Patents Examined by Johnny F. Railey, II
  • Patent number: 5851757
    Abstract: Cell lines and methods are disclosed for detecting the presence of RNA viruses in a specimen. The cell lines are stably transformed with a DNA molecule that includes a promoter capable of being recognized by the DNA dependent RNA polymerase of the cell capable of directing the transcription of a cDNA of a structurally defective RNA virus genome operably coupled to the promoter. The cDNA contains a structural coding sequence encoding a selected reporter gene product. The RNA molecules transcribed by the DNA dependent RNA polymerase are not capable of causing the translation of the reporter gene in the cell except when an active related virus that provides the necessary trans-acting enzymes to cause the increased replication of the RNA containing the reporter gene which is then translated into the reporter gene product is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Washington University
    Inventors: Paul D. Olivo, Sondra Schlesinger
  • Patent number: 5851832
    Abstract: A method for the in vitro proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells and stem cell progeny comprising the steps of (a) isolating the cells from a mammal, (b) exposing the cells to a culture medium containing a growth factor, (c) inducing the cells to proliferate, and (d) inducing the cells to differentiate is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Neurospheres, Ltd.
    Inventors: Samuel Weiss, Brent Reynolds, Joseph P. Hammang, E. Edward Baetge
  • Patent number: 5851808
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions, including vectors, and methods for the rapid subcloning of nucleic acid sequences in vivo and in vitro. In particular, the invention provides vectors used to contain a gene of interest that comprise a sequence-specific recombinase target site. These vectors are used to rapidly transfer the gene of interest into any expression vector that contains a sequence-specific recombinase target site located downstream of a promoter element so that the gene of interest may be expressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Baylor College of Medicine
    Inventors: Stephen J. Elledge, Qinghua Liu
  • Patent number: 5849493
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method to design compounds that mimic the effects of Pbx in stabilizing STF-1 binding. Using well known DNA binding assays, a person having ordinary skill in this art would be able to screen compounds to determine drugs effective in promoting STF-1 binding to DNA. In this way, one will be able to discover new compounds useful in stimulating somatostatin and insulin production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Research Development Foundation
    Inventors: Marc Montminy, Bernard Peers
  • Patent number: 5846827
    Abstract: Methods for activating cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in vitro are presented in conjunction with methods for using the activated CTL for therapy in vivo. Additionally, a method for killing specific CTL in vivo is presented using antigen presenting cells which were modified in vitro.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Cytel Corporation
    Inventors: Esteban Celis, Ralph Kubo, Horacio Serra, Van Tsai, Peggy Wentworth
  • Patent number: 5847096
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to defective, interfering HIV particles and uses thereof. In particular, these particles encode a membrane bound receptor protein, as well as multitarget ribozymes, which together interfere with the production of infectious HIV by a host cell by downregulating the amount of HIV envelope protein on the surface of the cell as well as the amount of HIV genomic RNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Manfred Schubert, George G. Harmison, II, Chang-Jie Chen, Akhil Banjerjea
  • Patent number: 5837512
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a genetically altered human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) which replicates only in human CD4+ cells that express the Tax protein of Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus Type I (HTLV-I), wherein the HIV long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter and enhancer sequences (NF-kappa-B and Sp1 binding sites) of the genetically altered human immunodeficiency virus type 1 have been replaced by two copies of the HTLV-I LTR 21 base pair repeat Tax-responsive element (TRE). The present invention also pertains to methods for killing HTLV-1 infected cells in humans with HTLV-1 disease (HTLV-1 tumors and HAM/TSP) with the novel genetically altered human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: University of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ
    Inventors: Arnold B. Rabson, Hsin-Ching Lin, Marion Bodkin, Roger Strair
  • Patent number: 5837528
    Abstract: Vectors and recombinant bacteria for overproducing riboflavin, in which nucleic acid overproducing riboflavin biosynthetic proteins is introduced in the chromosome of the host organism, e.g. at multiple sites and in multiple copies per site. A rib operon having at least five genes is used to make such recombinant bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Hoffmann La Roche, Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Perkins, Alan Sloma, Janice G. Pero
  • Patent number: 5834188
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for identifying morphogen analogs. Preferred methods rest on the use of test cells comprising DNA defining a morphogen-responsive transcription activating element operatively associated with a reporter gene. In certain embodiments, the methods involve an osteogenic protein 1 (OP-1) responsive transcription activating element. Substances that activate the OP-1 responsive transcription activating element are considered herein likely to be useful for reproducing in vivo effects of morphogens such as OP-1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Creative BioMolecule, Inc.
