are implemented in connection with light-responsive ion channel molecules. One such method is implemented using a light-activated ion channel molecule that responds to a light stimulus. The method includes engineering the light-activated ion channel molecule in a cell; and activating the ion channel molecule, in response to light stimulus that is provided to the ion channel molecule and that has properties that do not activate a ChR2 ion channel, to allow ions to pass through the light-activated ion channel molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Karl Deisseroth, Feng Zhang, Viviana Gradinaru
  • Patent number: 8809056
    Abstract: This invention relates to immortalized avian cells, and to the use of these cells for the production of viruses. The cells according to the invention are particularly useful for the production of recombinant viral vectors which can be used for the preparation of therapeutic and/or prophylactic compositions for the treatment of animals and more particularly humans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Transgene S.A.
    Inventors: Phillippe Erbs, Marina Kapfer, Nathalie Silvestre
  • Patent number: 8809017
    Abstract: This invention relates to nucleic acid molecules comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding for a peptide or protein of interest, at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding for a selectable marker, and at least one IRES sequence, wherein the at least one IRES sequence is located between the at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding for the peptide or protein of interest and the at least one nucleic acid sequence encoding for the selectable marker. Furthermore, this invention relates to host cells comprising such nucleic acid molecule and to methods of recombinant protein expression using such host cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Agency for Science, Technology and Research
    Inventors: Yuansheng Yang, Steven Ho, Jia Juan Lee
  • Patent number: 8809026
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for extracting lipid from vegetative plant parts such as leaves, stems, roots and tubers, and for producing industrial products such as hydrocarbon products from the lipids. Preferred industrial products include alkyl esters which may be blended with petroleum based fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Thomas Vanhercke, James Robertson Petrie, Anna El Tahchy, Surinder Pal Singh, Qing Liu
  • Patent number: 8802401
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to engineered P450 polypeptides and use of such polypeptides in chemoenzymatic methods to construct selectively protected carbohydrates, which are useful as building blocks for preparation of carbohydrate derivatives and oligosaccharides
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: The California Institute of Technology, The Scripps Research Institute
    Inventors: Frances H. Arnold, Chi-Huey Wong, Yuuichi Mitsuda, Michael M. Chen, Clay Bennett, William Greenberg, Jared Crawford Lewis, Sabine Bastian
  • Patent number: 8802437
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to treat a genetic disease in an individual caused by at least one frame shift or at least one non sense mutation in the human dystrophin gene comprising at least the step of bringing into contact at least one meganuclease enzyme, which recognizes and cuts a target site in the human dystrophin gene, with the genome of said individual under conditions wherein said at least one meganuclease recognizes and cleaves its target site in the human dystrophin gene. Said method applies also to a set of meganuclease enzymes, which each recognizes and cuts a different target site. The present invention also relates to a kit comprising, at least one meganuclease enzyme as defined above and medicament comprising said meganuclease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Cellectis
    Inventors: Jacques Tremblay, Frederic Cedrone
  • Publication number: 20140220689
    Abstract: Described are compositions and methods relating to variant filamentous fungi having altered growth characteristics. Such variants are well-suited for growth in submerged cultures, e.g., for the large-scale production of enzymes and other proteins for commercial applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: DANISCO US INC.
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. Bodie, Robert James Pratt, II
  • Publication number: 20140223592
    Abstract: A pig myostatin gene locus and uses thereof are provided. Also provided includes an expression cassette comprising a promoter, a foreign gene and a following terminator; the promoter is a DNA molecule as set forth in any of 1)-4): 1) nucleotides at positions 2642-3778 starting from the 5? end of SEQ ID NO. 1 in the sequence listing; 2) nucleotides as set forth in SEQ ID NO. 1 in the sequence listing; 3) a DNA molecule, hybridizing and having the same function with the DNA sequence as defined in 1) or 2) under stringent condition. Experiments show that the pig myostatin gene locus provides a valuable gene source for gene targeting, as well as introducing and expressing a foreign gene at this site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: PIG MYOSTATIN GENE LOCUS AND USES THEREOF
    Inventors: Yanzhen Bi, Xinmin Zheng, Xianfeng Qiao, Ximei Liu, Liping Zhang, Wenjun Hua, Li Li, Hongwei Xiao, Jingrong Zhou, Qingxin Wei
  • Publication number: 20140220638
    Abstract: Mutant photosynthetic microorganisms having reduced chlorophyll and increased photosynthetic efficiency are provided. The mutants have a locked in high light-acclimated phenotype, in which many of the photosynthetic parameters characteristic of high light acclimated wild type cells are found in the LIHLA mutants when acclimated to low light, such as reduced chlorophyll, reduced NPQ, higher qP, higher Ek, higher Pmax per unit chlorophyll with little to no reduction in Pmax per cell, and higher rates of electron transport through photosystem II over a wide range of light intensities. Provided herein are constructs for attenuating or disrupting genes are provided for generating mutants having the LIHLA phenotype. Also provided are methods of culturing LIHLA mutants for the production of biomass or other products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Synthetic Genomics, Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun Bailey, Jay McCarren, Soyan Leung Lieberman, Jonathan E. Meuser, Anna E. Romano, Daniel Yee, Leah Soriaga, Robert C. Brown, Joseph C. Weissman, Roger C. Prince, Robert D. Nielsen, Ariel S. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 8795962
