Patents Assigned to The Provost Fellows and Scholars of the College of
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Publication number: 20130040299Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for identifying patients who are likely to develop sepsis in response to infection, a method for monitoring the progress of sepsis in a patient and to an assay kit for identifying patients who are likely to develop sepsis and/or monitoring the progress of sepsis.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2012Publication date: February 14, 2013Applicant: PROVOST, FELLOWS AND SCHOLARS OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HOLY AND UNDIVIDED TRINITYInventor: PROVOST, FELLOWS AND SCHOLARS OF THE
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Patent number: 8337785Abstract: A device (1) for housing a scientific sample comprising at least one sample well (2) and an on-board buffering substance (3) wherein the onboard buffering substance (3) at least partly surrounds the sample well (2). The on-board buffering substance (3) may be in the form of a matrix, such as a gel-like matrix. The device (1) may further comprise an insulating means. Also described is a substance for use in culturing and/or assaying a sample whereby the substance provides atmospheric and thermal buffering. The invention further provides a lid for a single-well or multi-well sample plate, the lid being configured to facilitate delivery of a sample through the lid into a well, and for sealing the well. The lid comprises moveable portions (52, 53) that have at least one orifice (54, 57) formed through the moveable portions (52, 53) such that a conduit is formed by alignment of the orifices (54, 57) of both the lid portions (52, 53).Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2008Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: The Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth, Near DublinInventors: Anthony Davies, Slobhan Mitchell, Dermot Kelleher, Yuri Volkov
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Publication number: 20120277437Abstract: Whilst methodologies for the Kinetic Resolution of alcohols are well established, no analogous direct methods exist for the highly selective, direct catalytic Kinetic Resolution of thiols (i.e., R—SH). The present invention relates to a method for resolving stereoisomeric mixtures of thiols. In particular, the present invention relates to purely organocatalytic mediated resolution of enantiomeric mixtures of thiols without the need for enzymes. Also disclosed are some novel catalysts. Such catalysts may comprise a cinchona alkaloid-derived moiety.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2010Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicant: THE PROVOST, FELLOWS AND SCHOLARS OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HOLY AND UNDIVIDED TRINITYInventors: Stephen Joseph Connon, Aldo Peschiulli, Barbara Procuranti
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Publication number: 20120244189Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved microbial antigen vaccines, pharmaceutical compositions, immunogenic compositions and antibodies and their use in the treatment of microbial infections, particularly those of bacterial origin, including Staphylococcal origin. Ideally, the present invention is directed to a recombinant staphylococcal MSCRAMM or MSCRAMM-like proteins, or fragment thereof, with reduced binding to its host ligand, for use in therapy.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2010Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicants: THE PROVOST, FELLOWS AND SCHOLARS OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HOLY AND UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF, GLAXOSMITHKLINE BIOLOGICALS S.A.Inventors: Timothy Foster, Judy Higgins, Elisabet Josefsson, Joan Geoghegan, Guy Dequesne, Andrej Tarkowski, Carlake Andersson
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Patent number: 8263418Abstract: A sensor comprises silver nanoparticles in which substantially all of the surfaces of the silver nanoparticles are available for interaction with an analyte or for functionalization with a receptor which is capable of interacting with an analyte. Silver nanoparticles are preparated by forming the nanoparticles in the presence of a polymeric stabilizer such as PVA.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2005Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: The Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth, Near DublinInventors: Margaret Elizabeth Brennan, Gordon James Armstrong, John Kelly, Aine Marie Whelan
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Patent number: 8257969Abstract: The invention relates to gene suppression and replacement. In particular, the invention relates to enhanced expression of suppression agents for suppressing gene expression in a cell and in vivo and replacement nucleic acids that are not inhibited by the suppression agent. Regulatory elements are included in expression vectors to optimize expression of the suppression agent and/or replacement nucleic acid.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2008Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: The Provost Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen ElizabethInventors: Gwyneth Jane Farrar, Sophia Millington-Ward, Naomi Chadderton, Arpad Palfi, Mary O'Reilly, Paul Kenna, Peter Humphries
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Patent number: 8238388Abstract: A tunable laser device (1) comprises integrally formed first and second ridge waveguides (5, 6). A longitudinally extending ridge (12) defines first and second light guiding regions (19, 20) of the first and second waveguides (5, 6) A plurality of first and second slots (27, 28) extending laterally in the ridge (12) adjacent the first and second waveguides (5, 6), produce first and second mirror loss spectra of the respective first and second waveguides (5, 6) with minimum peak values at respective first and second wavelength values. The spacing between the second slots (28) is different to that between the first slots (27) so that with one exception the minimum peak values of the first and second mirror loss spectrum occur at different wavelength values. The first and second waveguides (5, 6) are independently pumped with variable currents to selectively vary the common wavelength at which the minimum peak values of the first and second mirror loss spectra occur to produce Vernier tuning of the device.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2007Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignees: The Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth Near Dublin, University College Cork, National University of Ireland, CorkInventors: John F. Donegan, Richard Phelan, Wei-Hua Guo, Qiao-Yin Lu, Brian Corbett, Paul Martin Lambkin, Brendan John Roycroft
