Highly Efficient Bacterial Gene Editing Using Guide RNA and Reverse Transcriptase
This patent describes a system for precisely editing the DNA of bacterial cells with very high success rates, using a combination of guide RNA, reverse transcriptase, and specific DNA sequences.
Original patent title: “Dynamic genome engineering”
This patent describes a system for precisely editing the DNA of bacterial cells with very high success rates, using a combination of guide RNA, reverse transcriptase, and specific DNA sequences. Owned by Massachusetts Institute of Technology with 51 claims and 30 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2037.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes an engineered nucleic acid construct designed for highly efficient gene editing in bacterial cells. The construct includes three main parts: a nucleotide sequence encoding a guide RNA that targets an exonuclease (like RecJ, XonA, or ExoX, as per claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 5), a sequence for a modified single-stranded msrRNA and msdDNA containing a specific targeting sequence flanked by inverted repeats (claim 1b), and a sequence for a reverse transcriptase protein (claim 1c). When delivered to a bacterial cell, this system works to modify specific target nucleotide sequences, such as an undesired allele of a gene (claim 20), by using the guide RNA to disable exonucleases and the reverse transcriptase to help incorporate the new DNA, leading to nearly 100% recombination efficiency.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover gene editing systems that do not include a guide RNA specifically targeting an exonuclease.
- Does not cover gene editing in eukaryotic cells, as the claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → specify bacterial cells.
- Does not cover methods that lack a reverse transcriptase protein as a component of the engineered construct.
- Does not cover systems where the single-stranded msrRNA and msdDNA targeting sequence is not flanked by inverted repeat sequences.
- Does not cover gene editing approaches that rely solely on CRISPR-Cas9 without the additional components like exonuclease targeting and reverse transcriptase.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever bit is the specific combination of components designed to achieve extremely high editing efficiency. By having a guide RNA target and disable exonucleases, the system prevents the cell from chewing up the new DNA, while the reverse transcriptase helps incorporate the desired changes, ensuring that almost every targeted bacterial cell is successfully modified.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Engineering bacteria for industrial chemical production
Developing bacterial strains for bioremediation
Creating designer probiotics for gut health
Research tools for studying bacterial genetics and disease mechanisms
Optimizing bacterial strains for vaccine production
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Achieving nearly 100% recombination efficiency in bacterial gene editing is a significant advancement. This high success rate makes it much easier and faster to engineer bacteria for various purposes, from producing medicines and biofuels to developing new probiotics or studying bacterial diseases. It reduces the time and effort needed to isolate correctly modified cells, accelerating research and industrial applications.
Filed
October 27, 2017
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, indicating ongoing research and development within academic and potentially spin-off commercial ventures. Companies in synthetic biology and industrial biotechnology, such as Ginkgo Bioworks and Zymergen (now part of Ginkgo), are actively pursuing highly efficient bacterial engineering for various applications, and would likely be interested in such foundational technologies.
Market impact
This patent's technology, by offering nearly 100% recombination efficiency, can significantly streamline the process of engineering bacteria. This could accelerate the development cycle for new bioproducts, from pharmaceuticals and industrial enzymes to sustainable chemicals and biofuels. It lowers the barrier for complex bacterial modifications, potentially enabling new product categories and making existing biomanufacturing processes more cost-effective and reliable.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes an engineered nucleic acid construct designed for highly efficient gene editing in bacterial cells. The construct includes three main parts: a nucleotide sequence encoding a guide RNA that targets an exonuclease (like RecJ, XonA, or ExoX, as per claim 5), a sequence for a modified single-stranded msrRNA and msdDNA containing a specific targeting sequence flanked by inverted repeats (claim 1b), and a sequence for a reverse transcriptase protein (claim 1c). When delivered to a bacterial cell, this system works to modify specific target nucleotide sequences, such as an undesired allele of a gene (claim 20), by using the guide RNA to disable exonucleases and the reverse transcriptase to help incorporate the new DNA, leading to nearly 100% recombination efficiency.
The clever bit
The clever bit is the specific combination of components designed to achieve extremely high editing efficiency. By having a guide RNA target and disable exonucleases, the system prevents the cell from chewing up the new DNA, while the reverse transcriptase helps incorporate the desired changes, ensuring that almost every targeted bacterial cell is successfully modified.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover gene editing systems that do not include a guide RNA specifically targeting an exonuclease.
- Does not cover gene editing in eukaryotic cells, as the claims specify bacterial cells.
- Does not cover methods that lack a reverse transcriptase protein as a component of the engineered construct.
- Does not cover systems where the single-stranded msrRNA and msdDNA targeting sequence is not flanked by inverted repeat sequences.
- Does not cover gene editing approaches that rely solely on CRISPR-Cas9 without the additional components like exonuclease targeting and reverse transcriptase.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
30/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$360K – $1.2M
Midpoint $720K · 11.3 yr remaining · industry ×3.0
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
51 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Lu, T. K., & Farzadfard, F. Highly Efficient Bacterial Gene Editing Using Guide RNA and Reverse Transcriptase (U.S. Patent No. 20,180,127,759). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20180127759/dynamic-genome-engineering
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Highly Efficient Bacterial Gene Editing Using Guide RNA and Reverse Transcriptase cover?
This patent describes a system for precisely editing the DNA of bacterial cells with very high success rates, using a combination of guide RNA, reverse transcriptase, and specific DNA sequences.
Who owns patent US 20180127759?
This patent is owned by Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on October 27, 2037, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 20180127759 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 30 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Achieving nearly 100% recombination efficiency in bacterial gene editing is a significant advancement. This high success rate makes it much easier and faster to engineer bacteria for various purposes, from producing medicines and biofuels to developing new probiotics or studying bacterial diseases. It reduces the time and effort needed to isolate correctly modified cells, accelerating research and industrial applications.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover gene editing systems that do not include a guide RNA specifically targeting an exonuclease.
Same assignee
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