Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
DETAILED ACTION
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on February 17, 2026 has been entered.
RESPONSE TO AMENDMENT
Status of Application/Amendments/claims
3. Applicant’s amendment filed February 17, 2026 is acknowledged. Claims 1-48 and 59-60 are cancelled. Claims 49 and 62 are amended. Claims 69-70 are newly added. Claims 49-58 and 61-68 and new claims 69-70 are pending in this application and under examination in this office action.
4. Applicant’s arguments filed on February 17, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not deemed to be persuasive for the reasons set forth below.
Claim Rejections/Objections Withdrawn
5. The rejection of claims 49-58 and 61 under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kanthasamy et al. (US2019262298) in view of Falb et al. (US2017/0232043) is withdrawn in response to Applicant’s amendment to the claims.
The rejection of claims 62 and 65-67 under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kanthasamy et al. (US2019262298) in view of Falb et al. (US2017/0232043) as applied to claims 49-58 and 61 above, and further in view of Mawad et al. (Applied Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2018; 102:10675-10690) is withdrawn in response to Applicant’s amendment to the claims.
The rejection of claims 63-64 and 68 under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kanthasamy et al. (US2019262298) in view of Falb et al. (US2017/0232043) and Mawad et al. (2018) as applied to claims 62 and 65-67 above, and further in view of Xie et al. (Sci. Rept. 2014; 4:7506. DOI: 10.1038/srep07506, as in IDS) is withdrawn in response to Applicant’s amendment to the claims.
The rejection of claims 49-58 and 61 on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-29 of U.S. Patent No. 11576883 in view of Falb et al. (US2017/0232043) is withdrawn in response to Applicant’s amendment to the claims.
The rejection of claims 62-68 on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-29 of U.S. Patent No. 11576883 in view of Falb et al. (US2017/0232043), Mawad et al. (2018) and Xie et al. (2014) is withdrawn in response to Applicant’s amendment to the claims.
New Grounds of Rejection Necessitated by the Amendment
The following rejections are new grounds of rejections necessitated by the amendment filed on February 17, 2026.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
6. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 49-58 and 61-70 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
To provide adequate written description and evidence of possession of a claimed genus, the specification must provide sufficient distinguishing identifying characteristics of the genus. The factors to be considered include disclosure of complete or partial structure, physical and/or chemical properties, functional characteristics, structure/function correlation, methods of making the claimed product, or any combination thereof.
Claims 49-58 and 61-70 as amended are drawn to a method for treating Parkinson's disease (PD), depression and/or anxiety, or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or improving motivational performance or memory and learning, the method comprising:
i. providing a recombinant microbial cell comprising a heterologous hpaB and hpaC nucleotide sequence operably linked to an inducible promoter;
ii. pre-incubating ex vivo the recombinant microbial cell with an inducible of the promoter; and
iii. administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a composition comprising the pre-incubated recombinant microbial cell, wherein the subject has a plasma L-DOPA concentration of at least 700ngml within 6 hours after administering the composition.
The claims encompass a genus of recombinant microbial cell comprising a heterologous hpaB and hpaC nucleotide sequence operably linked to an inducible promoter and capable of producing a plasma L-DOPA concentration of at least 700ngml within 6 hours after administering the composition.
The specification fails to provide sufficient species of the claimed genus of recombinant microbial cell capable of producing a plasma L-DOPA concentration of at least 700ngml within 6 hours after administering the composition.
The specification only describes i) orally administered with EcNLDOPA4 pre-induced with Rhamnose (doses of 1-2×1010 CFU) for 8 wk, wherein EcNLDOPA4 comprises is Nissle 1917 stably integrating the hpaBC gene into the EcN genome, and comprising a rhamnose (Rha)-inducible, tightly regulated and tunable promoter, and a human therapeutic level of L-DOPA (770 ng/mL) was rapidly seen by 6h post-EcNrha L-DOPA (Examples 1-2).
In making a determination of whether the application complies with the written description requirement of 35 U.S.C. 112, first paragraph, it is necessary to understand what Applicant is in possession of and what Applicant is claiming.
M.P.E.P. § 2163 instructs:
An invention described solely in terms of a method of making and/or its function may lack written descriptive support where there is no described or art-recognized correlation between the disclosed function and the structure(s) responsible for the function. . . .
An applicant may show possession of an invention by disclosure of drawings or structural chemical formulas that are sufficiently detailed to show that applicant was in possession of the claimed invention as a whole. . . .
