Devgen Nv

Apix Biosciences

Phytant

Thierry Bogaert

Romaan Raemaekers

Geert Plaetinck

Philippe Verwaerde

Pascale Feldmann

Irene Nooren

Els Van Bleu

Yann Naudet

Richard Feichtinger

Myriam Behgyn

Benoit Deprez

Nicole Damme

Myriam Beghyn

Frederic Pecqueur

Richard Zwaal

Christ Platteeuw

Lies Degrave

Laurent Kubler

Jean-Pierre Renard

Gwladys Cuvillier

Isabel Remory

Els Vanbleu

Katharine Mortier

Katherine Mortier

Cindy Anthonissen

Beatrice Bonnet

Jos&eacute; Groenen

Pascale Feldman

Ingele Roelens

Wouter Asaert

Sharoni Shafir

Jan Bogaert

Geraldine Wright

Romaan Jan Maria Raemaekers

Frédéric Pecqueur

The present invention relates to the prevention and/or control of infestation by insect pest species. In particular, the invention relates to down-regulation of expression of target genes in insect pests using interfering ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules. Also described are transgenic plants that (i) express or are capable of expressing interfering RNAs of the invention and (ii) are resistant to infestation by insect pest species. Compositions containing the interfering RNAs of the invention are also provided.

Down-regulating gene expression in insect plants

The present invention relates to methods for controlling pest infestation using double stranded RNA molecules. The invention provides methods for producing transgenic cells expressing the double stranded RNA molecules, as well as compositions and commodity products containing or treated with such molecules.

Methods for controlling pests using RNAi

The present invention relates to methods for controlling pest infestation using double stranded RNA molecules. The invention provides methods for making transgenic plants that express the double stranded RNA molecules, as well as pesticidal agents and commodity products produced by the inventive plants.

Transgenic plant-based methods for plant pests using RNAI

Down-regulating gene expression in insect pests

The present invention relates to methods for controlling pest infestation using double stranded RNA molecules. The invention provides methods for making transgenic plants that express the double stranded RNA molecules, as well as pesticidal agents and commodity products produced by the inventive plants. The invention also provides transgenic plants that are resistant to insect pest infestation.

Transgenic plant-based methods for plant pests using RNAi

There is provided a method of identifying DNA responsible for conferring a particular phenotype in a cell which method comprises a) constructing a cDNA or genomic library of the DNA of the cell in a suitable vector in an orientation relative to a promoter(s) capable of initiating transcription of the cDNA or DNA to double stranded (ds) RNA upon binding of an appropriate transcription factor to the promoter(s), b) introducing the library into one or more of the cells comprising the transcription factor, and c) identifying and isolating a particular phenotype of the cell comprising the library and identifying the DNA or cDNA fragment from the library responsible for conferring the phenotype. Using this technique it is also possible to assign function to a known DNA sequence by a) identifying a homologue(s) of the DNA sequence in a cell, b) isolating the relevant DNA homologue(s) or a fragment thereof from the cell, c) cloning the homologue or fragment thereof into an appropriate vector in an orientation relative to a suitable promoter(s) capable of initiating transcription of dsRNA from the DNA homologue or fragment upon binding of an appropriate transcription factor to the promoter(s) and d) introducing the vector into the cell from step a) comprising the transcription factor.

Characterisation of gene function using double stranded RNA inhibition

Improved vector constructs useful in the expression of double-stranded RNA are provided. The constructs are particularly useful for expression of double-stranded RNA in vitro and in vivo.

Vector constructs

The invention provides methods of screening compounds for potential pharmacological activity using nematode worms, principally but not exclusively the nematode. Specifically, the invention relates to the use of nematodes modified to have certain characteristics which provide advantages for compound screening, such as constitutive pharyngeal pumping, increased gut permeability or altered gut molecular transport. Methods for selecting suitably modified nematodes from a population of nematodes are also provided.

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The invention relates to screening methods using nematode worms, particularly but not exclusively , which are adapted to be performed in a high-throughput format.

Compound screening method

The invention relates to the use of microscopic nematodes such as in functional high throughput in vivo assays suitable for the detection of inhibitors or activators of intestinal lipid uptake.

Lipid uptake assays

The invention provides methods of screening compounds for potential pharmacological activity using nematode worms, principally but not exclusively the nematode . Specifically, the invention relates to the use of nematodes modified to have certain characteristics which provide advantages for compound screening, such as constitutive pharyngeal pumping, increased gut permeability or altered gut molecular transport. Methods for selecting suitably modified nematodes from a population of nematodes are also provided.

Compound assay

The invention provides methods of screening for compounds which affect the activity of a physiologically important calcium pump, the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca ATPase (SERCA), using the nematode worm

Compound screening methods

DNA fragments from the promoter region of the UL6 gene which are capable of functioning as promoters directing gene expression in the excretory cell of are provided and also expression vectors and transgenic containing these fragments. Also provided are screening methods performed in for identifying compounds or mutations which have an affect on the morphology of the excretory canal. Compounds identified using these screening methods may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of a range of diseases for which the excretory canal serves as a model.

Expression of DNA or proteins in C. elegans

Growing community of inventors

Kortrijk, Belgium

Thierry Bogaert