Patents Examined by Richard A. Schwartz
  • Xanthan gum-producing strain of xanthomonas
    Patent number: 5340743
    Abstract: A method of increasing xanthan gum production, comprising culturing a Xanthomonas campestris strain having a xanthan-increasing modification in a culture medium, wherein the modification is selected from the group consisting of (1) a mutation causing rifampicin-resistance; (2) a mutation causing bacitracin-resistance; or (3) exogenous genetic information controlling the synthesis of xanthan; and separating xanthan from the culture medium, is provided along with specific DNA sequences and Xanthomonas campestris strains showing increased xanthan gum production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignees: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., Shin-Etsu Bio, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pollock, Linda Thorne
  • Process for the recovery of recombinantly produced protein from insoluble aggregate
    Patent number: 5340926
    Abstract: In a process for the production of a soluble native protein, such as immunoglobulin or methionine-prochymosin, in which an insoluble form of the protein is produced by a host organism transformed with a vector including a gene coding for the protein, the insoluble form of the protein is reversibly denatured in an alkaline aqueous solution at a pH selected to promote dissociation of a group or groups of the protein involved in maintaining the conformation of the protein, and the protein is subsequently allowed to renature by reducing the pH of the solution below a pH effective to denature the protein to produce the soluble native form of the protein. The pH of the alkaline aqueous is suitably in the range 9.0 to 11.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Celltech, Limited
    Inventors: Peter A. Lowe, Fiona A. O. Marston, Sarojani Angal, Joyce A. Schoemaker
  • Vertebrate poxvoris expression vector under the control of entomopoxvirus spheroidin gene promoter
    Patent number: 5338679
    Abstract: Disclosed is a recombinant vertebrate F such as vaccinia virus which comprises in its genome (i) spheroidin promoter of entomopoxvirus such as Choristoneura biennis and (ii) at least one structural gene coding for at least one protein foreign to entomopoxvirus and to the vertebrate poxvirus and is capable of expressing the foreign protein gene in a vertebrate tissue culture cell or in a vertebrate animal susceptible to the vaccinia virus. The recombinant virus is capable of expressing the foreign gene at a significantly higher rate due to the presence of the entomopoxvirus spheroidin promoter than the same virus without the entomopoxvirus promoter. The protein may be antigenic or otherwise pharmaceutically useful. Also disclosed vaccine and a process for producing the protein using the recombinant virus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by National Research Council Canada and Forestry Canada
    Inventors: Kai-Chung L. Yuen, Basil Arif
  • Peptide library and screening method
    Patent number: 5338665
    Abstract: A random peptide library constructed by transforming host cells with a collection of recombinant vectors that encode a fusion protein comprised of a DNA binding protein and a random peptide and also contain a binding site for the DNA binding protein can be used to screen for novel ligands. The screening method results in the formation of a complex comprising the fusion protein bound to a receptor through the random peptide ligand and to the recombinant DNA vector through the DNA binding protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Affymax Technologies N.V.
    Inventors: Peter J. Schatz, Willem P. C. Stemmer
  • Yersinia INV nucleic acids
    Patent number: 5338842
    Abstract: Novel methods and microorganisms are provided, where novel genetic mammalian cell invasive capability is imparted to a microorganism by the introduction of an exogenous inv gene. The resulting organisms are then capable of binding to mammalian cells and are transferred to the cytoplasm. Other novel genetic capabilities may be imparted to the unicellular microorganism, which may serve as a vaccine for one or more pathogens or may introduce genetic capabilities or foreign molecules into a mammalian host cell. The sequences may be used for an in vitro screen for pathogenicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Jr. University
    Inventors: Ralph R. Isberg, Virginia Miller, Stanley Falkow
  • Process for producing a vaccine for a pathogenic RNA virus and product thereof
    Patent number: 5338674
    Abstract: A process for producing live, non-pathogenic, vaccines for the pathogens RNA turmor virus utilizes gene-altering technology to produce an altered genome which codes for the antigenic determinants of a pathogen, but has no genes coding for pathogenicity. The vaccine is the phenotypic expression of the altered genome. Specifically, an avian RNA tumor virus env gene is cloned into the non-pathogenic RNA virus RAV-O and the resulting recombinant product is replicated in host cells to provide a recombinant vaccine for the pathogen avian RNA tumor virus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Inventor: Stephen E. Wright
  • DNA segments controlling production of xanthan gum
    Patent number: 5338841
    Abstract: A method of increasing xanthan gum production, comprising culturing a Xanthomonas campestris strain having a xanthan-increasing modification in a culture medium, wherein the modification is selected from the group consisting of (1) a mutation causing rifampicinresistance; (2) a mutation causing bacitracin-resistance; or (3) exogenous genetic information controlling the synthesis of xanthan; and separating xanthan from the culture medium, is provided along with specific DNA sequences and Xanthomonas campestris strains showing increased xanthan gum production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignees: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., Shin-Etsu Bio, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pollock, Linda Thorne
  • Regulated gene expression in streptomycetes
    Patent number: 5336607
    Abstract: The kil-kor system from the plasmid pIJ101 can be utilized for regulated gene expression in Streptomycetes. For this, the KorA protein is either inactivated or eliminated to "switch on" a particular gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Wohlleben, Gunter Muth, Alfred Puhler, Gunther J. Rieb
  • Transformed yeasts for producing lysozyme, plasmids used for this transformation, method of producing lysozyme
    Patent number: 5336609
    Abstract: Transformed yeasts comprising DNA which include at least one copy of a fragment coding for a 1,4-.beta.-N-acetylmuramidase which is expressed in the yeasts as the corresponding active protein, and a process for preparing lysozyme by growing said transformed yeasts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Labofina, S.A.