    Inventors: Shun-ichi Harada, Kuber T. Sampath, Gideon A. Rodan
  • Patent number: 5830876
    Abstract: A method of immunizing an individual against pathogen is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of treating an individual who has a hyperproliferative disease, or of treating an individual who is infected by a pathogen. Specifically, the individual is injected with bupivacaine along with DNA in an expressible form, the DNA encoding an antigen. The encoded antigen can be from a protein from the pathogen or from a protein associated with the hyperproliferative disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignees: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, The Wistar Institute
    Inventors: David B. Weiner, William V. Williams, Bin Wang
  • Patent number: 5831057
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a novel gene present in cytological region 37D of the second chromosome which functions in associative learning and/or memory. Disruption of the gene, such as by P element transposon-tagged insertion, results in decreased associative learning and/or memory. The invention also pertains to a novel protein encoded by the gene, antibodies which bind the encoded protein, and homologs of the novel gene which function in associative learning and hybridize to the DNA sequence of the novel gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
    Inventors: Timothy Tully, Gert M. Bolwig
  • Patent number: 5831019
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a novel gene present in cytological region 37D of the second chromosome which functions in associative learning and/or memory. Disruption of the gene, such as by P element transposon-tagged insertion, results in decreased associative learning and/or memory. The invention also pertains to a novel protein encoded by the gene, antibodies which bind the encoded protein, and homologs of the novel gene which function in associative learning and hybridize to the DNA sequence of the novel gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
    Inventors: Timothy Tully, Gert M. Bolwig
  • Patent number: 5830475
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant mycobacteria, particularly recombinant M. bovis BCG, which express heterologous DNA encoding a product (protein or polypeptide) of interest, such a protein or polypeptide (e.g., an antigen) against which an immune response is desired, or a cytokine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
    Inventors: Anna Aldovini, Richard A. Young
  • Patent number: 5830690
    Abstract: The invention relates to the construction and use of novel expression systems that make use of DNA sequences encoding a promoter or promoters along with cis-regulatory elements, such as those for proU, that permit osmotically inducible initiation of transcription in bacteria; the expression systems of the present invention can be used to efficiently hyperexpress heterologous gene products including proteins or polypeptides; methods for construction of vectors and strains enabling NaCl-induced hyperexpression of heterologous gene products in several organisms such as Escherichia coli, and methods for NaCl-induced hyperexpression of heterologous gene products, including proteins or polypeptides, using the said novel combinations in a variety of organisms such as Escherichia coli, and further purification of the gene product of interest in either laboratory or industrial scale production systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Council of Scientific & Indus. Res. & Dept. of Biotech.
    Inventors: Jayaraman Gowrishankar, Poonam Bhandari, Kaveti Rajkumari
  • Patent number: 5830723
    Abstract: This invention relates to the introduction of p53 under the control of the metallothionein promoter into primary cells to produce immortalized cell lines. The cells are useful as substrates for viral propagation, as contaminant-free sources for recombinant protein production, for recombinant virus production and as cell substrates to support primary cells and improve virus yield during virus propagation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Douglas N. Foster, James A. Farris, Linda K. Foster
  • Patent number: 5830693
    Abstract: The invention relates to a regulatory factor substantially containing an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1 and having the action of activating a nitrilase gene promoter, a regulatory factor gene containing DNA coding substantially for said regulatory factor, a recombinant plasmid containing said regulatory factor gene, a nitrilase gene containing a promoter region and a DNA region capable of replicating in a microorganism belonging to the genus Rhodococcus, and a transformant transformed with said recombinant plasmid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Nitto Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sakayu Shimizu, Michihiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5830849
    Abstract: Purified plasminogen activator proteins obtained or derived from the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus saliva and salivary glands, methods for purifying the proteins, DNA sequences encoding these proteins, means for producing them using recombinant DNA technology, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these proteins and methods of treatment utilizing these proteins are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Schering Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Richard A. F. Dixon, Stephen J. Gardell, Le Thi Duong, Paul A. Friedman, John W. Jacobs, George E. Mark, Bruce L. Daugherty
  • Patent number: 5831011
    Abstract: Novel B.t. genes encoding toxins active against nematode pests have been cloned. The DNA encoding the B.t. toxin can be used to transform various hosts to express the B.t. toxin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Mycogen Corporation
    Inventors: Jewel Payne, Kenneth E. Narva, Jenny Fu
  • Patent number: 5824792
    Abstract: Novel Bacillus thuringiensis toxins with hymenopteran activity are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Mycogen Corporation
    Inventors: Jewel M. Payne, M. Keith Kennedy, John Brookes Randall, Henry Meier, Heidi Jane Uick, Luis Foncerrada, H. Ernest Schnepf, George E. Schwab, Jenny Fu
  • Patent number: 5824468
    Abstract: The invention relates to a detection procedure for bacteria of the genus Listeria, comprising the steps:(a) provision of a DNA vector prepared by means of recombination techniques, comprising a genetic system comprising DNA which encodes the expression of one or more proteins, the proteins not being a gene product of bacteria of the genus Listeria and it being possible to determine the presence of the proteins by a detection reaction, and the DNA vector infecting the bacteria of the genus Listeria and it being possible in this way to transfer the genetic system to the bacteria;(b) mixing of the sample with said DNA vector under conditions which allow an infection of bacteria of the genus Listeria by the DNA vector;(c) expression of the detectable proteins in the bacteria of the genus Listeria;(d) detection of the detectable proteins, the presence of bacteria of the genus Listeria being detected,and to recombinant DNA vectors and reagent compositions suitable for this detection procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschrankkter Haftung
    Inventors: Siegfried Scherer, Martin Loessner