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Synopsis

Antibiotic Resistance Genes Technology Landscape Paper

Antibiotic resistance genes are widely used as selectable markers because they are highly efficient, economical and straightforward. Therefore, they are considered a very valuable tool at experimental and commercial research levels.

As with many enabling technologies, these are proprietary technologies in the hands of few entities. The scope of patent protection ranges from the very broadly claimed use of any antibiotic resistance gene in plant transformation to the more restrictive use of particular antibiotic resistance systems in conjunction with particular promoters and selective agents.

The present paper analyses the extent of patent protection on

  • the use of any antibiotic resistance gene , mainly for plant transformation
  • the most commonly used antibiotic resistance marker genes: neomycin phosphotransferase (npt) and hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt).

A summary of the information contained within this paper is presented in the following table. A total of six different entities holding 21 patents are part of the analysis. The table provides a listing of the entities having patents on this field, the patent document number and a brief description of the invention claimed in the analysed patents.

Antibiotic Resistance Genes Technology Landscape Paper

Sections

Entity

Patent Document No.

Claimed invention

Antibiotic resistance genes in general

Monsanto Co.

US 5034322
US 6174724
US 6255560

  • A chimeric construct comprising any antibiotic resistance gene under control of a promoter that works in plants.
  • Promoter controlling the antibiotic resistance gene derived from:
    • US 5034322: A. tumefaciens opine synthase gene & rbcS gene
    • US 6174724: a gene "naturally expressed" in plants
    • US 6255560: 35S CaMV and 19S CaMV.

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Neomycin phosphotransferase (npt) gene

Monsanto Co.

US 5034322
US 6174724
EP 131623 B2

  • Chimeric constructs for plant transformation containing a neomycin phosphotransferase-encoding gene, which confers resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics.
  • Promoter controlling the antibiotic resistance gene derived from:
    • US 5034322: A. tumefaciens opine synthase gene & rbcS gene
    • US 6174724: a gene "naturally expressed" in plants
    • EP 131623 B2: rbcS gene.

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Japan Tobacco

EP 927765 A1*

  • Use of the nptII gene in combination with the antibiotic paromomycin for the selection of transformed rice cells.

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National Research Council of Canada

US 5639663
EP 583258 B1

  • A fused gene comprising a reporter marker gene (gusA gene) and an antibiotic resistance gene (nptII gene).

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Cetus Corporation

US 4784949
CA 1337716 A1

  • A DNA sequence of a modified truncated aph-I gene. The modified gene is particularly effective against G418 and neomycin antibiotics.

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Hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) gene

Eli Lilly Co./Novartis

US 4727028
US 4960704
US 5668298
US 6048730
EP 68740 B1
EP 135291 B1
EP 186425 B1
CA 1195626 A1
CA 1278540 A1
AU 555574 B2
AU 565625 B2
AU 582653 B2

  • Recombinant DNA cloning vectors that confer resistance to hygromycin and G418 antibiotics in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
  • A modified truncated DNA sequence of the hpt gene.
  • Vectors for plant transformation containing chimeric genes that comprise a hpt gene.

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* This European patent document corresponds to a patent application. The rest of the patent documents that appear in the table are granted patents. The latest status of the patent documents was checked in August 2002.

The information contained in this page was believed to be correct at the time it was collated. New patents and patent applications, altered status of patents, and case law may have resulted in changes in the landscape. CAMBIA makes no warranty that it is correct or up to date at this time and accepts no liability for any use that might be made of it. Corrections or updates to the information are welcome. Please send an email to info@bios.net.

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