    Inventors: Jacques Oberto, John R. N. Davison
  • Expression enhancer and use thereof to increase the yield in the expression of recombinant genes
    Patent number: 5336602
    Abstract: An expression enhancer has a DNA sequence which is capable of forming a t-RNA clover-leaf structure after transcription and hybridizes in that region of the DNA which, after transcription, forms the anticodon loop in the clover-leaf structure with an oligonucleotide with the sequence 5'-GACTTAGAAGGTCGTT-3' or its complementary sequence (5'-AACGACCTTCTAAGTC-3'). It can be used to increase the yield in the expression of a recombinant gene by transformation of suitable host cells with an expression vector containing the recombinant gene, whereby it is likewise introduced into the host cells in a form capable of expression and expressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Boehringer Mannheim GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Brinkmann, Ralf Mattes, Peter Buckel
  • Avipox virus promoter
    Patent number: 5332676
    Abstract: Fowlpox virus (FPV) or other avipox virus promoter DNA for use in expressing a foreign gene inserted in a FPV vector by homologous recombination, which comprises the promoter of the following 4a gene, said 4a gene encoding a protein of very roughly about 890 amino acids in a sequence beginningMet Met Leu Ile Lys Asn Ile Val Thr LeuAsp Gln Leu Glu Ser Ser Asp Tyr Leu Tyr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventors: Matthew M. Binns, Michael E. G. Boursnell, Joan I. A. Campbell
  • Process for the recovery of recombinantly produced chymosin from insoluble aggregate
    Patent number: 5332805
    Abstract: The production of recombinant chymosin is disclosed in which an insoluble form of chymosin precursor is produced by a bacterial host cell transformed by a vector including a coding sequence for said precursor. Solubilization of said insoluble form of chymosin precursor is accomplished using urea at a concentration of at least 7M or guanidine hydrochloride at a concentration of at least 6M prior to cleaving said precursor to form chymosin. Said solubilization preferably additionally involves the denaturation of said precursor in an alkaline aqueous solution, e.g., at a pH between a 9 and 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Celltech Limited
    Inventors: Norman H. Carey, Michael T. Doel, Timothy J. R. Harris, Peter A. Lowe
  • Expression of human serum albumin in Pichia pastoris
    Patent number: 5330901
    Abstract: A process for the production of HSA in Pichia pastoris cells comprising cultivating Pichia pastoris cells capable of expressing HSA at a pH of about 5.7 to about 6.4 contemporaneously with the expression of HSA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Research Corporation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Prevatt, Kotikanyadan Sreekrishna
  • Use of superoxide dismutase in specimen diluent
    Patent number: 5330893
    Abstract: An improved method for detecting antibodies is disclosed. The method involves the steps of a) mixing the specimen with a diluent comprising superoxide dismutase, and b) contacting the diluted specimen with at least one recombinant antigen expressed as a fusion protein with superoxide dismutase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Adrienne L. Gilbert, James L. Stewart, Sarah L. Kidd, George J. Dawson
  • Herpes virus thymidien kinase-encoding DNA
    Patent number: 5324664
    Abstract: Methods for isolating thymidine kinase-encoding DNA of a herpes virus are described. These methods utilize degenerate primers based on regions of relatively conserved amino acid sequence in herpes virus thymidine kinase proteins to initiate a polymerase chain reaction which yields large amounts of the thymidine kinase-encoding DNA. The methods are illustrated in the isolation of the thymidine kinase gene of feline herpes virus, which can be used to construct recombinant thymidine kinase-negative feline herpes viruses for purposes of constructing live vaccines and expression vectors. In addition, the regulatory elements of the feline herpes virus thymidine kinase gene are useful in the construction of recombinant DNA vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: The Upjohn Company
    Inventors: Jack H. Nunberg, Leonard E. Post, Teresa Compton, Erik A. Petrovskis
  • Proteins useful in the regulation of .kappa.B-containing genes
    Patent number: 5324818