An applicant may also show that an invention is complete by disclosure of sufficiently detailed, relevant identifying characteristics which provide evidence that applicant was in possession of the claimed invention, i.e., complete or partial structure, other physical and/or chemical properties, functional characteristics when coupled with a known or disclosed correlation between function and structure, or some combination of such characteristics.”
This standard has not been met in this case. From the specification, Applicant is in possession of orally administered with EcNLDOPA4 pre-induced with Rhamnose at doses of 1-2×1010 CFU to result in a plasma L-DOPA concentration of at least 700ngml within 6 hours after administering the composition, and wherein the EcNLDOPA4 pre-induced with Rhamnose comprises stably integrating the hpaBC gene into the EcN genome, and a rhamnose (Rha)-inducible, tightly regulated and tunable promoter. However, Applicant is not in possession of using other recombinant microbial cells comprising a heterologous hpaB and hpaC nucleotide sequence operably linked to an inducible promoter. The specification provides no well-established structural and functional relationship between the claimed genus of recombinant microbial cell and EcNLDOPA4 pre-induced with Rhamnose and the dose of 1-2×1010 CFU used in Examples 1-2. The specification provides no identification of any particular portion of the structure that must be conserved. The instant specification fails to provide sufficient descriptive information, such as definitive structural or functional features of the claimed genus of recombinant microbial cells comprising a heterologous hpaB and hpaC nucleotide sequence operably linked to an inducible promote to the function of EcNLDOPA4 pre-induced with Rhamnose at dose of 1-2×1010 CFU in order to result in at least 700ngml within 6 hours after administering the composition. Furthermore, the prior art does not provide compensatory structural or correlative teachings sufficient to enable one of skill to identify what other recombinant microbial cells might be.
Since the common characteristics/features of other recombinant microbial cells and other doses are unknown, a skilled artisan cannot contemplate the functional correlations of the genus with the claimed invention. Accordingly, in the absence of sufficient recitation of distinguishing identifying characteristics, the specification does not provide adequate written description of the genus of recombinant microbial cells and doses
Based on MPEP § 2161.01 and §2163, “to satisfy the written description requirement, a patent specification must describe the claimed invention in sufficient detail that one skilled in the art can reasonably conclude that the inventor had possession of the claimed invention. See, e.g., Moba, B.V. v. Diamond Automation, Inc., 325 F.3d 1306, 1319, 66 USPQ2d 1429, 1438 (Fed. Cir. 2003); Vas-Cath, Inc. v. Mahurkar, 935 F.2d at 1563, 19 USPQ2d at 1116”.
Vas-Cath Inc. v. Mahurkar, 19USPQ2d 1111, clearly states “applicant must convey with reasonable clarity to those skilled in the art that, as of the filing date sought, he or she was in possession of the invention. The invention is, for purposes of the ‘written description’ inquiry, whatever is now claimed.” (See page 1117.) The specification does not “clearly allow persons of ordinary skill in the art to recognize that [he or she] invented what is claimed.” (See Vas-Cath at page 1116).
As discussed above, the skilled artisan cannot envision the detailed chemical structure of the encompassed genus of recombinant microbial cells and doses to result in at least 700ngml within 6 hours after administering the composition, and therefore conception is not achieved until reduction to practice has occurred, regardless of the complexity or simplicity of the method of isolation. Adequate written description requires more than a mere statement that it is part of the invention and reference to a potential method of isolating it. The compound itself is required. See Fiers v. Revel, 25 USPQ2d 1601 at 1606 (CAFC 1993) and Amgen Inc. v. Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., 18 USPQ2d 1016. One cannot describe what one has not conceived. See Fiddes v. Baird, 30 USPQ2d 1481 at 1483.
Therefore, the claimed method has not met the written description provision of 35 U.S.C. §112, first paragraph. Applicant is reminded that Vas-Cath makes clear that the written description provision of 35 U.S.C. §112 is severable from its enablement provision (see page 1115). Applicant is directed to the Guidelines for the Examination of Patent Applications Under the 35 U.S.C. 112, ¶ 1 "Written Description" Requirement. See MPEP § 2161.01 and 2163.
