Title: Compositions and Methods Using RNA Interference for Control of Nematodes
Number: 20060037101
Filed: Aug. 12, 2005
Lead Inventor: Peifeng Ren, BASF Plant Science
The invention "concerns double stranded RNA compositions and transgenic plants capable of inhibiting expression of essential genes in parasitic nematodes, and methods associated therewith," the patent application's abstract states. "Specifically, the invention relates to the use of RNA interference to inhibit expression of a target essential parasitic nematode gene, which is a parasitic nematode pas-5 gene, and relates to the generation of plants that have increased resistance to parasitic nematodes."
Title: Method for the Chemical Synthesis of Oligonucleotides
Number: 20060036090
Filed: Oct. 14, 2005
Lead Inventor: Chandra Vargeese, Sirna Therapeutics
The invention "features novel compositions, linkers, derivatized solid supports, and methods for the efficient solid phase synthesis of oligonucleotides, including RNA, DNA, RNA-DNA chimeras, and analogs thereof," the patent application's abstract states.
Title: Pharmaceutical Compositions for Delivery of Ribonucleic Acid to a Cell
Number: 20060035815
Filed: Sept. 8, 2005
Lead Inventor: Lishan Chen, Nastech Pharmaceutical
The patent application, its abstract states, discloses "a pharmaceutical composition for administration of a double-stranded ribonucleic acid molecule to an animal, comprising the dsRNA molecule and a peptide, wherein the dsRNA molecule comprises about 10 to about 40 base pairs, wherein the peptide comprises about 5 to about 40 amino acids and consists of all or part of the amino acid sequence … and wherein the peptide binds to the dsRNA molecule."
Title: Double-Stranded RNA Structure and Constructs, and Methods for Generating and Using the Same
Number: 20060035344
Filed: Oct. 20, 2003 PCT Filed: Oct. 20, 2003
Lead Inventor: Catherine Pachuk, Nucleonics
The invention "relates to novel double-stranded RNA structures and dsRNA expression constructs, methods for generating them, and methods of utilizing them for silencing genes," the patent application's abstract states. "Desirably, these methods specifically inhibit the expression of one or more target genes in a cell of [an] animal (e.g., a mammal such as a human) without inducing toxicity. These methods can be used to prevent or treat a disease or infection by silencing a gene associated with the disease or infection. The invention also provides [a] method for identifying nucleic acid sequences that modulate a detectable phenotype, such as the function of a cell, the expression of a gene, or the biological activity of a target polypeptide," the abstract adds.
Title: Oligonucleotides Comprising a Modified or Non-Natural Nucleobase
Number: 20060035254
Filed: July 21, 2005
Lead Inventor: Muthiah Manoharan, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
"One aspect of the … invention relates to a double-stranded oligonucleotide comprising at least one non-natural nucleobase," the patent application's abstract states. "In certain embodiments, the non-natural nucleobase is difluorotolyl, nitroindolyl, nitropyrrolyl, or nitroimidazolyl. In a preferred embodiment, the non-natural nucleobase is difluorotolyl. In certain embodiments, only one of the two oligonucleotide strands comprising the double-stranded oligonucleotide contains a non-natural nucleobase," the abstract notes. "In certain embodiments, both of the oligonucleotide strands comprising the double-stranded oligonucleotide independently contain a non-natural nucleobase."
The abstract also states that "in certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide strands comprise at least one modified sugar moiety. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a single-stranded oligonucleotide comprising at least one non-natural nucleobase. In a preferred embodiment, the non-natural nucleobase is difluorotolyl. In certain embodiments, the ribose sugar moiety that occurs naturally in nucleosides is replaced with a hexose sugar, polycyclic heteroalkyl ring, or cyclohexenyl group. In certain embodiments, at least one phosphate linkage in the oligonucleotide has been replaced with a phosphorothioate linkage."