Diversa Granted U.S. Patent Covering Technologies Directed To Discovery of Novel Molecules From the Environment
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Diversa Corporation (Nasdaq: DVSA - News) today announced that it has been issued U.S. Patent No. 6,602,675, expanding its proprietary position for identifying biologically active molecules from the environment. The patent is directed to small molecule and enzyme discovery from both cultured and uncultured filamentous fungi and bacteria using high-throughput fluorescent screening. In addition to their utility for discovering novel enzyme products for agricultural and chemical applications, the technologies covered in this patent are an important part of Diversa's small molecule discovery platform, which includes high-throughput culturing and recombinant expression for developing natural product drug candidates.
Microbial culturing from soil samples has yielded anti-infective drugs as well as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agents. In 1999, these microbe- derived pharmaceuticals generated over $25 billion in revenue. However, all were derived from microbes that have been cultured in a laboratory setting, which represent only a small fraction -- less than an estimated 1% -- of total microbial diversity. In contrast, Diversa's small molecule platform consists of two complementary programs designed to access genetic material from the remaining 99% of uncultured organisms that constitute the Earth's untapped microbial biodiversity.
As part of this small molecule program, Diversa generates recombinant libraries directly from uncultivated microorganisms using proprietary methods of extracting DNA from the environment, and applying patented normalization methodologies. Gene pathways are introduced into Diversa's proprietary engineered expression hosts and screened at ultra high-throughput rates for novel activities of pharmaceutical interest. In addition to this recombinant approach, Diversa's high-throughput culturing technologies permit Diversa scientists to successfully culture many organisms by creating nano- environments similar to the organisms' natural habitats. In this way, many organisms that have never before been grown in the laboratory can be cultured, and the molecules they produce can then be screened for biological activities of interest, such as antibacterial or antifungal activity... |