Conclusion
7. NO CLAIM IS ALLOWED.
8. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Kanthasamy et al. (US20190262298) teach methods and compositions for treating Parkinson's disease (PD) and depression and/or anxiety ([0005]-[0007] [0080]-[0083]; [0091]), wherein the method comprises administering to a subject with PD and depression and/or anxiety a composition comprising a recombinant microbial cell including recombinant E. coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) or variant thereof comprising a heterologous hpaB and hpaC nucleotide sequence operably linked to a rhamnose inducible promoter (see para.[0148]-[0150]) and wherein the recombinant microbial cell produces L-DOPA (see Example 11; [0139]-[0150]; and is capable of colonizing the gut of a mammal including human (see para. [0005]-[0013]; [0040]; [0084];[0099]; [0148]-[0150]; [0139]-[0150], Examples 5-12, [0116]- [0154]; Example 11; paragraphs [065]-[0067]; [0073]-[0074]; [0054]-[0059], [0139]-[0150]; claims 1-29), wherein the hpaB and hpaC nucleotide sequence is operably linked to a rhamnose inducible promoter sequence in a plasmid/vector (see para. [0148]-[0150]) and comprises SEQ ID NO:3, which is 100% identical to instant SEQ ID NO:1 (see the sequence alignment below; para. [0148]-[0150]). Kanthasamy teaches that the composition further comprises additional agents including a DOPA-decarboxylase inhibitor (see para. [0009]; [0107]-[0108]; claims 11 and 25; [0103]-[0105]).
The sequence search results disclose as follows:
SEQ ID NO:1
BGR30350
(NOTE: this sequence has 1 duplicate in the database searched.
See complete list at the end of this report)
ID BGR30350 standard; DNA; 2149 BP.
XX
AC BGR30350;
XX
DT 17-OCT-2019 (first entry)
XX
DE E. coli HpaBC synthetic gene, SEQ ID 3.
XX
KW HpaBC gene; amino acid production; antiparkinsonian; anxiety disorder;
KW ds; major depressive disorder; parkinsons disease; therapeutic.
XX
OS Escherichia coli Nissle 1917.
OS Synthetic.
XX
CC PN US2019262298-A1.
XX
CC PD 29-AUG-2019.
XX
CC PF 27-FEB-2019; 2019US-00287437.
XX
PR 27-FEB-2018; 2018US-0635983P.
PR 28-DEC-2018; 2018US-0785980P.
XX
CC PA (IOWA ) UNIV IOWA STATE RES FOUND INC.
XX
CC PI Kanthasamy AG, Abdalla A, Phillips G, Backes N;
XX
DR WPI; 2019-74367Y/69.
XX
CC PT Treating Parkinson's disease, comprises administering composition
CC PT comprising recombinant microbial cell capable of producing L-3,4-
CC PT dihydroxyphenylalanine, in which the recombinant microbial cell colonizes
CC PT gut.
XX
CC PS Claim 13; SEQ ID NO 3; 84pp; English.
XX
CC The present invention relates to a method of treating parkinson's
CC disease. The method comprises administering to a subject an effective
CC amount of a composition comprising a recombinant microbial cell capable
CC of producing levodopa (L-DOPA), wherein the said recombinant microbial
CC cell colonizes the gut of the said subject, thereby providing L-DOPA in a
CC sustained manner. The invention further claims: (1) a method of treating
CC depression and/or anxiety and improving motivational performance; and (2)
CC a pharmaceutical composition comprising a recombinant microbial cell
CC capable of producing L-DOPA and colonizing the gut of a subject, thereby
CC providing L-DOPA in a sustained manner. The method is useful for treating
CC Parkinson's disease in a subject, and treating depression and/or anxiety
CC and improving motivational performance, where the depression and/or
CC anxiety is associated with parkinson's disease.
