Title: RNA Interference-Mediated Inhibition of Gene Expression Using Chemically Modified Short Interfering Nucleic Acid
Number: 20060247429
Filed: Feb. 21, 2006
Lead Inventor: James McSwiggen, Sirna Therapeutics
The 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,” the patent application’s abstract states. “Specifically, the invention relates to synthetic chemically modified small nucleic acid molecules … capable of mediating RNA interference 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.”
Title: RNA Interference-Mediated Inhibition of Gene Expression Using Chemically Modified Short Interfering Nucleic Acid
Number: 20060247428
Filed: Feb. 21, 2006
Lead Inventor: James McSwiggen, Sirna Therapeutics
The 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,” the patent application’s abstract states. “Specifically, the invention relates to synthetic chemically modified small nucleic acid molecules … capable of mediating RNA interference 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.”
Title: Method for Down-Regulating Gene Expression in Fungi
Number: 20060247197
Filed: April 3, 2006
Lead Inventor: Marc Van De Craen, DevGen
According to the patent application’s abstract, the invention “concerns methods for controlling fungus infestation via dsRNA mediated gene silencing, whereby the intact fungus cell(s) are contacted with a double-stranded RNA from outside the fungal cell(s) and whereby the double-stranded RNA is taken up by the intact fungal cell(s). In one particular embodiment, the methods of the invention are used to alleviate plants from fungus pests. Alternatively, the methods are used for treating and/or preventing fungal infestation on a substrate or a subject in need of such treatment and/or prevention. Suitable fungal target genes and fragments thereof, dsRNA constructs, recombinant constructs, and compositions are disclosed.”
Title: RNA Interference-Mediated Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease Using Short Interfering Nucleic Acid
Number: 20060247194
Filed: June 25, 2004 PCT Filed: June 25, 2004
Lead Inventor: James McSwiggen, Sirna Therapeutics
“This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating beta-secretase, amyloid precursor protein, PIN-1, presenillin 1, and/or presenillin 2 gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid molecules,” the patent application’s abstract states. “This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of BACE, APP, PIN-1, PS-1, and/or PS-2 gene expression and/or activity by RNA interference using small nucleic acid molecules.”
Title: Regulation of Gene Expression by DNA Interference
Number: 20060247193
Filed: Feb. 10, 2004 PCT Filed: Feb. 10, 2004
Lead Inventor: Kazunari Taira, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (Japan)
According to the patent application’s abstract, the invention “provides products and methods for modulating expression of a target gene in a cell. One such method includes introducing into the cell a polynucleotide that forms a duplex region with an mRNA transcribed from said target gene, where the duplex region comprises a mammalian miRNA target region. Another such method includes introducing into the cell an siRNA that forms a duplex region with an miRNA, or precursor thereof, where an mRNA transcribed from the target gene comprises a miRNA target region,” the abstract states.
“In certain preferred embodiments, the methods further include measuring expression of the target gene,” it adds. “The methods are particularly useful for modulating ontogenesis, function, differentiation, and/or viability of a mammalian cell. As such, the invention also provides methods for controlling ontogenesis of mammal, function of mammalian cell, differentiation of mammalian cell or viability of mammalian cell in the post-transcriptional phase by introducing into the cell a miRNA or a siRNA silencing precursor to the miRNA. The invention additionally provides polynucleotides, including vectors, useful in the method of the instant invention.”
The abstract also states that the aforementioned polynucleotides “include a plasmid vector comprising a promoter and a polynucleotide sequence expressing miRNA or precursor to the miRNA. Also included is a plasmid vector comprising a promoter and a nucleotide sequence expressing siRNA silencing precursor to miRNA. In certain preferred embodiments, the mRNA is capable of forming a duplex region with an mRNA transcribed from a mammalian target gene.”