    Abstract: Proteins, and corresponding DNA and RNA sequences, useful for the regulation of expression of .kappa.B-containing genes are disclosed. These proteins are useful to either stimulate or inhibit the expression of .kappa.B-containing genes. Proteins stimulating the expression of .kappa.B-containing genes have an amino acid sequence at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence of from position 1 to position 374 of p100 [SEQ ID NO: 2]. Proteins having an inhibitory effect on the expression of .kappa.B-containing genes have sequences either at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence of from position 407 to the carboxyl end of p100 [SEQ ID NO: 2] or having an amino acid sequence at least 80% identical to the amino sequence of either from position 1 to 100 sor from position 101 to position 374 of p100 [SEQ ID NO: 2].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Gary J. Nabel, Roland M. Schmid, Neil D. Perkins
  • Method and materials for introducing DNA into Prevotella ruminicola
    Patent number: 5322784
    Abstract: A method of introducing expressible heterologous DNA into Prevotella ruminicola is provided. The method involves conjugal transfer of a shuttle vector comprising the heterologous DNA operatively linked to a promoter functional in P. ruminicola. The invention also provides shuttle vectors for use in the method and P. ruminicola produced by the method. The invention further provides a tetracycline resistance gene of the TetQ class, or fragments thereof that confer tetracycline resistance, and a protein of the TetQ class that provides resistance to tetracycline by protecting ribosomes from tetracycline, or active fragments thereof. Finally, the invention provides a promoter functional in P. ruminicola and an engineered P. ruminicola comprising expressible foreign DNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, Biotechnology Research and Development Corporation
    Inventors: Abigail A. Salyers, Nadja B. Shoemaker, Mikeljon P. Nikolich
  • Method of regulating expression of a foreign gene by controlling culture temperature and a process of producing a foreign gene product thereby
    Patent number: 5322786
    Abstract: Escherichia coil carrying a hybrid plasmid having been constructed by inserting a desired foreign gene into an expression vector so as to permitting expression of said desired foreign gene therein was cultured at a temperature 40.degree. C. or over so that the expression of said desired foreign gene was suppressed. This E. coil (i.e., transformant) was cultured at 40.degree. C. or over in a first process to suppress the expression of the foreign gene and to support sufficient cell growth and thereafter below 40.degree. C. in a second process to release the suppression of the expression so as to permit effective production of the foreign gene product, which resulted in high concentration of the foreign gene product in the final culture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Incorporated
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Fukuhara, Setsuo Yoshino, Kaoru Yamamoto, Satori Sone, Maki Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Nakajima
  • Detection of collagen degradation in vivo
    Patent number: 5320970
    Abstract: Methods of determining collagen degradation in vivo, by quantitating the concentration of a peptide in a body fluid, the peptide having the following structure: ##STR1## is hydroxylysyl pyridinoline or lysyl pyridinoline, and J is pyroglutamic acid or glutamine and (Leu) are optional leucines, are disclosed.Compositions useful in quantitating collagen peptides to determine the rate of bone resorption are prepared by treating bone with a protease, such as collagenase, and purifying the compositions so as to enrich them with peptides capable of binding to the monoclonal antibody MAb-1H11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Washington Research Foundation
    Inventor: David R. Eyre
  • Assays for inhibitors of leukocyte adhesion
    Patent number: 5318890
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel assays for determining the ability of a test compound to inhibit intercellular adhesion mediated by a selectin receptor, such as the LHR. The assays involve contacting the test compound with the receptor and an isolated receptor-binding agent. The receptor-binding agent is a sulfated polysaccharide, a sulfated glycolipid, or a compound comprising the extracellular region of an endothelial cell surface glycoprotein. Also provided are compositions comprising a compound comprising the extracellular region of an endothelial cell surface protein, which is specifically recognized by lymphocyte homing receptors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Steven Rosen, Mark Singer, Yasuyuki Imai, Ted Yednock