Nucleic acid taggants

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11345963-B2
Application number	US-201815972951-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 7, 2018
Priority date	May 7, 2018
Publication date	May 31, 2022
Grant date	May 31, 2022

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for marking/tagging objects for identification. In particular, tagging objects with a nucleic acid taggant (genetic tag based merchandise authentication).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of processing an object with a nucleic acid taggant for authenticating or tracking the object, the method comprising:
a) obtaining the object that contains the nucleic acid taggant, wherein the nucleic acid taggant comprises telomeres;
b) treating the object in a) to remove at least a portion of the nucleic acid taggant;
c) optionally purifying the removed nucleic acid taggant of b);
d) subjecting the removed nucleic acid taggant of b) or purified nucleic acid taggant of c) to an amplification process to produce an amplified nucleic acid taggant and analyzing the amplified nucleic acid taggant by size and/or sequence; and
e) subjecting the removed nucleic acid taggant of b), the purified nucleic acid of taggant c), or the amplified nucleic acid taggant of d) to replication, wherein replication results in a shortening of the telomeres of the nucleic acid taggant.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising f) coating the object with the shortened nucleic acid taggant having the telomeres shortened by the replication.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein a)-f) are repeated two or more times on the object.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of ceramic, cotton, wool, leather, nylon, plastic, vinyl, paper, stone, metal, glass, liquid, or a pharmaceutical.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of money, bank notes, bonds, checks, or security documents.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of stones, rings, earrings, necklaces, or watches.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of sculptures or paintings.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of computers, computer peripheral devices, printers, microchips, disc drives, televisions, radios, DVD players, CD players, or sound systems.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of furniture, appliances, antiques, clothing, handbags, shoes, belts, or sunglasses.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of cameras, automobiles, bicycles, motorcycles, luggage, or sports collectibles.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein each time the nucleic acid taggant is shortened in e) represents a sale of or action on the object and the size and/or sequence of the nucleic acid taggant in f) allows for a determination of a total number of times the object has been sold or acted upon.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one step of searching a database for the nucleic acid taggant, entering into the database one or more objects treated with the nucleic acid taggant, or a combination thereof.

13. A method of processing merchandise with a nucleic acid taggant for authenticating or tracking the merchandise, the method comprising:
a) obtaining the merchandise that contains the nucleic acid taggant, wherein the nucleic acid taggant comprises an expression vector which codes for a detectable protein marker;
b) treating the merchandise in a) to remove the nucleic acid taggant;
c) optionally purifying the removed nucleic acid taggant of b);
d) introducing the removed nucleic acid taggant of b) or purified nucleic acid taggant of c) to a host cell for transcription and translation to yield the detectable protein marker; and
e) detecting the detectable protein marker from d).

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the detectable protein marker is a protein which fluoresces, provides color, provides scent, illuminates, and/or is detectable with an antibody.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising at least one step of searching a database for the nucleic acid taggant, entering into the database one or more objects treated with the nucleic acid taggant, or a combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the merchandise is selected from the group consisting of ceramic, cotton, wool, leather, nylon, plastic, vinyl, paper, stone, metal, glass, liquid, or a pharmaceutical.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the merchandise is selected from the group consisting of furniture, appliances, antiques, clothing, handbags, shoes, belts, sunglasses, stones, rings, earrings, necklace, or watches.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the merchandise is selected from the group consisting of computers, computer peripheral devices, printers, microchips, disc drives, televisions, radios, DVD players, CD players, or sound systems.

19. A method of processing an object with a nucleic acid taggant for authenticating or tracking the object, the method comprising:
a) obtaining the object that contains the nucleic acid taggant, wherein the nucleic acid taggant comprises a unique sequence not found in nature;
b) treating the object in a) to remove at least a portion of the nucleic acid taggant;
c) optionally purifying the removed nucleic acid taggant of b);
d) subjecting the removed nucleic acid taggant of b) or purified nucleic acid taggant of c) to an amplification process to produce an amplified nucleic acid taggant and analyzing the amplified nucleic acid taggant by size and/or sequence; and
e) subjecting the removed nucleic acid taggant of b), the purified nucleic acid of taggant c), or the amplified nucleic acid taggant of d) to replication, wherein the replication results in a shortening of telomeres of the nucleic acid taggant.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising at least one step of searching a database for the nucleic acid taggant, entering into the database one or more objects treated with the nucleic acid taggant, or a combination thereof.

Assignees

• Ebay Inc

Inventors

• Gonzales Jr Sergio Pinzon

Classifications

• C12Q2563/185

  Nucleic acid dedicated to use as a hidden marker/bar code, e.g. inclusion of nucleic acids to mark art objects or animals · CPC title

• C12Q1/6876 Primary

  Nucleic acid products used in the analysis of nucleic acids, e.g. primers or probes · CPC title

• C12Q1/686

  Polymerase chain reaction [PCR] · CPC title

• G01N33/68

  involving proteins, peptides or amino acids {(involving lipoproteins G01N33/92)} · CPC title

• B42D25/36

  comprising special materials · CPC title