Abstract: Compositions of the invention are produced by blending hydroxy-functional polyesters with proteins at elevated temperatures. These compositions can be shaped into articles by known processes such as extrusion, compression molding, and injection molding. Among articles that can be made from such compositions are those with sufficiently strong tensile strengths as to form disposable utensils. However, the compositions are more environmentally friendly than commodity plastics such as polyethylene or polystyrene.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 28, 2000
Date of Patent:
October 30, 2001
Assignees:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary
of Agriculture, The Biotechnology Research & Development Corp.
Abstract: An M. paratuberculosis gene referred to as hspX provides a useful target region for the construction of suitable probes and primers that are species-specific for distinguishing M. paratuberculosis from related mycobacteria in a test sample. M. paratuberculosis is the causative agent of Johne's disease and has been isolated from human patients with Crohn's disease.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 15, 1999
Date of Patent:
August 21, 2001
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary
of Agriculture
Abstract: A hybridoma cell line has been produced for secreting a monoclonal antibody that binds ractopamine and is effective to detect ractopamine levels of about 1 ng/mL or lower. This monoclonal antibody may be used for the detection and quantitative determination of trace amounts of ractopamine in samples, especially in animal tissue, body fluids and feed material.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 13, 2000
Date of Patent:
August 14, 2001
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary
of Agriculture
Abstract: A fungal Ldh protein and a gene have been isolated from Rhizopus oryzae. Host organisms transformed with expression vectors containing this gene produce optically pure, or enhanced levels of L-(+)-lactic acid not characteristic of the wild type organisms. These transformants will be useful for providing an increased supply of lactic acid for use in food and industrial applications.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 24, 2000
Date of Patent:
July 31, 2001
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary
of Agriculture
Abstract: The intergenic spacer between the 16S and the 23S rRNA genes and a 131-bp segment at the 3′ end of Domain I of the 23S gene provides suitable target sequences for developing probes and primers useful in detecting and identifying Chlamydiaceae in laboratory and clinical samples.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 31, 1998
Date of Patent:
July 17, 2001
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary
of Agriculture
Inventors:
Karin D. E. Everett, Arthur A. Andersen
Abstract: In the manufacture of hard cheese, cheese milk is treated with high pressure CO2 to accelerate the precipitation of casein and thereby promote the rapid formation of curd. Curd can be produced by this process in a period of a few minutes without adverse affects on the rennet or starter culture. The high pressure CO2 treatment of cheese milk can substantially increase the daily curd yields and plant throughput, thereby significantly reducing processing costs.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 27, 1999
Date of Patent:
July 10, 2001
Assignee:
The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary
of Agriculture
Inventors:
Diane L. Van Hekken, Virginia Harris Holsinger, Peggy M. Tomasula
Abstract: Polysaccharide-based shells are provided having use for forming water-dispersible microcapsular delivery systems for both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other active agents. These shells are prepared by intimately blending a solubilized polysaccharide with a lipophilic material to produce spherical droplets of the lipophilic material coated with the polysaccharide, diluting the emulsion with a solvent, and isolating the polysaccharide shells from the diluted emulsion.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 18, 1998
Date of Patent:
May 29, 2001
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary
of Agriculture
Inventors:
George F. Fanta, Clarence A. Knutson, Kenneth Eskins, Frederick C. Felker
Abstract: A novel entomopathogenic nematode of the genus Steinernema, which is effective as a biopesticide for the control of insects, and particularly the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea, and the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. This nematode has been identified as Steinernema riobravis.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 15, 1992
Date of Patent:
February 6, 2001
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary
of Agriculture
Inventors:
Jimmy R. Raulston, Sammy D. Pair, Cabanillas Enrique
Abstract: A method for extracting prion protein from a biological material, e.g., an animal tissue or product. In a specific example, abnormal prion protein is extracted from homogenized sheep brain with hexafluoro-2-propanol. The hexafluoro-2-propanol is separated from the aqueous brain preparation by increasing the ionic strength of the aqueous solution. Prion protein in the organic extract can be further purified, or the extract can be tested, e.g., by immunoassay, for the presence of prion protein, and more particularly abnormal prion protein. The extraction process permits testing for the presence of abnormal prior protein, e.g., for diagnosis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 19, 1999
Date of Patent:
November 21, 2000
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Abstract: The envelope (env) gene from avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) strain Hc1 has been isolated, sequenced and cloned into an expression vector. The ALV-J Hc1 env gene and expressed protein are useful for development of diagnostic assays to detect Hc1-specific nucleic acid and proteins and for eliciting an immune response in chickens.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 24, 1998
Date of Patent:
November 14, 2000
