(19)

(11)

EP 1 389 903 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 11.12.2003 (43) Date of publication: 25.02.2004 Bulletin 2004/09 (21) Application number: 02719019.8 (22) Date of filing: 14.02.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A01H 5/10, A23L 1/48, C12N 15/82 (86) International application number: PCT/US2002/004919 (87) International publication number: WO 2002/063975 (22.08.2002 Gazette 2002/34)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 14.02.2001 US 269188 P 02.05.2001 US 847232 (71) Applicant: Ventria Bioscience Sacramento, CA 95834-1219 (US)	(72) Inventors: HUANG, Ning Davis, CA 95616 (US) RODRIGUEZ, Raymond, L. Davis, CA 95616 (US) HAGIE, Frank, E. Sacramento, CA 95834 (US) (74) Representative: VOSSIUS & PARTNER  Siebertstrasse 4 81675 München 81675 München (DE)