Abstract: There is described a method for analyzing ubiquitin polymers using linkage-specific deubiquitinase enzymes. Novel specificities of deubiquitinase enzymes are also provided.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 24, 2012
Publication date:
August 7, 2014
Applicant:
Medical Research Council
Inventors:
Tycho E.T. Mevissen, Manuela K. Hospenthal, David Komander
Abstract: There is provided a method for producing free polyubiquitin chains linked through a single desired lysine residue, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting an E3 ubiquitin ligase enzyme which is homologous to mammalian HECT E3 ligases and possesses the desired lysine residue specificity; (b) incubating the E3 enzyme with an E1 ubiquitin activating enzyme, an E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzyme and monomeric ubiquitin; and (c) if undesired linkages are present, removing the undesired linkages by exposure to a DUB enzyme having the appropriate specificity.
Abstract: The invention describes a method for isolating one or more genetic elements encoding a gene product having a desired activity, comprising the steps of: (a) compartmentalising genetic elements into microcapsules; (b) expressing the genetic elements to produce their respective gene products within the microcapsules; (c) sorting the genetic elements which produce the gene product having the desired activity using a change in the optical properties of the genetic elements. The invention enables the in vitro evolution of nucleic acids and proteins by repeated mutagenesis and iterative applications of the method of the invention.
Type:
Application
Filed:
November 21, 2013
Publication date:
July 3, 2014
Applicant:
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
Inventors:
Andrew Griffiths, Dan Tawfik, Armin Sepp
Abstract: The invention provides a chimeric E2 enzyme comprising a Ubc domain fused to a heterologous ubiquitin binding domain (UBD). The chimeric enzymes of the invention may be useful in producing elevated levels of free polyubiquitin.
Abstract: The invention related to a tRNA synthetase capable of binding delta-substituted lysine, wherein said tRNA synthetase comprises amino acid sequence corresponding to the amino acid sequence of at least L271 to Y349 of MbPyIRS, wherein said sequence comprises 5 or fewer substitutions within the amino acid sequence corresponding to the amino acid sequence of at least L271 to Y349 of MbPyIRS; and wherein said synthetase comprises W at amino acid position 349 relative to MbPyIRS.
Abstract: The present invention provides artificial fusion proteins (AFPs) designed to elicit an anti-HIV immune response, as well as nucleic acid molecules and expression vectors encoding those proteins. The AFPs of the invention may comprise domains from various HIV proteins, such as Gag, Pol, Vif, and Env proteins, which are partial sequences. HIVCON is an AFP in which the HIV domains are from several HIV Glade consensus sequences and which optionally contains additional domains which may be useful, for example, in monitoring expression levels or laboratory animal immune responses. Other aspects of the invention may include compositions and methods for inducing an anti-HIV immune response in a subject, preferably with a DNA prime-MVA boost strategy, and to induce a cell-mediated immune response.
Abstract: The present invention relates to DNA polymerases. In particular the invention relates to a method for the generation of DNA polymerases exhibiting a relaxed substrate specificity. Uses of mutant polymerases produced using the methods of the invention are also described.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 19, 2012
Publication date:
May 8, 2014
Applicant:
Medical Research Council
Inventors:
Philipp Holliger, Farid Ghadessy, Marc D'Abbadie
Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of TFF3 in the diagnosis and detection of Barrett's esophagus using non-invasive, non-endoscopic methods.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 9, 2010
Date of Patent:
April 29, 2014
Assignee:
Medical Research Council
Inventors:
Pierre Lao-Sirieix, Rebecca C. Fitzgerald
Abstract: The invention relates to an ADP binding molecule comprising a polypeptide, said polypeptide comprising amino acid sequence corresponding to at least amino acids 11 to 310 of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein said polypeptide comprises a substitution relative to SEQ ID NO:1 at amino acid C287, and wherein said polypeptide comprises a further cysteine residue for attachment of at least one reporter moiety, and wherein said polypeptide has at least 68% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:1 at the amino acid residues corresponding to those shown in column III of table A.
Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of cluster of differentiation (CD) molecules in detecting the presence and progression of one or more disease states in an individual. In particular it relates to the use of profiles of shed CD (sCD) molecules in detecting and assessing the progression of one or more disease states in an individual. Further uses of sCD profiles according to the present invention are also described.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 13, 2013
Publication date:
March 27, 2014
Applicants:
Medical Research Council, Cambridge Enterprise Limited
Inventors:
Adrian Woolfson, Charles Nicholas Hales, Cesar Milstein
Abstract: The present invention includes methods, systems and kits for distinguishing between active and latent mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in a patient suspected of being infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the method including the steps of obtaining a patient gene expression dataset from a patient suspected of being infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis; sorting the patient gene expression dataset into one or more gene modules associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection; and comparing the patient gene expression dataset for each of the one or more gene modules to a gene expression dataset from a non-patient; wherein an increase or decrease in the totality of gene expression in the patient gene expression dataset for the one or more gene modules is indicative of active Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 11, 2013
Publication date:
March 20, 2014
Applicants:
Baylor Research Institute, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Medical Research Council
Inventors:
Jacques F. Banchereau, Damien Chaussabel, Anne O'Garra, Matthew Berry, Onn Min Kon
Abstract: Oxygen sensors and their uses are disclosed, and more particularly to oxygen sensors for use in product packaging for storing an article in a packaging envelope under modified atmosphere conditions wherein the oxygen sensors comprise solid oxo-hydroxy metal ion materials, optionally modified with one or more ligands and/or optionally having polymeric structures. The sensors may be present in a hydrated, oxygen permeable matrix, for example formed from a material, such as gelatine. The sensors are useful in many technical fields, and find particular application in the field of food packaging as they are safely disposable (e.g. are environmentally friendly), cheap to manufacture, and provide detectable changes in the presence of oxygen that are easy to read.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 25, 2012
Publication date:
March 6, 2014
Applicant:
Medical Research Council
Inventors:
Jonathan Joseph Powell, Nuno Jorge Rodrigues Faria, Carlos Andre Passos Bastos
Abstract: The present invention relates to IL-25 antibody VH domains and target binding members (e.g., antibodies) that comprise such antibody VH domains and bind IL-25. The invention also relates to compositions comprising target binding members {e.g., antibodies) that bind IL-25, methods of producing such target binding members, and uses of such target binding members for the treatment or prevention of diseases and conditions (e.g., asthma, inflammatory bowel disease).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 30, 2009
Date of Patent:
February 25, 2014
Assignee:
Medical Research Council
Inventors:
David John Matthews, Jillian Barlow, Andrew Neil James McKenzie
Abstract: The invention provides the antibody D9.2 and antibody molecules based on D9.2 which bind interleukin-17 receptor B. These may be useful in therapy, e.g. the treatment of asthma, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 17, 2013
Publication date:
February 13, 2014
Applicant:
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
Inventors:
Andrew Neil James MCKENZIE, Daniel Neill
Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treatment or prophylaxis of demyelinating disease, in particular the neurodegenerative phase of demyelinating disease, which comprises administration of an acid sensing ion channel (ASIC) antagonist. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising an ASIC antagonist in combination with an additional therapeutic agent, in particular an anti-inflammatory or immunmodulatory agent.
Abstract: The invention provides the antibody D9.2 and antibody molecules based on D9.2 which bind interleukin-17 receptor B. These may be useful in therapy, e.g. the treatment of asthma, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 31, 2010
Date of Patent:
November 19, 2013
Assignee:
Medical Research Council
Inventors:
Andrew Neil James McKenzie, Daniel Neill
Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of a substance or composition for the treatment, by therapy or prophylaxis, of parasitic infections, in particular malarial infections such as Plasmodium falciparum infections, of the human or animal body. The process comprises extracting the substance or composition from roots of the plant species Dicoma anomala, by an extraction using an organic solvent to obtain a liquid extract containing the substance or composition and removing the solvent from the liquid extract to leave a dried extract containing the substance or composition. The invention extends also to the use of the substance or composition in the manufacture of a medicament or preparation for such treatment of infections; to a substance or composition for use in such treatment of said infections; to compounds for use in such treatment of said infections; and to a method of treating said infections using such compounds.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 2, 2005
Date of Patent:
November 19, 2013
Assignees:
South African Medical Research Council, University of Cape Town
Inventors:
Motlalepula Gilbert Matsabisa, William Ernest Campbell, Peter Ian Folb, Peter John Smith
Abstract: The present invention relates to an engineered polymerase with an expanded substrate range characterised in that the polymerase is capable of incorporating an enhanced occurrence of detection agent-labelled nucleotide analogue into nucleic acid synthesised by that engineered polymerase as compared with the wild type polymerase from which it is derived.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 9, 2013
Publication date:
November 7, 2013
Applicant:
Medical Research Council
Inventors:
Philipp Holliger, Nicola Ramsay, Ann-Sofie Jemth