Patents by Inventor Fred Heffron

Fred Heffron 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).

  • Patent number: 7026157
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel bacterial hemoglobin receptor proteins and genes that encode such proteins. The invention is directed toward the isolation, characterization, diagnostic and therapeutic use of bacterial hemoglobin receptor proteins, nucleic acid encoding such proteins, recombinant expression constructs comprising such nucleic acids and cells transformed therewith, and antibodies and epitopes of such hemoglobin receptor proteins. The invention relates particularly to hemoglobin receptor proteins and genes encoding such proteins from Neisseria species, especially N. meningitidis and serotypes thereof, and N. gonorrhoeae. Methods for the diagnostic and therapeutic use of the proteins, epitopes, antibodies and nucleic acids of the invention are also provided, including the use of the proteins, epitopes, antibodies and nucleic acids of the invention for the production of vaccines effectinve in providing immunization of a human against infection by pathogenic bacteria of Neisseria species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Oregon Health and Science University
    Inventors: Igor Stojiljkovic, Magdalene So, Vivian Hwa, Fred Heffron, Xavier Nassif
  • Publication number: 20060040382
    Abstract: A transposable element is provided that has a 3? and a 5? end. The transposable element includes a 5? recombining site 5? of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a selectable marker, a 3? recombining site 3? of the nucleic acid sequence encoding a selectable marker, a nucleic acid sequence encoding an MHC epitope 5? to the 5? recombining site or 3? to the 3? recombining site, and an insertion end comprising an inverted repeat sequence sufficient for integration of the transposable element at the 5? and the 3? end of the transposable element. In one embodiment, a transposable element is provided that has a 5? and a 3? end. The transposable element includes a 5? loxP sequence 5? of a nucleic acid encoding a selectable marker, a 3? loxP sequence 3? of a nucleic acid encoding the selectable marker, an MHC epitope 5? to the 5? loxP sequences or 3? of the 3? loxP sequence, an insertion end at the 5? end of the transposable element, and an insertion end at the 3? of the transposable element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Inventors: Fred Heffron, David Parker, Dolph Ellefson
  • Patent number: 6277382
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel bacterial hemoglobin receptor proteins and genes that encode such proteins. The invention is directed toward the isolation, characterization, diagnostic and therapeutic use of bacterial hemoglobin receptor proteins, nucleic acids encoding such proteins, recombinant expression constructs comprising such nucleic acids and cells transformed therewith, and antibodies and epitopes of such hemoglobin receptor proteins. The invention relates particularly to hemoglobin receptor proteins and genes encoding such proteins from Neisseria species, especially N. meningitidis and serotypes thereof, and N. gonorrhoeae. Methods for the diagnostic and therapeutic use of the proteins, epitopes, antibodies and nucleic acids of the invention are also provided, including the use of proteins, epitopes, antibodies and nucleic acids of the invention for the production of vaccines effective in providing immunization of human against infection by pathogenic bacteria of Neisseria species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Oregon Health Sciences University
    Inventors: Igor Stojiljkovic, Magdalene So, Vivian Hwa, Fred Heffron, Xavier Nassif
  • Patent number: 6123942
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel bacterial hemoglobin receptor protein and genes that encode such a protein. The invention is directed toward the isolation, characterization, diagnostic and therapeutic use of a bacterial hemoglobin receptor protein, nucleic acid encoding such a protein, recombinant expression constructs comprising such nucleic acids and cells transformed therewith, and antibodies and epitopes of such hemoglobin receptor proteins. The invention relates particularly to hemoglobin receptor proteins and genes encoding such proteins from Neisseria species, especially N. meningitidis. Methods for the diagnostic and therapeutic use of the proteins, epitopes, antibodies and nucleic acids of the invention are also provided, including the use of the proteins, epitopes, antibodies and nucleic acids of the invention for the production of vaccines effectinve in providing immunization of a human against infection by pathogenic bacteria of Neisseria species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Oregon Health Sciences University
    Inventors: Igor Stojiljkovic, Magdalene So, Vivian Hwa, Fred Heffron, Xavier Nassif
  • Patent number: 6121037
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel bacterial hemoglobin receptor proteins and genes that encode such proteins. The invention is directed toward the isolation, characterization, diagnostic and therapeutic use of bacterial hemoglobin receptor proteins, nucleic acid encoding such proteins, recombinant expression constructs comprising such nucleic acids and cells transformed therewith, and antibodies and epitopes of such hemoglobin receptor proteins. The invention relates particularly to hemoglobin receptor proteins and genes encoding such proteins from Neisseria species, especially N. meningitidis and serotypes thereof, and N. gonorrhoeae. Methods for the diagnostic and therapeutic use of the proteins, epitopes, antibodies and nucleic acids of the invention are also provided, including the use of the proteins, epitopes, antibodies and nucleic acids of the invention for the production of vaccines effective in providing immunization of a human against infection by pathogenic bacteria of Neisseria species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventors: Igor Stojiljkovic, Magdalene So, Vivian Hwa, Fred Heffron, Xavier Nassif
  • Patent number: 5698438
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel bacterial hemoglobin receptor protein and genes that encode such a protein. The invention is directed toward the isolation, characterization, diagnostic and therapeutic use of a bacterial hemoglobin receptor protein, nucleic acid encoding such a protein, recombinant expression constructs comprising such nucleic acids and cells transformed therewith, and antibodies and epitopes of such hemoglobin receptor proteins. The invention relates particularly to hemoglobin receptor proteins and genes encoding such proteins from Neisseria species, especially N. meningitidis. Methods for the diagnostic and therapeutic use of the proteins, epitopes, antibodies and nucleic acids of the invention are also provided, including the use of the proteins, epitopes, antibodies and nucleic acids of the invention for the production of vaccines effective in providing immunization of a human against infection by pathogenic bacteria of Neisseria species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Oregon Health Sciences University
    Inventors: Igor Stojiljkovic, Magdalene So, Vivian Hwa, Fred Heffron, Xavier Nassif
  • Patent number: 5525504
    Abstract: A Salmonella gene, encoding a cytolysin, has been identified by screening for hemolysis on blood agar. The gene (slyA) is present in every strain of Salmonella examined in Shigella, and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) but not in other enterobacteriaceae. It is encoded near 28.5 minutes on the chromosome. A SlyA (salmolysin) has hemolytic and cytolytic activity and has a molecular weight predicted by the DNA sequence. LD.sub.50 and infection kinetics data in mice indicate that the toxin is required for virulence and facilitates Salmonella survival within peritoneal macrophages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Merck Patent Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Werner Goebel, Stephen J. Libby, Fred Heffron