Patents by Inventor Esther E. Widgren

Esther E. Widgren has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Sperm antigen corresponding to a sperm zona binding protein autoantigenic epitope
    Patent number: 5820861
    Abstract: The present invention involves DNA encoding a mammalian Sp 17 protein, particularly human Sp17 protein, or antigenic peptides which are fragments thereof, along with said antigenic fragments. These proteins and peptides are useful as immunocontraceptive agents and/or for the diagnosis of autoimmune infertility. Avirulent host cells which express the antigenic proteins or peptides and which are useful as immunocontraceptive agents are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Michael G. O'Rand, Esther E. Widgren, Richard T. Richardson, Isabel A. Lea
  • Sperm antigen corresponding to a sperm zone binding protein autoantigenic epitope
    Patent number: 5814456
    Abstract: The present invention involves DNA encoding a mammalian Sp 17 protein, particularly human Sp17 protein, or antigenic peptides which are fragments thereof, along with said antigenic fragments. These proteins and peptides are useful as immunocontraceptive agents and/or for the diagnosis of autoimmune infertility. Avirulent host cells which express the antigenic proteins or peptides and which are useful as immunocontraceptive agents are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Michael G. O'Rand, Esther E. Widgren, Richard T. Richardson, Isabel A. Lea
  • Sperm antigen corresponding to a sperm zona binding protein autoantigenic epitope
    Patent number: 5616322
    Abstract: The present invention involves DNA encoding a mammalian Sp 17 protein, particularly human Sp17 protein, or antigenic peptides which are fragments thereof, along with said antigenic fragments. These proteins and peptides are useful as immunocontraceptive agents and/or for the diagnosis of autoimmune infertility. Avirulent host cells which express the antigeenic proteins or peptides and which are useful as immunocontraceptive agents are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Michael G. O'Rand, Esther E. Widgren, Richard T. Richardson, Isabel A. Lea
  • Sperm antigen corresponding to a sperm zona binding protein autoantigenic epitope
    Patent number: 5480799
    Abstract: The present invention involves DNA encoding a mammalian Sp 17 protein, particularly human Sp17 protein, or antigenic peptides which are fragments thereof, along with said antigenic fragments. These proteins and peptides are useful as immunocontraceptive agents and/or for the diagnosis of autoimmune infertility. Avirulent host cells which express the antigeenic proteins or peptides and which are useful as immunocontraceptive agents are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Michael G. O'Rand, Esther E. Widgren, Richard T. Richardson, Isabel A. Lea
  • Sperm antigen corresponding to a sperm autoantigenic epitope and methods of using the same
    Patent number: 5175148
    Abstract: Disclosed is a synthetic peptide, useful as an immunocontraceptive agent and for the diagnosis of autoimmune infertility, which corresponds to an autoantigenic epitope of Rabbit Sperm Membrane Autoantigen (RSA). The synthetic peptide is selected from the group consisting of the decapeptide NH.sub.2 -pro-gly-gly-gly-thr-leu-pro-pro-ser-gly-COOH and the antigenic equivalents thereof.Also disclosed is a method of diagnosing autoimmune infertility in a human subject. The method comprises the step of, first, contacting an immune sera sample from the subject with an antigen, the antigen selected from the group consisting of RSA, other proteins which bind selection antibodies which bind to RSA, and derivatives thereof which bind selection antibodies which bind to RSA. The next step is to detect the presence of antibodies from the immune sera sample bound to the antigen, the presence of antibodies bound to the antigen suggesting the subject is afflicted with autoimmune infertility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Michael G. O'Rand, Esther E. Widgren