    Abstract: The present invention relates to expression vector comprising (a) a promoter region comprising a non-inducible constitutively active ribosomal protein gene promoter, (b) an operably linked reporter or gene sequence, and (c) a 3? untranslated region (3? UTR), which are suitable means for an selective assessment of post-transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional control elements and factors as well as for identifying compounds that effect post-transcription. The present invention furthermore relates to arrays, expression vector libraries and cell lines containing the expression vector(s). The present invention furthermore relates to a method and kit for identifying compounds that affect post-transcriptional regulation of reporter(s) or gene(s), that utilize the expression vector(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center
    Inventor: Khalid S. Abu Khabar
  • Publication number: 20140212976
    Abstract: The invention provides a recombinant carboxydotrophic Clostridia microorganism with increased overall utilization of NADPH relative to a parent microorganism. Further, the invention provides a method of producing a recombinant carboxydotrophic Clostridia microorganism which exhibits increased NADPH utilization relative to a parental microorganism. In particular, the invention relates to increasing the overall utilization of NADPH in a recombinant carboxydotrophic Clostridia microorganism in order to increase the production of at least one fermentation product by the microorganism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: LanzaTech New Zealand Limited
    Inventors: Alexander Paul Mueller, Michael Koepke
  • Patent number: 8790906
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel lysophospholipid acyltransferases. The object of the present invention is attained by the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 6 and the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 7 of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Suntory Holdings Limited
    Inventor: Misa Ochiai
  • Publication number: 20140201871
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having beta-glucosidase activity, beta-xylosidase activity, or beta-glucosidase and beta-xylosidase 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: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Novozymes Inc.
    Inventor: Marc Dominique Morant
  • Publication number: 20140199683
    Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods of producing influenza B viruses in cell culture. The influenza B viruses may have desirable characteristics, such as enhanced replication in eggs and may be used, for example, in vaccines and in methods of treatment to protect against influenza B virus infection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: MEDIMMUNE, LLC
    Inventors: Hong JIN, Zhongying CHEN
  • Publication number: 20140199765
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for delivering a biological material into a cell are provided. In one example, a lance device for introducing biological material into a cell and configured for use in a nanoinjection system including a microscope is provided. Such a device can include a lance having a tip region and a shaft region, wherein the lance is structurally configured to allow entry and movement of the tip region into the cell along an elongate axis of the tip region and along a focal plane of the microscope. In another example, the lance can be configured to allow substantially horizontal entry and movement of the tip region into the cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Quentin T. Aten, Sandra H. Burnett, Brian D. Jensen, Larry L. Howell
  • Patent number: 8778658
    Abstract: The technology relates in part to biological methods for producing adipic acid and engineered microorganisms capable of such production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Verdezyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Picataggio, Tom Beardslee
  • Patent number: 8778651
    Abstract: The invention relates to nitrilases and to nucleic acids encoding the nitrilases. In addition methods of designing new nitrilases and method of use thereof are also provided. The nitrilases have increased activity and stability at increased pH and temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Verenium Corporation
    Inventors: Kelvin Wong, Jay M. Short, Mark Burk, Grace DeSantis, Robert Farwell, Kelly Chatman
  • Patent number: 8759066
    Abstract: Disclosed are compositions for activating thrombin precursors to thrombin. The compositions provided include polypeptide compositions wherein the pre-pro-sequence comprises a thrombin cleavage site. The compositions provided also include polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides and recombinant systems for expressing said polypeptides. This disclosure also relates to methods for producing said compositions, recovering said compositions, activating said compositions purifying said compositions and producing active thrombin molecules using the active form of said compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Zymogenetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Bishop, Tracey A. Pownder, Paul O. Sheppard, Christopher J. Stenland
  • Patent number: 8753862
