Patents Assigned to Rockefeller University
  • Publication number: 20050071898
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for promoting somatic embryogenesis from a tissue or organ of a plant, by overexpressing a Wuschel gene in said tissue or organ. In one embodiment, such overexpression can be used as a silent selectable marker for transgenic plants. In another embodiment, such expression can be used to confer apomixis to a plant. In another embodiment, such overexpression can be used to create haploid plants, which can be used to produce dihaploid plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Applicant: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Jianru Zuo, Qi-Wen Niu, Giovanna Frugis, Nam-Hai Chua
  • Publication number: 20050060777
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for improving Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation and regeneration of transformed tissue. More specifically, the present invention provides methods for enhancing the frequency of plant transformation by Agrobacterium in which ABI5, ABI5 ortholog protein or ABI5 homolog protein level or activity in transformed plant tissue is suppressed. Any mechanism which suppresses levels or activity of ABI5, ABI5 ortholog protein or ABI homolog protein in plants can be used to enhance the frequency of plant transformation by Agrobacterium. The present invention is further directed to plants, nucleic acids and vectors for use in the methods of invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Applicant: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Luis Lopez-Molina, Qi-Wen Niu, Nam-Hai Chua
  • Publication number: 20050059085
    Abstract: A detailed three-dimensional structure of rifampicin bound to a core bacterial RNA polymerase (Rif-RNAP) is provided. Crystals of the Rif-RNAP are also included in the invention. The present invention further provides procedures for identifying agents that can inhibit bacterial proliferation through the use of rational drug design predicated on the crystals and crystallographic data disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Applicant: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Seth Darst, Elizabeth Campbell
  • Publication number: 20040265944
    Abstract: Method is described for sequencing polypeptides by forming peptide ladders comprising a series of polypeptides in which adjacent members of the series vary by one amino acid residue and determining the identity and position of each amino acid in the polypeptide by mass spectroscopy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicants: The Rockefeller University, The Scripps Research Institute
    Inventors: Brian T. Chait, Ronald Beavis, Rong Wang, Stephen B. H. Kent
  • Patent number: 6821759
    Abstract: A simple method for modifying genes in a recombination deficient host cell is disclosed. Such modifications include generating insertions, deletions, substitutions, and/or point mutations at any chosen site in the independent origin based cloning vector. The modified gene is contained in an independent origin based cloning vector that is used to introduce a modified heterologous gene into a cell. Such a modified vector may be used in the production of a germline transmitted transgenic animal, or in gene targeting protocols in eukaryotic cells. In particular, high throughput methodology is provided for generating the modified the independent origin based cloning vectors of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Nathaniel Heintz, Peter Model, Xiangdong W. Yang, Shiaoching Gong
  • Patent number: 6821945
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the control of body weight of animals including mammals and humans, and more particularly to materials identified herein as modulators of body weight, and to diagnostic and therapeutic uses of such modulators. In its broadest aspect, the present invention relates to nucleotide sequences corresponding to the murine and human OB gene, and two isoforms thereof, and proteins expressed by such nucleotides or degenerate variations thereof, that demonstrate the ability to participate in the control of mammalian body weight and that have been postulated to play a critical role in the regulation of body weight and adiposity. The present invention further provides nucleic acid molecules for use as molecular probes or as primers for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. In further aspects, the present invention provides cloning vectors and mammalian expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecules of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Friedman, Yiying Zhang, Ricardo Proenca
  • Patent number: 6812378
    Abstract: A plant gene, Esr 1, has been found which when overexpressed in plant cells results in cells which have cytokinin-independent cell growth. This feature allows the encoded protein ESR1 to be used as a selectable marker of transformed cells by growing the transformed cells on cytokinin-free media. It has also been found that overexpression of ESR1 in cells grown in the presence of cytokinins results in a higher regeneration of plants. This feature allows the gene to be used to obtain greater regeneration of plant cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Hiroharu Banno, Nam-Hai Chua
