(19)

(11)

EP 1 572 911 A2

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 14.09.2005 Bulletin 2005/37 (21) Application number: 03716460.5 (22) Date of filing: 12.03.2003

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C12N 1/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US2003/007430 (87) International publication number: WO 2003/078577 (25.09.2003 Gazette 2003/39)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK (30) Priority: 12.03.2002 US 363684 P (71) Applicant: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Greenwich, CT 06830 (US)	(72) Inventor: XU, Dongmei Winchester, KY 40391 (US) (74) Representative: HOFFMANN EITLE  Patent- und Rechtsanwälte Arabellastrasse 4 81925 München 81925 München (DE)