CA 2419481
- Earliest priority - 14 Aug 2000
- Filed - 10 Aug 2001
- Application pending
- Expected expiry - not applicable
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Title - Bioluminescent methods for direct visual detection
of environmental compounds
Claim 1
A device for detecting a selected analyte, comprising:
- a stably transformed bacterium containing a promoterless lux gene
cassette having a regulatory element for a selected analyte inserted in front of
the lux gene cassette;
- a support matrix onto which the bacterium is attached; and
- an encapsulating material to contain said bacterium attached to the support
matrix wherein the encapsulated bacterium emits visibly detectable light in the
presence of the selected analyte.
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Claim 13
A genetically modified bacterium responsive to divalent mercury, said
bacterium containing a merRo/p-lux gene stably integrated into the
bacterial chromosome wherein said bacterium produces a bioluminescent protein in
the presence of divalent mercury.
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Claim 25
A method for detecting mercury comprising
- contacting a sample suspected of containing mercury II ion with a
bioreporter bacterium genetically modified to contain a merRo/pA-lux
gene; and
- detecting the presence of the mercury ion when a visibly detectable
luminescence is produced.
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The claims are generally drawn towards:
- a device for detecting a selected analyte comprising a bacterium containing
a promoterless lux gene cassette having a regulatory element for a
selected analyte inserted in front of the lux gene cassette (claim 1)
- a genetically modified bacterium responsive to divalent mercury (claim 13)
- a method for detecting mercury comprising contacting a sample with a
bioreporter bacterium genetically modified to contain a merRo/p-lux
gene (claim 25)
Definitions extracted from the specification are provided in WO 2002/14551.
Comments:
Since this is a published application and not a granted patent, currently
there are no enforceable rights.
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University of Tennessee Research Corporation
1534 WHITE AVENUE
SUITE 403
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37996
Ph: +1-865-974-1882
Email: vhunley@tennessee.edu
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US
2003/108980
- Earliest priority - 14 Aug 2000
- Filed - 8 Aug 2001
- Application abandoned - 15 Mar 2006
- Expected expiry - not applicable
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Title - Bioluminescent methods for direct visual detection
of environmental compounds
Claim 1
A device for detecting a selected analyte, comprising:
a stably transformed bacterium containing a promoterless lux gene
cassette having a regulatory element for a selected analyte inserted in front of
the lux gene cassette;
a support matrix onto which the bacterium is attached; and
an encapsulating material to contain said bacterium attached to the support
matrix wherein the encapsulated bacterium emits visibly detectable light in the
presence of the selected analyte.
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Claim 13
A genetically modified bacterium responsive to divalent mercury, said
bacterium containing a merRo/p-lux gene stably integrated into the
bacterial chromosome wherein said bacterium produces a bioluminescent protein in
the presence of divalent mercury.
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Claim 25
A method for detecting mercury comprising
- contacting a sample suspected of containing mercury II ion with a
bioreporter bacterium genetically modified to contain a merRo/pA-lux
gene; and detecting the presence of the mercury ion when a visibly detectable
luminescence is produced.
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The claims are generally drawn towards:
- a device for detecting a selected analyte comprising a bacterium containing
a promoterless lux gene cassette having a regulatory element for a
selected analyte inserted in front of the lux gene cassette (claim 1)
- a genetically modified bacterium responsive to divalent mercury (claim 13)
- a method for detecting mercury comprising contacting a sample with a
bioreporter bacterium genetically modified to contain a merRo/p-lux gene (claim
25)
Definitions extracted from the specification are provided in WO 2002/14551.
Comments:
This application has been abandoned due to failure of the applicant to
respond to an office action.
Because it is a published application and not a granted patent, there are no
enforceable rights.
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WO
2002/14551
- Earliest priority - 14 Aug 2000
- Filed - 10 Aug 2001
- Published - 21 Feb 2002
- Amended claims - 26 Jun 2003
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Title - Bioluminescent methods for direct visual detection
of environmental compounds
Claim 1
A portable system for detecting a selected analyte, comprising:
- a stably transformed bacterium containing a promoterless
lux gene cassette having a regulatory element for a
selected analyte inserted in front of the lux gene cassette;
- a support matrix onto which the bacterium is attached ;
- an encapsulating material to contain said bacterium attached to the support
matrix, wherein the encapsulated bacterium emits visibly detectable light in the
presence of the selected analyte, and
- a portable detection device.
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Claim 13
A genetically modified bacterium responsive to divalent mercury, said
bacterium being encapsulated and containing a gene stably integrated into
bacterial chromosome, wherein said bacterium produces a bioluminescent protein
in the presence of divalent mercury.
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Claim 22
A mobile method for detecting mercury in water samples comprising
- providing a plurality of stably transformed bioreporter bacterium
genetically modified to contain a merRo/p-lux gene, said bacterium
attached to a support matrix and disposed within protective packaging for
preserving hydration of said bacterium;
- removing said protective packaging;
- contacting a water comprising sample suspected of containing mercury II ion
with said detecting the presence of the mercury ion when a visibly detectable
luminescence is produced, said detecting using a portable detection device.
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Note: The three independent claims extracted above are those of the amended
claims.
The claims are generally drawn towards:
- a portable system for detecting a selected analyte comprising a bacterium
containing a promoterless lux gene cassette having a regulatory element
for a selected analyte inserted in front of the lux gene cassette
(claim 1)
- a genetically modified bacterium responsive to divalent mercury (claim 13)
- a mobile method for detecting mercury in water samples comprising providing
a bioreporter bacterium genetically modified to contain a merRo/p-lux gene
(claim 22)
Definitions extracted from the specification are:
- Bioreporter - intact, living microbial cells that have been genetically
engineered to produce a measurable signal in response to a specific chemical or
physical agent in their environment.
-
lux gene cassette - this term is not defined in the specification.
The preferred embodiment is provided as follows: '...the cassette may be
merRo/p-lux where the lux gene comprises CDABE.'
- Analyte - this term is not defined in the specification. Dependent claims 4
and 5 recite the following analytes: naphthalene, toluene, ethylbenzene,
2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 13-phenylethylamine, phenol, biphenyl, and
mercury.
- Bacterium - the following statement indicates that there is no limit on the
bacterial species that can be used for this invention: 'While the invention has
been illustrated with E. coli and P. fluorescens, other
bacteria can be used.'
- Support matrix - this term is not defined in the specification. Dependent
claim 17 recite the following matrices: cellulose, glass, colloidal noble metal,
plastic, laminin or resin.
Comments:
Since this is a published application and not a granted patent, there are no
enforceable rights.
Examples in the specification have described the enablement of the technology
by:
- Creating a merRo/p::lux bioreporter - merRo/p (Genbank
Accession AF071413; nucleotides 19133-19638) was fused to luxCDABE on
pFSP3, the mer-lux reporter transposon was excised to create a transposome,
which was then electroporated into E. coli EC 100 competent cells.
Three transformants gave bioluminescence in response to Hg++, one of
which had twice luminescence intensity compared to the other two strains.
- Immobilising the bioreporter - toxity testing of latex material and
bioluminescence of immobilised bioreporters were designed with P.
fluorescens 5RL (naphthalene detection). A simulated bioluminescene test
with bioreporters immobilised in Noble agar onto a layer of silicone plastic
was conducted with several bioreporter strains, including that of E.
coli EC 100 containing merRo/p::lux.
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