Patents Assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Patent number: 8025887
    Abstract: Chimeric flaviviruses that are avirulent and immunogenic are provided. The chimeric viruses are constructed to contain amino acid mutations in the nonstructural viral proteins of a flavivirus. Chimeric viruses containing the attenuation-mutated nonstructural genes of the virus are used as a backbone into which the structural genes of a second flavivirus strain are inserted. These chimeric viruses elicit pronounced immunogenicity yet lack the accompanying clinical symptoms of viral disease. The attenuated chimeric viruses are effective as immunogens or vaccines and may be combined in a pharmaceutical composition to confer simultaneous immunity against several strains of pathogenic flaviviruses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mahidol University
    Inventors: Richard M. Kinney, Claire Y. H. Kinney, Duane J. Gubler, Siritorn Butrapet, Natth Bhamarapravati
  • Patent number: 7933721
    Abstract: Clinical samples can be analyzed using microparticles to determine the serodiagnosis of a viral infection from two candidate viral infections of the same viral group. Serodiagnosis can be determined via a pooled population of subsets of microparticles, with the particles in the pooled population having a bound viral group-reactive antibody and the particles in each subset having at least one characteristic classification parameter that distinguishes between subsets. Viral antigens of antibodies of interest in the same viral-class as the viral group-reactive antibody can be bound to the viral group-reactive antibody on the microparticles, and subsequently exposed to a clinical sample. Binding and labeling can be used. Automated analysis of data from multiplexed flow analysis can determine the presence or absence of antibodies of interest in the sample, thereby diagnosing for two candidate viral infections in a single assay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    Inventors: Alison Jane Johnson, Bradley John Biggerstaff
  • Patent number: 7919104
    Abstract: Provided is a P4 peptide, which contains functional epitopes of the PsaA protein of Streptococcus pneumoniae, and related methods and compositions. P4 peptide mimetics having a conformational structure identical or similar to the conformation of P4 (e.g., SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO:2) are provided. An antibody that specifically binds to the epitope defined by the disclosed peptides is provided. A P4-specific antibody is PsaA-specific since P4 defines an epitope specific for PsaA. Immunogenic compositions comprising the peptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 and a pharmaceutical carrier or the peptide of SEQ ID NO:2 and a pharmaceutical carrier are also provided. Methods of using the peptides and antibodies of the invention are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    Inventors: Edwin W. Ades, Jacquelyn S. Sampson, Sandra Steiner, George M. Carlone, Joseph J. Caba, GowriSankar Rajam
  • Patent number: 7888043
    Abstract: Compositions, methods and devices for the detection of anti-lipoidal antibodies and the diagnosis of disease, for example, syphilis, are described. In particular, oxidized cardiolipins, which may be conjugated with a variety of attachment molecules, such as BSA, KLH, biotin, synthetic protein MAPS, IgY, streptavidin, or avidin, are described. Such oxidized cardiolipin, alone or complexed with one or more attachment molecules, are useful to detect anti-lipoidal antibodies in subjects, for example, when used in lateral flow devices. Lateral flow devices are described that permit the detection of anti-lipoidal antibodies and that permit the co-detection of nontreponemal and treponemal antibodies in biological samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    Inventors: Arnold R. Castro, Huiying Wang
  • Patent number: 7820385
    Abstract: A method for preserving information about cytosine methylation status in amplified nucleic acid molecules is disclosed. The method includes contacting a sample that contains nucleic acid molecules, such as nucleic acid molecules having or suspected of having methylated cytosines, with a modifying agent that converts the unmethylated cytosines to produce converted nucleic acid molecules. The converted nucleic acid molecule retains information about cytosine methylation. The method further involves contacting the sample with a DNA polymerase to amplify the converted nucleic acid molecules by multiple strand displacement amplification. The sample is not contacted with a nucleic acid ligase or an RNA polymerase. Also disclosed are methods for detecting cytosine methylation in a sample. Such methods include detecting the presence of the signature of cytosine methylation in a bisulfite treated DNA sample that has been amplified by multiple strand displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    Inventors: Mangalathu S. Rajeevan, Elizabeth R. Unger