  • Patent number: 6809318
    Abstract: A system for determining the ratio of mass to charge of an ion including a pulsed ionizer, a high pressure co-linear ion guide/accelerator, and a mass analyzer. The pulsed ionizer generates intact analyte ions from a sample of matter to be analyzed. The high pressure co-linear ion guide/accelerator is interfaced with the ion source for receipt of the intact ions of the sample. The ion guide/accelerator simultaneously dampens and linearly accelerates the intact ions in the substantial absence of fragmentation of the ions to provide a substantially continuous beam of the intact ions for mass analysis. The mass analyzer is connected to the ion guide/accelerator for receipt of the beam of ions and determines the mass to charge ratio of the intact ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Andrew Krutchinsky, Herbert Cohen, Markus Kalkum, Vadim Sherman, Brian Chait
  • Publication number: 20040180814
    Abstract: The present invention relates a method for re-sensitizing vancomycin resistant Gram-positive bacteria in which resistance results from the conversion of an amide bond to an ester bond in the cell wall peptide precursors of the bacteria which comprises using an antibacterial amount of vancomycin or a homolog of vancomycin and an amount of an agent effective to selectively cleave the ester bond so as to thereby re-sensitize vancomycin resistant bacteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicants: The Trustees of Columbia University in the of City of NewYork, The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Gabriela Chiosis, Ivo G. Boneca, W. Clark Still
  • Publication number: 20040175393
    Abstract: A unique clone of a Polistinae venom enzyme, recombinantly produced Polistinae venom enzymes, and methods of using the recombinant enzymes are provided. In a specific example, both phospholipase and hyaluronidase cDNA from Polistes annulares contain apparent “intronic” sequences. In still a further enbodiment, genetic engineering permits the construction of the “intronic” sequences to yield a useful coding sequence for expression of mature Polistinae venom enzyme proteins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Applicant: The Rockefeller University
    Inventor: Te Piao King
  • Patent number: 6784340
    Abstract: A chemically inducible promoter is described that may be used to transform plants, including tobacco and lettuce, with genes which are easily regulatable by adding the plants or plant cells to a medium containing an inducer of the promoter or by removing the plants or plant cells from such medium. The promoter described is one that is inducible by a glucocorticoid which is not endogenous to plants. Such promoters may be used with a variety of genes such as ipt or knotted1 to induce shoot formation in the presence of a glucocorticoid. The promoter may also be used with antibiotic or herbicide resistance genes which are then regulatable by the presence or absence of inducer rather than being constitutive. Other examples of genes which may be placed under the control of the inducible promoter are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Takashi Aoyama, Jianru Zuo, Nam-Hai Chua
  • Patent number: 6784164
    Abstract: The invention relates to bacterial choline binding proteins (CBPs) which bind choline. Such proteins are particularly desirable for vaccines against appropriate strains of Gram positive bacteria, particularly streptococcus, and more particularly pneumococcus. Also provided are DNA sequences encoding the bacterial choline binding proteins or fragment thereof, antibodies to the bacterial choline binding proteins, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the bacterial choline binding proteins, antibodies to the bacterial choline binding proteins suitable for use in passive immunization, and small molecule inhibitors of choline binding protein mediated adhesion. Methods for diagnosing the presence of the bacterial choline binding protein, or of the bacteria, are also provided. In a specific embodiment, a streptococcal choline binding protein is an enolase, which demonstrates strong affinity for fibronectin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: H. Robert Masure, Carsten I. Rosenow, Elaine Tuomanen, Theresa M. Wizemann
  • Patent number: 6780624
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to nucleic acids encoding glycosyltransferases, the proteins encoded thereby, and to methods for synthesizing oligosaccharides using the glycosyltransferases of the invention. In particular, the present application is directed to identification a glycosyltransferase locus of Neisseria gonorrhoeae containing five open reading frames for five different glycosyltransferases. The functionally active glycosyltransferases of the invention are characterized by catalyzing reactions such as adding Gal &bgr;1→4 to GlcNAc or Glc; adding GalNAc or GlcNAc &bgr;1→3 to Gal; and adding Gal &agr;1→4 to Gal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventor: Emil C. Gotschlich