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Inventors:
Lucy F. Lee, Aly M. Fadly, Henry D. Hunt
Abstract: Single-gene, non-lethal mutations responsible for low phytic acid-containing seeds are selectable by means of a method for assaying seeds which are otherwise phenotypically, or nearly phenotypically, normal. Maize mutants having from 20% to 95% reductions in kernel phytic acid phosphorus compared to the wild-type, without any noticeable reduction in total phosphorus, were isolated by this method. Mutants obtained in accordance with the invention are useful for developing commercial, low phytic acid seed, plant lines.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 5, 1997
Date of Patent:
August 29, 2000
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Abstract: Sprouting in stored potatoes is suppressed with sprout control agents of bacterial origin. These agents are typically applied to the potato surfaces as whole culture broths and they prevent softening and necrosis of the tuber. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, selected isolates also have the secondary effect of Fusarium dry rot control.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 25, 1999
Date of Patent:
August 22, 2000
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Inventors:
Patricia J. Slininger, Karen D. Burkhead, David A. Schisler, Rodney J. Bothast
Abstract: Hydrocolloidal compositions recovered from the liquid fraction obtained by subjecting oat or barley substrates to a heat-shearing treatment are rich in soluble fiber, principally .beta.-glucan, and are substantially free of insoluble fiber particles. Dispersions of these compositions are smooth in texture and are useful as texturizers and nutritional substitutes for dairy products in food compositions.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 7, 1998
Date of Patent:
May 9, 2000
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Abstract: Esters of estolides derived from oleic acids are characterized by superior properties for use as lubricant base stocks. These estolides may also be used as lubricants without the need for fortifying additives normally required to improve the lubricating properties of base stocks.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 13, 1998
Date of Patent:
January 25, 2000
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Inventors:
Terry A. Isbell, Thomas P. Abbott, Svajus Asadauskas, Joseph E. Lohr, Jr.
Abstract: A test based on restriction enzyme analysis identifies and differentiates strains of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Amplified cDNA from the ORF 5 region of the viral genome has been targeted for identification of unique restriction sites that allow for the differentiation of the vaccine strain from field strains, and for differentiation of field strains from each other through the use of selected restriction enzymes. This assay is useful for both clinical diagnosis of PRRSV field strains in vaccinated pigs as well as for epidemiological studies in the evaluation of the source and transmission of PRRS field viruses.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 1, 1996
Date of Patent:
January 18, 2000
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Inventors:
Ronald D. Wesley, Deborah F. Clouser, William L. Mengeling, Vladimir G. Andreyev, Ann C. Vorwald, Kelly M. Lager
Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions used to increase the pest resistance of living organisms. The invention especially provides adherent granules made of starch that are carriers for pest control agents. Simple and economic methods have been developed to prepare said adherent granules. Compositions and characteristics of the granules are disclosed, including their capability for sustained release of pest control agents.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 14, 1992
Date of Patent:
December 7, 1999
Assignee:
The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Abstract: A sorting nozzle having two tapered zones with elliptical cross-sections is able to orient and sort a large fraction of asymmetrical or "flattened" cells. This nozzle has particular application for sorting viable male (Y) and female (X) sperm populations in a cell sorter.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 24, 1997
Date of Patent:
November 16, 1999
Assignee:
The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Inventors:
Willem Rens, Glenn R. Welch, Lawrence A. Johnson
Abstract: An M. paratuberculosis gene referred to as hspX provides a useful target region for the construction of suitable probes and primers that are species-specific for distinguishing M. paratuberculosis from related mycobacteria in a test sample. M. paratuberculosis is the causative agent of Johne's disease and has been isolated from human patients with Crohn's disease.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 30, 1998
Date of Patent:
November 16, 1999
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Abstract: Vaccines against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) have been produced by attenuation of wild type strains of the virus selected from the group of attenuated NADC-8, attenuated NADC-9 and attenuated NVSL-14. These vaccines are useful in monovalent, bivalent or polyvalent vaccines.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 2, 1996
Date of Patent:
November 2, 1999
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Inventors:
William L. Mengeling, Kelly M. Lager, Ann C. Vorwald
Abstract: DNA sequences from potato which encode the enzyme solanidine UDP-glucose glucosyltransferase (SGT) are disclosed. Recombinant DNA molecules containing the sequences, and use thereof, in particular, use of an antisense DNA construct to inhibit the production of SGT and thereby reduce glycoalkaloid levels in solanaceous plants, e.g., potato, are described.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 7, 1997
Date of Patent:
September 28, 1999
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
Inventors:
Charles P. Moehs, Paul V. Allen, David R. Rockhold, Andrew Stapleton, Mendel Friedman, William R. Belknap