(19)

(11)

EP 1 070 122 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 24.08.2000 (43) Date of publication: 24.01.2001 Bulletin 2001/04 (21) Application number: 99913854.8 (22) Date of filing: 11.03.1999

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C12N 15/00, A01N 43/04 (86) International application number: PCT/US9905/359 (87) International publication number: WO 9946/371 (16.09.1999 Gazette 1999/37)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 11.03.1998 US 77541 P (71) Applicant: BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM Austin,Texas 78701 (US)

(72) Inventors: MCDONNELL, Timothy, J. Houston, TX 77077 (US) SWISHER, Stephen, G.  (US) FANG, Bingliang Houston, TX 77054 (US) BRUCKHEIMER, Elizabeth, M. Houston, TX 77054 (US) SARKISS, Mona, G. Houston, TX 77025 (US) JI, Li Sugar Land, TX 77478 (US) ROTH, Jack, A.  (US) (74) Representative: Gowshall, Jonathan Vallance et al FORRESTER & BOEHMERTFranz-Joseph-Strasse 38 80801 München 80801 München (DE)