  • Publication number: 20040143874
    Abstract: Disclosed is an inducible promoter system in conjunction with a site-specific recombination system which allows (i) specific activation of transgenes at specific times or (ii) excision and removal of transgenes (e.g., antibiotic resistance markers) from transgenic plants. These “suicide” gene cassettes, including the recombination system itself, can be evicted from the plant genome once their function has been exerted. The system is based on the ability to temporally and spatially induce the expression of CRE recombinase which then binds to directly repeated lox sites flanking the transgene in question leading to the precise excision of the gene cassette. Also disclosed is a method to activate an inverted, and therefore silent, transgene by placing two lox sites in opposite orientations flanking the transgene. This results in inversion of the intervening DNA fragment in the presence of CRE recombinase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Simon Geir Moller, Jianru Zuo, Nam-Hai Chua
  • Patent number: 6752988
    Abstract: A method for the prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of bacterial infections is disclosed which comprises the treatment of an individual with an effective amount of a native or modified version of a lytic enzyme produced by a bacteria infected with a bacteriophage specific for said bacteria. The lytic enzyme is selected from a group consisting of shuffled lytic enzymes, chimericlytic enzymes, wherein the lytic enzyme is in an environment having a pH which allows for activity of said lytic enzyme; and a carrier for delivering said lytic enzyme. Additionally, a holin enzyme for puncturing the membrane may be included in the composition. This method, and composition can be used for the treatment of upper respiratory infections, skin infections, wounds, and burns, vaginal infections, eye infections, intestinal disorders and dental problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignees: New Horizons Diagnostic Corp, Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Vincent Fischetti, Lawrence Loomis
  • Patent number: 6750061
    Abstract: Method is described for sequencing polypeptides by forming peptide ladders comprising a series of polypeptides in which adjacent members of the series vary by one amino acid residue and determining the identity and position of each amino acid in the polypeptide by mass spectroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignees: The Rockefeller University, The Scripps Research Institute
    Inventors: Brian T. Chait, Ronald Beavis, Rong Wang, Stephen B. H. Kent
  • Patent number: 6750029
    Abstract: Recognition of the role of a cellular immune response to immune-privileged antigens in the etiology of paraneoplastic syndromes and tumor immunity has provided diagnostic and therapeutic methods for the detection of paraneoplastic antigen-specific cells, enhancing tumor immunity by increasing the population of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), and suppressing cellular immunity to treat the paraneoplastic syndrome. Methods for the detection of memory and cytotoxic T lymphocytes are provided which utilize immune-privileged antigens or their peptides. Enhanced CTL production is provided by stimulating antigen presenting cells in vitro with immune-privileged antigen, with and without further exposure to T lymphocytes, prior to reintroduction of either the antigen-presenting cells and/or the T lymphocytes into the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Robert B. Darnell, Matthew L. Albert, Nina Bhardwai
  • Publication number: 20040096820
    Abstract: The invention identifies polypeptide biomarkers of disease progression or nonprogression by comparative protein profiling of samples from progressors and nonprogressors subpopulations of a population exposed to the pathogen or sharing a risk facto causing the disease. The polypeptides, their ligands, and modulators find use as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicants: Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc., Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: William E. Rich, David D. Ho, Linqi Zhang
  • Patent number: 6737521
    Abstract: Process is described for the delivery and expression of hybrid surface proteins to the surface of bacteria. The transformed bacteria are useful as vaccines, for the delivery of other active peptides to animal hosts, as diagnostic reagents and for other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Vincent A. Fischetti, Gianni Pozzi, Olaf Schneewind
  • Patent number: 6737079
    Abstract: A composition for treatment of bacterial infections of burns and wounds of the skin, comprising an effective amount of at least one lytic enzyme produced by a bacteria infected with a bacteriophage specific for said bacteria, and a carrier for delivering said at least one lytic enzyme to the skin. The carrier may be, but is not limited to, a liquid solution applied to a bandage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignees: New Horizons Diagnostics Corporation, Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Vincent Fischetti, Lawrence Loomis