(19)

(11)

EP 1 581 633 A2

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 05.10.2005 Bulletin 2005/40 (21) Application number: 03809043.7 (22) Date of filing: 16.10.2003

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C12N 1/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US2003/032722 (87) International publication number: WO 2004/035745 (29.04.2004 Gazette 2004/18)

(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: 16.10.2002 US 418933 P 08.07.2003 US 485368 P 18.09.2003 US 503989 P (71) Applicant: U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Greenwich, CT 06830 (US)	(72) Inventor: XU, Dongmei Winchester, KY 40391 (US) (74) Representative: Luderschmidt, Schüler & Partner GbR  Patentanwälte, John-F.-Kennedy-Strasse 4 65189 Wiesbaden 65189 Wiesbaden (DE)