XX
SQ Sequence 2149 BP; 544 A; 511 C; 559 G; 535 T; 0 U; 0 Other;
Query Match 100.0%; Score 2149; Length 2149;
Best Local Similarity 100.0%;
Matches 2149; Conservative 0; Mismatches 0; Indels 0; Gaps 0;
Qy 1 GAAGGAGATATACATATGAAACCCGAAGATTTCCGTGCTTCAACACAGCGCCCTTTCACT 60
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1 GAAGGAGATATACATATGAAACCCGAAGATTTCCGTGCTTCAACACAGCGCCCTTTCACT 60
Qy 61 GGGGAAGAATACCTGAAGAGCCTGCAAGACGGTCGTGAAATTTATATTTACGGGGAGCGT 120
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 61 GGGGAAGAATACCTGAAGAGCCTGCAAGACGGTCGTGAAATTTATATTTACGGGGAGCGT 120
Qy 121 GTGAAGGATGTTACGACCCATCCAGCCTTTCGCAACGCCGCTGCGTCTGTGGCGCAGTTG 180
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 121 GTGAAGGATGTTACGACCCATCCAGCCTTTCGCAACGCCGCTGCGTCTGTGGCGCAGTTG 180
Qy 181 TATGATGCGTTACACAAACCTGAGATGCAGGATTCGTTGTGCTGGAACACAGACACGGGT 240
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 181 TATGATGCGTTACACAAACCTGAGATGCAGGATTCGTTGTGCTGGAACACAGACACGGGT 240
Qy 241 TCGGGAGGATATACTCATAAATTTTTTCGCGTTGCTAAGTCGGCAGACGACCTGCGCCAA 300
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 241 TCGGGAGGATATACTCATAAATTTTTTCGCGTTGCTAAGTCGGCAGACGACCTGCGCCAA 300
Qy 301 CAACGTGATGCTATTGCTGAGTGGTCACGTCTGTCGTACGGGTGGATGGGACGTACACCC 360
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 301 CAACGTGATGCTATTGCTGAGTGGTCACGTCTGTCGTACGGGTGGATGGGACGTACACCC 360
Qy 361 GATTATAAAGCGGCGTTTGGATGCGCATTGGGAGCTAACCCTGGATTCTATGGACAGTTC 420
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 361 GATTATAAAGCGGCGTTTGGATGCGCATTGGGAGCTAACCCTGGATTCTATGGACAGTTC 420
Qy 421 GAGCAGAATGCCCGCAACTGGTACACACGCATTCAAGAAACTGGGTTGTATTTTAATCAC 480
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 421 GAGCAGAATGCCCGCAACTGGTACACACGCATTCAAGAAACTGGGTTGTATTTTAATCAC 480
Qy 481 GCCATTGTCAATCCGCCGATCGATCGCCACCTGCCCACGGATAAAGTAAAAGATGTATAT 540
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 481 GCCATTGTCAATCCGCCGATCGATCGCCACCTGCCCACGGATAAAGTAAAAGATGTATAT 540
Qy 541 ATTAAGTTGGAAAAAGAGACAGACGCAGGGATCATTGTATCAGGCGCCAAGGTGGTTGCG 600
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 541 ATTAAGTTGGAAAAAGAGACAGACGCAGGGATCATTGTATCAGGCGCCAAGGTGGTTGCG 600
Qy 601 ACCAATTCTGCCCTGACGCACTACAACATGATCGGCTTTGGATCTGCTCAAGTGATGGGT 660
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 601 ACCAATTCTGCCCTGACGCACTACAACATGATCGGCTTTGGATCTGCTCAAGTGATGGGT 660
Qy 661 GAAAACCCCGATTTTGCACTTATGTTTGTAGCCCCCATGGACGCTGACGGGGTTAAACTG 720
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 661 GAAAACCCCGATTTTGCACTTATGTTTGTAGCCCCCATGGACGCTGACGGGGTTAAACTG 720
Qy 721 ATTAGCCGCGCATCGTACGAAATGGTCGCCGGGGCCACAGGCAGTCCGTACGATTATCCT 780
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 721 ATTAGCCGCGCATCGTACGAAATGGTCGCCGGGGCCACAGGCAGTCCGTACGATTATCCT 780
Qy 781 TTATCTAGTCGCTTCGACGAAAACGACGCGATCTTAGTGATGGATAACGTCCTGATTCCT 840
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 781 TTATCTAGTCGCTTCGACGAAAACGACGCGATCTTAGTGATGGATAACGTCCTGATTCCT 840
Qy 841 TGGGAGAACGTCCTGATCTATCGTGATTTCGACCGCTGCCGTCGTTGGACTATGGAAGGA 900
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 841 TGGGAGAACGTCCTGATCTATCGTGATTTCGACCGCTGCCGTCGTTGGACTATGGAAGGA 900
Qy 901 GGCTTCGCTCGCATGTACCCTTTGCAAGCCTGTGTACGCCTTGCTGTCAAACTTGATTTC 960
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 901 GGCTTCGCTCGCATGTACCCTTTGCAAGCCTGTGTACGCCTTGCTGTCAAACTTGATTTC 960
Qy 961 ATCACTGCGCTTTTGAAGAAATCGTTAGAGTGTACTGGGACGCTGGAGTTCCGTGGTGTC 1020