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Publication number: 20120149785Abstract: A method of estimating sepsis risk in an individual with infection comprises a step of assaying a biological sample from the individual for an IL-2 or IL-7 mRNA value, and correlating the mRNA value with sepsis risk. The IL-2 and IL-7 mRNA values are quantified by absolute quantification of mRNA copy number, wherein the copy numbers are normalised to a house keeping gene and corrected against a calibration curve for serial dilutions of the IL-2 and IL-7 cDNA. The method generally involves a step of assaying a biological sample from the individual for IL-2 and/or IL-7 mRNA values, optionally in combination with mRNA values for other cytokines, and correlating a sum or difference of the values with sepsis risk using a regression analysis curve against outcome.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2009Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: The Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen ElizabeInventors: Thomas Ryan, Mary White, Owen Ross McManus, Dermot Kelleher
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Publication number: 20120129176Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a certain subset of cytokine markers as prognostic variables of infection status in an individual, and especially as prognostic markers of a patients developing severe infection such as pneumonia, and respiratory tract infection following surgery. The subset of cytokine markers consists of the interleukin cytokines IL-2, IL-7, IL-23, IL-27, and IL-IO, and Interferon-? (INF?) and Tissue Necrosis Factor-? (TNF?). The markers may be employed as individual prognostic variables of infection status, or they may be used in pairs or other combinations. Generally, the abundance of the markers is correlated with infection status by means of an absolute pre-operative value of biomarker abundance, ratio's of pre-operative to post-operative biomarker abundance, or ratio values for pairs of certain biomarkers within the subset.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2009Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: The Provost. Fellows and Scholars of the CollegeInventors: Thomas Ryan, Mary White, Owen Ross McManus, Dermot Kelleher, Patrick Stordeur, Vincent Young
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Publication number: 20120101007Abstract: A sensor for detecting of an analyte in a solution phase comprises a plurality of functionalised silver nanoplates wherein a functionalising agent is directly bonded to the surfaces of the nanoplates. The nanoplates provide a detectable wavelength shift change in their local surface plasmon resonance spectrum in response to the binding of an analyte. Two or more of the nanoplates may be electromagnetically coupled.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2010Publication date: April 26, 2012Applicants: PROVOST FELLOWS AND SCHOLARS OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HOLY AND UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF QUEEN ELIZEBETH NEA, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, GALWAYInventors: Damian Ahern, Margaret Brennan Fournet, Denise Charles, Stephen Michael Cunningham, Patrick Fournet, John Moffat Kelly, Deirdre Marie Ledwith, Muriel Celine Voisin
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Publication number: 20120046468Abstract: (S)-(+)-3-(aminomethyl)-5-methyl-hexanoic acid or (S)-pregabalin is an anticonvulsive drug. In addition to its use as an anticonvulsive agent, pregabalin has also been indicated as a medicament in the treatment of anxiety, neuropathic pain and pain in patients with fibromyalgia. Provided herein are thioester intermediates in the synthesis of and processes for the synthesis of 3-(aminomethyl)-5-methyl-hexanoic acid in the (R) or (S) configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2010Publication date: February 23, 2012Applicant: THE PROVOST,FELLOWS AND SCHOLARS OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HOLY LAND AND UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF QUEEN ELIZInventors: Stephen Joseph Connon, Aldo Peschiulli, Lyn Markey
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Patent number: 8119771Abstract: Products for altering IL-33 activity including antibodies that specifically bind to an epitope with the polypeptide sequence of IL-33 such as antibodies that specifically bind to a protease cleavage region of IL-33 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 17, or SEQ ID NO. 16, or SEQ ID NO. 10; isolated IL-33 polypeptide(s); and compositions comprising a soluble IL-33 receptor linked to an enzyme capable of cleaving IL-33 or an antibody that binds to IL-33 linked to an enzyme capable of cleaving IL-33. The invention also relates to methods of altering IL-33 activity using the products described herein.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2008Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: The Provost, Fellow and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth, Near DublinInventor: Seamus J. Martin
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Patent number: 8105601Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for suppressing an inflammatory immune response comprising the excretory/secretory (ES) component of Fasciola hepatica or a fraction thereof. The composition has particular utility in the treatment or prophylaxis of T cell mediated inflammatory immune responses, and in particular autoimmune disease. The invention further extends to methods for modulating a T cell mediated immune response wherein a therapeutically effective amount of the excretory/secretory (ES) component from Fasciola hepatica is administered to a subject in need of such treatment in order to suppress the development of the response.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2006Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: The Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth Near DublinInventors: Kingston Mills, Miriam Brady
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Patent number: 8090155Abstract: A hand washing monitoring system (1) comprising a camera (2), a processor (4), the processor being adapted to receive from the camera images of hand washing activity. The processor analyses mutual motion of hands to determine if the hands mutually move in desired poses, and if so, the durations of the patterns; and generates a hand washing quality indication according to the analysis. The processor extracts information features from the images and generates feature vectors based on the features, including bimanual hand and arm shape vectors, and executes a classifier with the vectors to determine the poses. The processor uses edge segmentation and pixel spatio-temporal measurements to form at least some of the feature vectors.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2007Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Provost Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth Near DublinInventors: Gerard Lacey, David Fernandez Llorca
