Patents Examined by Johnny F. Railey, II
  • Patent number: 5888764
    Abstract: Disclosed is a 5' flanking sequence of the human fas gene containing a promoter region. This sequence also contains at least three transcription initiation sites, as well as consensus sequences for AP-1, GF-1, NY-Y, CP-2, EB20, and c-myb. Also disclosed are methods of altering senescence of the immune system by modifying Fas activity in cells to increase or decrease apoptosis. Fas expression and function on T cells from old (22-26-month-old) mice is also compared to young (2-month-old) mice and old CD2-fas transgenic mice. Fas expression and ligand-induced apoptosis was decreased on T cells from old mice compared to young mice. In 26-month-old CD2-fas transgenic mice, Fas and CD44 expression, Fas-induced apoptosis, T cell proliferation and cytokine production were comparable to that of the young mice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: UAB Research Foundation
    Inventors: John D. Mountz, Changdan Liu, Jianhua Cheng, William J. Koopman, Tong Zhou
  • Patent number: 5889174
    Abstract: The present invention is drawn to pesticidal strains and proteins. Bacillus strains which are capable of producing pesticidal proteins and auxiliary proteins during vegetative growth are provided. Also provided are the purified proteins, nucleotide sequences encoding the proteins and methods for using the strains, proteins and genes for controlling pests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Novartis Finance Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory W. Warren, Michael G. Koziel, Martha A. Mullins, Gordon J. Nye, Brian Carr, Nalini M. Desai, Kristy Kostichka, Juan J. Estruch
  • Patent number: 5885808
    Abstract: An adenovirus or adenovirus-like particle which has a modified binding specificity conferred by a binding moiety. The binding moiety is heterologous to the adenovirus and is incorporated as a fusion protein with the fiber protein. This allows the adenovirus or adenovirus-like particle to bind to a target cell which is not the natural host cell of the virus. The penton fiber is modified by the insertion or, deletion, or substitution of amino acid residues, that disrupt the host-cell binding function so that the adenovirus or adenovirous like particle does not bind the natural host cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Imperial Cancer Research Technology Limited
    Inventors: Robert Anthony Spooner, Agamemnon Antoniou Epenetos
  • Patent number: 5879879
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel cis-acting regulatory element that is required for maximal induction of the human low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene following depletion of cellular sterols in HepG2 cells. In vivo dimethyl sulfate footprinting of the human LDL receptor promoter before and after transcriptional induction in HepG2 cells revealed protection of the sequence 5'-GAGCTTCACGGGTTAAAAAG-3' (SEQ ID NO.1), corresponding to nucleotides -126 to -145, (referred to as FP1). Further, presence of the FP1 sequence resulted in significant enhancement of luciferase reporter gene expression (approximately 375%) in response to low levels of sterols in HepG2 cells using promoter luciferase constructs. In addition, the enhancement was markedly attenuated on nucleotide substitutions within the FP1 site. Thus, the present invention discloses a novel regulatory element, FP1, in the human LDL receptor promoter and a vector containing this element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
    Inventor: Kamal D. Mehta
  • Patent number: 5876919
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of novel nucleic acid molecules and proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules or degenerate variants thereof, that participate in the control of mammalian body weight. The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention represent the genes corresponding to the mammalian tub gene, a gene that is involved in the regulation of body weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick W. Kleyn, Karen J. Moore
  • Patent number: 5874210
    Abstract: Methods of isolating mutant yeast cells with increased life span, as well as mutant yeast cells isolated by the methods, are disclosed. Also described are methods of identifying agents which increase life span of yeast cells, and methods of isolating genes which affect senescence in organisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Leonard P. Guarente, Nicanor Austriaco, Jr., Brian Kennedy
  • Patent number: 5871958
    Abstract: Transdominant repressors of viral gene phenotypic expression derived from the rev gene product of HIV-1 or the rex gene product of HTLV-1 and corresponding mutated genes, having the capability of repressing the Rev function in HIV-1 and/or the Rex function in HTLV-I and HTLV-II and, in some cases, both the Rev and the Rex function and are, therefore, active in more than one viral species. Such transdominant viral mutants are useful as anti-viral agents to, for example, protect cells against the deleterious effects of viral, e.g. HIV-1, infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventor: Bryan R. Cullen
  • Patent number: 5871931
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of novel nucleic acid molecules and proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules or degenerate variants thereof, that participate in the control of mammalian body weight. The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention represent the genes corresponding to the mammalian tub gene, a gene that is involved in the regulation of body weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick W. Kleyn, Karen J. Moore
  • Patent number: 5869320
    Abstract: This application describes a means to clone a functional gene for bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase. Active T7 RNA polymerase is produced from the cloned gene, and a plasmid has been constructed that can produce the active enzyme in large amounts. T7 RNA polymerase transcribes DNA very efficiently and is highly selective for a relatively long promoter sequence. This enzyme is useful for synthesizing large amounts of RNA in vivo or in vitro, and is capable of producing a single RNA selectively from a complex mixture of DNAs. The procedure used to obtain a clone of the R7 RNA polymerase gene can be applied to other T7-like phages to obtain clones that produce RNA polymerases having different promoter specificities, different bacterial hosts, or other desirable properties. T7 RNA polymerase is also used in a system for selective, high-level synthesis of RNAs and proteins in suitable host cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Brookhaven Science Associates LLC
    Inventors: F. William Studier, Parichehre Davanloo, Alan H. Rosenberg, Barbara A. Moffatt, John J. Dunn
  • Patent number: 5866358
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing non-glycosylated single chain prourokinase (proUK). The method comprises cultivating bacterial strains of E. coli which have been transformed with plasmids carrying the cDNA sequence coding for proUK.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Vascular Laboratory Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Brandazza, Paolo Sarmientos, Gaetano Orsini
  • Patent number: 5866361
    Abstract: An isolated DNA encoding the enzyme I-SceI is provided. The DNA sequence can be incorporated in cloning and expression vectors, transformed cell lines and transgenic animals. The vectors are useful in gene mapping and site-directed insertion of genes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignees: Institut Pasteur, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie
    Inventors: Bernard Dujon, Andre Choulika, Arnaud Perrin, Jean-Francois Nicolas
  • Patent number: 5866385
    Abstract: Methods of isolating nonsense suppressor-encoding lactic acid bacteria, cultures and compositions of lactic acid bacteria and plasmids comprising a gene coding for a nonsense suppressor, and a method of confining extrachromosomal replicons capable of replicating in lactic acid bacteria to lactic acid bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: CHR. Hansen A/S
    Inventors: Fran.cedilla.oise Dickely, Eric Johansen, Dan Nilsson, Egon Bech Hansen
  • Patent number: 5866359
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process and host cell for use in increasing the amount of a desired protein produced by a cell line. The process and the cell line use a first transcription unit containing a gene for a transactivator protein to control the transactivation of a second transcription unit such that the amount of desired protein expression can be increased without affecting adversely cell growth. Preferred transactivator proteins are derived from E1A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Alusuisse Holdings A.G.