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 961 ATCACTGCGCTTTTGAAGAAATCGTTAGAGTGTACTGGGACGCTGGAGTTCCGTGGTGTC 1020
Qy 1021 CAAGCCGACCTTGGCGAGGTGGTGGCTTGGCGTAATACTTTCTGGGCATTATCCGACTCC 1080
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1021 CAAGCCGACCTTGGCGAGGTGGTGGCTTGGCGTAATACTTTCTGGGCATTATCCGACTCC 1080
Qy 1081 ATGTGCTCGGAAGCAACCCCCTGGGTCAATGGGGCATACCTTCCCGATCACGCCGCTCTT 1140
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1081 ATGTGCTCGGAAGCAACCCCCTGGGTCAATGGGGCATACCTTCCCGATCACGCCGCTCTT 1140
Qy 1141 CAAACCTATCGCGTACTTGCGCCTATGGCTTATGCTAAGATTAAAAATATTATCGAACGT 1200
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1141 CAAACCTATCGCGTACTTGCGCCTATGGCTTATGCTAAGATTAAAAATATTATCGAACGT 1200
Qy 1201 AATGTGACTTCCGGCTTAATTTACTTGCCCTCCAGCGCGCGCGATCTGAATAATCCTCAA 1260
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1201 AATGTGACTTCCGGCTTAATTTACTTGCCCTCCAGCGCGCGCGATCTGAATAATCCTCAA 1260
Qy 1261 ATCGACCAGTATTTAGCGAAGTATGTTCGCGGGAGCAACGGGATGGATCATGTCCAGCGC 1320
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1261 ATCGACCAGTATTTAGCGAAGTATGTTCGCGGGAGCAACGGGATGGATCATGTCCAGCGC 1320
Qy 1321 ATCAAAATCCTTAAGTTAATGTGGGATGCCATTGGTTCAGAATTTGGCGGGCGTCATGAA 1380
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1321 ATCAAAATCCTTAAGTTAATGTGGGATGCCATTGGTTCAGAATTTGGCGGGCGTCATGAA 1380
Qy 1381 CTTTATGAAATTAATTACTCTGGCTCGCAAGACGAGATCCGTCTGCAATGCTTGCGCCAG 1440
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1381 CTTTATGAAATTAATTACTCTGGCTCGCAAGACGAGATCCGTCTGCAATGCTTGCGCCAG 1440
Qy 1441 GCGCAATCCTCGGGTAATATGGATAAGATGATGGCTATGGTAGACCGCTGCCTGTCCGAG 1500
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1441 GCGCAATCCTCGGGTAATATGGATAAGATGATGGCTATGGTAGACCGCTGCCTGTCCGAG 1500
Qy 1501 TACGACCAAAACGGATGGACGGTCCCCCATCTGCATAACAACGATGACATTAACATGCTG 1560
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1501 TACGACCAAAACGGATGGACGGTCCCCCATCTGCATAACAACGATGACATTAACATGCTG 1560
Qy 1561 GATAAGCTGCTGAAATAACGCAGCAGGAGGTTAAGATGCAGCTGGACGAACAACGCCTGC 1620
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1561 GATAAGCTGCTGAAATAACGCAGCAGGAGGTTAAGATGCAGCTGGACGAACAACGCCTGC 1620
Qy 1621 GCTTTCGTGACGCAATGGCGAGTTTGAGTGCAGCCGTTAATATCATTACAACAGAAGGGG 1680
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1621 GCTTTCGTGACGCAATGGCGAGTTTGAGTGCAGCCGTTAATATCATTACAACAGAAGGGG 1680
Qy 1681 ACGCAGGTCAATGTGGAATCACTGCAACGGCCGTGTGCTCAGTTACAGACACTCCGCCTT 1740
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1681 ACGCAGGTCAATGTGGAATCACTGCAACGGCCGTGTGCTCAGTTACAGACACTCCGCCTT 1740
Qy 1741 CATTAATGGTATGCATCAATGCTAACTCGGCTATGAATCCTGTCTTCCAAGGCAATGGGA 1800
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1741 CATTAATGGTATGCATCAATGCTAACTCGGCTATGAATCCTGTCTTCCAAGGCAATGGGA 1800
Qy 1801 AATTATGTGTGAACGTCCTGAACCATGAGCAAGAACTGATGGCACGCCACTTCGCAGGCA 1860
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1801 AATTATGTGTGAACGTCCTGAACCATGAGCAAGAACTGATGGCACGCCACTTCGCAGGCA 1860
Qy 1861 TGACAGGTATGGCAATGGAGGAGCGTTTTAGCTTGTCTTGCTGGCAAAAGGGACCACTGG 1920
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1861 TGACAGGTATGGCAATGGAGGAGCGTTTTAGCTTGTCTTGCTGGCAAAAGGGACCACTGG 1920
Qy 1921 CCCAACCAGTTTTGAAGGGGTCTCTTGCATCATTAGAAGGGGAAATCCGCGATGTCCAGG 1980
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1921 CCCAACCAGTTTTGAAGGGGTCTCTTGCATCATTAGAAGGGGAAATCCGCGATGTCCAGG 1980
Qy 1981 CGATTGGTACACACCTGGTTTACCTTGTCGAGATCAAGAACATCATTTTATCCGCAGAGG 2040