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Patent number: 8017133Abstract: Multicomponent vaccines are provided which aid in the prevention and treatment of staphylococcal infections and which include certain selected combinations of bacterial binding proteins or fragments thereof, or antibodies to those proteins or fragments. By careful selection of the proteins, fragments, or antibodies, a vaccine is provided that imparts protection against a broad spectrum of Staphylococcus and other bacterial strains and against proteins that are expressed at different stages of the logarithmic growth curve. In one embodiment of the invention, a composition is provided that includes a fibrinogen binding domain of a fibrinogen binding protein and a bacterial component such as a capsular polysaccharide, and both active and passive vaccines based on these components are also provided, along with methods of treating infection using these compositions and vaccines.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2010Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignees: Inhibitex, The Provost Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth Near Dublin, The Texas A & M University SystemInventors: Joseph M. Patti, Timothy J. Foster, Magnus Hook
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Publication number: 20110189446Abstract: The invention provides a system and process of patterning structures on a carbon based surface comprising exposing part of the surface to an ion flux, such that material properties of the exposed surface are modified to provide a hard mask effect on the surface. A further step of etching unexposed parts of the surface forms the structures on the surface. The inventors have discovered that by controlling the ion exposure, alteration of the surface structure at the top surface provides a mask pattern, without substantially removing any material from the exposed surface. The mask allows for subsequent ion etching of unexposed areas of the surface leaving the exposed areas raised relative to the unexposed areas thus manufacturing patterns onto the surface. For example, a Ga+ focussed ion beam exposes a pattern onto a diamond surface which produces such a pattern after its exposure to a plasma etch.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2009Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: THE PROVOST, FELLOWS AND SCHOLARS OF THE COLLEGE O F THE HOLY AND UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF QUEEN ELIZABEInventors: Graham L. W. Cross, Warren McKenzie, John B. Pethica
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Publication number: 20110179270Abstract: A method is disclosed for retrieving data from a wireless device over a wireless network for submission to an application provided on a user terminal. The method includes the steps of detecting for a wireless device having a data file stored thereon when the application is running on the user terminal; and if a data file is detected, in response to an attempt by a user at the user terminal to access a document accessible through the application where data is required to complete a request for access to the document, determining whether the required data exists on the data file; retrieving the required data from the data file and submitting the retrieved data to the application for generation of an access request.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2010Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: The Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen ElizabInventors: Hitesh Tewari, Desmond Ennis
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Publication number: 20110177958Abstract: The invention is directed to materials and methods associated with polymorphic variants in two enzymes involved in folate-dependent and one-carbon metabolic pathways: MTHFD1 (5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase, 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate cyclohydrolase, 10-formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase) and methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (NADP+ dependent) 1-like (MTHFD1L). Diagnostic and therapeutic methods are provided involving the correlation of polymorphic variants in MTHFD1, MTHFD1, and other genes with relative susceptibility for various pregnancy-related and other complications.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2011Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicants: The United States of America, as represented by Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, The Provost Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth, The Health Research BoardInventors: Lawrence C. BRODY, Anne PARLE-MCDERMOTT, John SCOTT, Peadar KIRKE, James MILLS, Faith PANGILINAN, Anne MOLLOY
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Patent number: 7968100Abstract: Surface proteins are provided which generate polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies which are cross-reactive to both coagulase-positive staphylococcus bacteria, such as S. aureus and to coagulase-negative bacteria, such as S. epidermidis and S. hemolyticus. The antibodies may be generated from surface proteins that have been isolated on the basis of characteristics that may be common between S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci, or the A domains of those surface proteins, and these recombinant surface proteins are used to generate the cross-reactive antibodies. Vaccines comprising an immunologically effective amount of the proteins are also provided, and these vaccines are used in methods for the treatment or protection against a wide variety of staphylococcal infections.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2009Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignees: Universita'Degli Studi Di Pavia, Inhibitex, Inc., Provost Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth Near DublinInventors: Timothy Foster, Fiona Roche, Mark Pallen, Joseph M. Patti, Jeff T. Hutchins, Pietro Speziale
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Patent number: 7956108Abstract: Composite materials comprise nanotubes and a polymer. The nanotubes and polymer interact in an ordered fashion at an interfacial region. The interface is crystalline or semi crystalline.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2006Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: The Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth, Near DublinInventors: Jonathan Coleman, Werner Blau, Martin Cadek