    Inventors: Mark Ian Cockett, Christopher Robert Bebbington, Geoffrey Thomas Yarranton
  • Patent number: 5866136
    Abstract: A recombinant vaccine comprises a vaccine vector which incorporates a first nucleotide sequence capable of being expressed as all or a part of an antigenic polypeptide, together with a second nucleotide sequence capable of being expressed as all or a part of a lymphokine effective in enhancing the immune response to the antigenic polypeptide. The vaccine vectors include poxvirus, herpes virus or adenovirus, and the lymphokine may be an interleukin, tumour necrosis factor or gamma-interferon. The vaccine vector may express an antigenic polypeptide which is foreign to the host vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignees: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation, The Australian National University
    Inventors: Ian Allister Ramshaw, David Bernard Boyle, Barbara Elizabeth Howieson Coupar, Marion Elizabeth Andrew
  • Patent number: 5866404
    Abstract: The functional analysis of genes frequently requires the manipulation of large genomic regions. A yeast-bacteria shuttle vector is described, that can be used to clone large regions of DNA by homologous recombination. The important feature of present invention is the presence of the a bacterial replication origin, which allows large DNA insert capacity. The utility of this vector lies in its ability to isolate, manipulate and maintain large fragments in bacteria and yeast, allowing for mutagenesis by yeast genetics and simplified preparation of plasmid DNA in bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Yale University
    Inventors: M. Suzanne Bradshaw, Jacques A. Bollekens, Frank H. Ruddle
  • Patent number: 5861239
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of novel nucleic acid molecules and proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules or degenerate variants thereof, that participate in the control of mammalian body weight. The nucleic acid molecules of the present invention represent the gene corresponding to the mammalian tub gene, a gene that is involved in the regulation of body weight. The present invention also relates to methods for identifying compounds that modulate tub protein activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick W. Kleyn, Karen J. Moore, Rosana Kapeller
  • Patent number: 5861282
    Abstract: This invention related to constructs comprising mutant HIV genomes having an alteration in a nucleotide sequence which is critical for genomic RNA packaging and non-infectious, immunogenic HIV particles produced by expression of these constructs in mammalian cells. Cell lines which stably produce non-infectious, immunogenic HIV particles are also included. Prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines, diagnostic reagents, and related methods are further described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
    Inventors: Anna Aldovini, Richard A. Young, Mark B. Feinberg, Didier Trono, David Baltimore
  • Patent number: 5853718
    Abstract: A vertebrate animal, such as a human, is immunized with a bacterial host cell harboring a recombinant replicon which provides a stochastically expressed cell killing function whereby the cells are biologically contained. The replicon also comprises a gene encoding an antigen which is to be displayed on the outer surface of the host cell, so that it can elicit an immune response from the immunized animal. This antigen comprises one or more epitopes from a pathogenic agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Genexpress ApS
    Inventors: S.o slashed.ren Molin, Poul Kirketerp Andersson, Kenn Ax.o slashed. Gerdes, Per Klemm
  • Patent number: 5854021
    Abstract: An expression vector comprising a promoter, a coding sequence of a heterologous protein, the coding sequence being operably linked to the promoter, and an intronic sequence downstream of the promoter and upstream of the coding sequence, the intronic sequence comprising two identical donor sites and one acceptor site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Bayer Corporation
    Inventors: Myung-Sam Cho, Van-Mai Tran
  • Patent number: 5853975
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment of body weight disorders, including, but not limited to, obesity. Specifically, the present invention identifies and describes genes which are differentially expressed in body weight disorder states, relative to their expression in normal, or non-body weight disorder states, and/or in response to manipulations relevant to appetite and/or weight regulation. Further, the present invention identifies and describes genes via the ability of their gene products to interact with gene products involved in body weight disorders and/or appetite and/or body weight regulation. Still further, the present invention provides methods for the identification and therapeutic use of compounds as treatments of body weight disorders. Additionally, the present invention describes methods for the diagnostic evaluation and prognosis of various body weight disorders, and for the identification of subjects exhibiting a predisposition to such conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventor: Louis Anthony Tartaglia