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1981 CGATTGGTACACACCTGGTTTACCTTGTCGAGATCAAGAACATCATTTTATCCGCAGAGG 2040
Qy 2041 GCCACGGGCTGATTTACTTTAAACGCCGCTTCCATCCGGTTATGCTGGAAATGGAAGCTG 2100
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 2041 GCCACGGGCTGATTTACTTTAAACGCCGCTTCCATCCGGTTATGCTGGAAATGGAAGCTG 2100
Qy 2101 CAATTTAAGTAAGGAAACATTTATGCGCCTGCATCATCACCACCATCAC 2149
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 2101 CAATTTAAGTAAGGAAACATTTATGCGCCTGCATCATCACCACCATCAC 2149
Falb et al. (US2017/0232043) teach a method of treating different diseases including neurodegenerative diseases or Parkinson’s disease, comprising providing a recombinant microbial cell comprising a rhamnose-inducible expression system, wherein the recombinant microbial cell includes a probiotic or E. coli Nissle 1917, and wherein the rhamnose-inducible system comprises a heterologous gene operably linked to a rhamnose-inducible promoter to express the gene product for treating diseases including neurodegenerative diseases or Parkinson’s disease; pre-incubating the recombinant microbial cell including a probiotic or E. coli Nissle 1917 with a rhamnose prior to administration; administering to a subject including human a composition comprising the rhamnose pre-incubated recombinant microbial cell (see para. [0562]; [0564]; [0573]; [0575]-[0576]; [0580]-[0581]; [0586]; [0520]-[0526]).
Wei et al. (Sci. Rept. 2016; 6:30080. DOI:10.1038/srep30080, s in IDS) teaches E. coli DOPA-30N which comprises a heterologous hpaB and hpaC nucleotide sequence stably integrated into the genome of the cell and is capable of producing L-DOPA (p. 3-4; tables1-4; p.4 2nd paragraph; p. 5-7; table 5), and wherein the hpaB and hpaC nucleotide sequence is operably linked to a promoter sequence in a plasmid/vector comprising a constitutive promoter, or an inducible promoter including a rhamnose inducible promoter, such as a T5 promoter, a p37 promoter, a 7P37 promoter as in claims 44-46 (see p. 2, table 1; pp. table 4; p. 5-7, table 5).
Munoz et al. (J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2011; 38:1845-1852. DOI 10.1007/s10295-011-0973-0, as in IDS) teach a recombinant Ecoli cell comprising a heterologous hpaB and hpaC nucleotide sequence (see abstract; table 1; p. 1849-1850).
Xie et al. (Sci. Rept. 2014; 4:7506. DOI: 10.1038/srep07506, as in IDS) teach benefits of encapsulating L-DOPA and a DOPA-carboxylase inhibitor including benserazide in microspheres because the encapsulated L-DOPA and a DOPA-carboxylase inhibitor including benserazide in microspheres can release L-DOPA/levodopa and benserazide in a sustained manner to continuous stimulate dopaminergic receptors for treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) (see p. 1, abstract; p.2, 1st col., 3rd paragraph).
Kramer et al. (US2006/0141587, as in IDS) teaches Escherichia coli W3110/pACYCtac aroF.sup.fbr tyrA/pJF119EH hpaB hpaC, which is a recombinant microbial cell comprising a heterologous hpaB and hpaC nucleotide sequence stably integrated into the genome of the cell as in instant claims 39-41 and 44-46 (see Example 3, [0053]-[0055]; paragraphs [0056]-[0069], Examples 4-6; [0032]-[0042]; [0046];). Kramer teaches that the recombinant microbial cell produces L-DOPA and is capable of colonizing the gut of a subject as in claim 40 (see paragraphs [0056]-[0069], Examples 4-6).