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel expression cassettes and expression vectors, comprising three nucleic acid sequences for araA, araB and araD, each coding for a polypeptide of an L-arabinose metabolic pathway, in particular, a bacterial L-arabinose metabolic pathway. The invention particularly relates to expression cassettes and expression vectors, comprising codon-optimised nucleic acid sequences for araA, araB and araD. The invention further relates to host cells, in particular modified yeast strains containing the expression cassettes or expression vectors and expressing the polypeptides for the L-arabinose metabolic pathway, in particular, for the bacterial L-arabinose metabolic pathway. When using these modified host cells, arabinose is more effectively fermented by these cells, in particular into ethanol. The present invention is therefore relevant, inter alia, in connection with the production of biochemicals from biomass, such as bioethanol for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Butalco GmbH
    Inventors: Eckhard Boles, Beate Wiedemann
  • Patent number: 8748182
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to methods of producing a mutant GPCR with increased stability relative to its parent GPCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Heptares Therapeutics Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan Richard Heal, Richard Henderson, Christopher Gordon Tate, Malcolm Peter Weir
  • Patent number: 8748136
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of methionine or its derivatives by culturing a microorganism in an appropriate culture medium comprising a source of carbon and a source of sulphur. The microorganism and/or the culture medium and/or the process parameters were modified in a way that the accumulation of the by-product N-acyl-methionine (NAM) is reduced. The isolation of methionine or its derivatives from the fermentation medium is also claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Metabolic Explorer
    Inventors: Rainer Figge, Philippe Soucaille, Gwénaëlle Bestel-Corre
  • Patent number: 8747840
    Abstract: Isolated glycyl-tRNA synthetase polypeptides and polynucleotides having non-canonical biological activities are provided, as well as compositions and methods related thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: aTyr Pharma, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie Ann Greene, Ryan Andrew Adams, Fei Hong, Ji Zhao, Eva Rebecka Stephanie Armour, Kristi Helen Piehl
  • Patent number: 8748134
    Abstract: Described herein are techniques for assembling a polynucleotide encoding a transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN). The techniques ligate and digest necessary modules for a TALEN assembly in one reactor or system. Methods and Kits for generating a TALEN are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: SIDANSAI Biotechnology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jinlong Zhao, Zhao Wu
  • Patent number: 8741616
    Abstract: Cytochrome P450 BM-3 from Bacillus megaterium was engineered using a combination of directed evolution and site-directed mutagenesis to hydroxylate linear alkanes regio- and enantioselectively using atmospheric dioxygen as an oxidant. Mutant 9-10A-A328V hydroxylates octane primarily at the 2-positio to form S-2-octanol (40% ee). Another mutant, 1-12G, hydroxylates alkanes larger than hexane primarily at the 2-position, but forms R-2-alcohols (40-55% ee). These biocatalysts are highly active for alkane substrates and support thousands of product turnovers. These regio- and enantio-selectivities are retained in whole-cell biotransformations with E. coli, where the engineered P450s can be expressed at high levels and the expensive cofactor is supplied endogenously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Frances H. Arnold, Matthew W. Peters, Peter Meinhold
  • Patent number: 8735131
    Abstract: An object is to provide a novel method for improving an enzyme capable of deamidating a protein. A mutant protein deamidase is designed by the following steps: (A) identifying one or more amino acid in an amino acid sequence for a protein deamidase which corresponds to the amino acid at position 35, 38 to 43, 45, 46, 49, 79 to 84, 103 to 106, 117, 142, 143, 146, 166, or 185 in the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2; and (B) constructing a mutant amino acid sequence of the protein deamidase by substituting the one or more amino acid identified in step (A) with another amino acid or other amino acids or by deleting the one or more amino acid identified in step (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Amano Enzyme Inc.
    Inventors: Ryota Hashizume, Bunzo Mikami, Hirotaka Matsubara, Akiko Matsunaga, Shotaro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8735160
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of targeted mutagenesis in Gram-positive bacteria. In particular, the present invention provides a method that effectively integrates a suicide integrative vector into a target gene in the chromosome of a Gram-positive bacterium, resulting in inactivation of the target gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventor: Yunfeng Yang
  • Patent number: 8735111
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing industrial products such as hydrocarbon products from non-polar lipids in a vegetative plant part. Preferred industrial products include alkyl esters which may be blended with petroleum based fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Thomas Vanhercke, James Robertson Petrie, Anna El Tahchy, Surinder Pal Singh, Qing Liu
  • Patent number: 8735159
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of nucleic acid sequences for regulating the transcription and expression of genes, the novel promoters and expression units themselves, methods for altering or causing the transcription rate and/or expression rate of genes, expression cassettes comprising the expression units, genetically modified microorganisms with altered or caused transcription rate and/or expression rate, and methods for preparing biosynthetic products by cultivating the genetically modified microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Oskar Zelder, Corinna Klopprogge, Burkhard Kroger, Hartwig Schroder, Stefan Haefner