WO2006061174 teaches an Ecoli rhaBAD promoter comprising the sequence of instant SEQ ID NO:2 (see the sequence alignment below).
SEQ ID NO:2
AEI06695
(NOTE: this sequence has 2 duplicates in the database searched.
See complete list at the end of this report)
ID AEI06695 standard; DNA; 129 BP.
XX
AC AEI06695;
XX
DT 10-AUG-2006 (first entry)
XX
DE E. coli rhaBAD promoter from the L-rhamnose operon.
XX
KW ds; vector; rhaBAD promoter; promoter; L-rhamnose operon;
KW gene expression.
XX
OS Escherichia coli.
XX
CC PN WO2006061174-A2.
XX
CC PD 15-JUN-2006.
XX
CC PF 05-DEC-2005; 2005WO-EP013013.
XX
PR 07-DEC-2004; 2004EP-00028917.
XX
CC PA (LONZ ) LONZA AG.
CC PA (MORP-) MORPHOSYS AG.
XX
CC PI Brass J, Kiziak C, Klein J, Ostendorp R;
XX
DR WPI; 2006-415137/42.
XX
CC PT New vector expressible in a host comprises the rhaBAD promoter region of
CC PT the L-rhamnose operon operably linked to a transcriptional unit, useful
CC PT for regulated heterologous expression of a nucleic acid sequence in a
CC PT prokaryotic host.
XX
CC PS Claim 19; SEQ ID NO 1; 67pp; English.
XX
CC The invention relates to a vector expressible in a host comprising the
CC rhaBAD promoter region of the L-rhamnose operon operably linked to a
CC transcriptional unit. The vector comprises: a nucleic acid sequence,
CC which is heterologous to the host; and a prokaryotic signal sequence
CC operably linked to the nucleic acid sequence, where the prokaryotic
CC signal sequence is selected from signal peptides of periplasmic binding
CC proteins for sugars, amino acids, vitamins, or ions, and whereas the
CC expression of the nucleic acid sequence is controlled by the promoter
CC region. Also included are: an isolated and purified nucleic acid sequence
CC expressible in a host comprising the rhaBAD promoter region of the L-
CC rhamnose operon operably linked to a transcriptional unit comprising: a
CC nucleic acid sequence, which is heterologous to the host; and a
CC prokaryotic signal sequence operably linked to the nucleic acid sequence,
CC whereas the prokaryotic signal sequence is selected from signal peptides
CC of periplasmic binding proteins for sugars, amino acids, vitamins, or
CC ions and, whereas the expression of the nucleic acid sequence is
CC controlled by the promoter region; the plasmid pBW22-Fab-H; the plasmid
CC pAKL14; a prokaryotic host transformed with the vector, the isolated and
CC purified nucleic acid sequence, and/or the plasmids; and producing a
CC polypeptide in a host. The vector is useful for the regulated
CC heterologous expression of a nucleic acid sequence in a prokaryotic host.
CC The present sequence represents E. coli rhaBAD promoter from the L-
CC rhamnose operon.
XX
SQ Sequence 129 BP; 34 A; 32 C; 25 G; 38 T; 0 U; 0 Other;
Query Match 100.0%; Score 119; Length 129;
Best Local Similarity 100.0%;
Matches 119; Conservative 0; Mismatches 0; Indels 0; Gaps 0;
Qy 1 CACCACAATTCAGCAAATTGTGAACATCATCACGTTCATCTTTCCCTGGTTGCCAATGGC 60
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 1 CACCACAATTCAGCAAATTGTGAACATCATCACGTTCATCTTTCCCTGGTTGCCAATGGC 60
Qy 61 CCATTTTCCTGTCAGTAACGAGAAGGTCGCGAATTCAGGCGCTTTTTAGACTGGTCGTA 119
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Db 61 CCATTTTCCTGTCAGTAACGAGAAGGTCGCGAATTCAGGCGCTTTTTAGACTGGTCGTA 119
9. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHANG-YU WANG whose telephone number is (571)272-4521. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday, 7:00am-5:00pm EST.
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Chang-Yu Wang
June 27, 2026
/CHANG-YU WANG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1675
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