  • Patent number: 7642068
    Abstract: This application discloses a multivalent opsonophagocytosis assay that does not rely on counting of bacterial colonies to determine bacteria viability following opsonophagocytosis. Instead, the method uses a metabolic colorimetric indicator to determine if viable bacteria are present. Also disclosed are arrays that can be used to determine the viability of bacteria following opsonophagocytosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention
    Inventors: Sandra Steiner, Patricia F. Holder, George M. Carlone, GowriSankar Rajam
  • Patent number: 7632510
    Abstract: The present invention encompasses isolated nucleic acids containing transcriptional units which encode a signal sequence of one flavivirus and an immunogenic flavivirus antigen of a second flavivirus. The invention further encompasses a nucleic acid and protein vaccine and the use of the vaccine to immunize a subject against flavivirus infection. The invention also provides antigens encoded by nucleic acids of the invention, antibodies elicited in response to the antigens and use of the antigens and/or antibodies in detecting flavivirus or diagnosing flavivirus infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    Inventor: Gwong-Jen J. Chang
  • Patent number: 7410771
    Abstract: A reagent and method for the specific and highly sensitive detection of C. parvum in which the reagent is an antibody for a soluble C. parvum sporozoite antigen and the method is an immunoassay in which the antibody is used to detect or quantify C. parvum sporozoite antigen in a sample. The sample is treated to cause excystation of C. parvum oocytes, thereby releasing a C. parvum sporozoite antigen, and combined with antibodies specific for the sporozoite antigen under conditions to form an antibody-antigen complex. Detection of the complex indicates the presence of C. parvum in the sample. The assay allows recognition and detection of C. parvum in turbid samples, and due to a lack of crossreactivity with other Cryptosporidium species, is specific for C. parvum contamination or infection. The assay is highly sensitive, allowing for the detection of less than 100 oocysts per milliliter of sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention
    Inventors: Victor C. W. Tsang, Jeffrey L. Call, Yeuk-mui Lee, Kathy Hancock
  • Patent number: 7152919
    Abstract: A wearable kneel-sit support device includes a U-shaped body that is pivotally connected to both a seat member and a base member. A linking member connects the seat member and the base member, such that moving one of the seat member and the base member causes both the seat member and the base member to rotate from a folded position adjacent the leg of the user to an unfolded position. In the unfolded position, the base member can rest on a horizontal surface and the seat member is substantially parallel to the base member, so that the wearer can sit on the seat while kneeling. The device may be worn on the lower leg of a user in a folded position to allow unhindered ambulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    Inventors: Steven J. Wurzelbacher, Ova E. Johnston, Stephen D. Hudock
  • Patent number: 6756043
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for the detection of adult Taenia solium and the diagnosis and treatment of T. solium infection are described. The compositions contain one or more adult T. solium polypeptides. The polypeptides are useful as diagnostic agents for the detection of adult tapeworm infection. More preferably, the polypeptides are T. solium glycoprotein antigens referred to herein as T. solium excretory/secretory (TS/ES) polypeptides. The most preferred TS/ES polypeptide has a molecular weight of approximately 33 kDa, 38 kDa, or 42 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    Inventors: Victor C. W. Tsang, Patricia P. Wilkins, James C. Allan
  • Patent number: 6436057
    Abstract: A fast, simple, and reliable method and apparatus for recording cough sounds for diagnosing pulmonary disorders and diseases is provided. This method uses signal analysis techniques to extract quantitative information from recorded cough sound pressure waves. The generated data can be used to diagnose pulmonary disorders and diseases as well as track the effectiveness of treatment regimes over time. The method can also be used to quickly and reliably screen individuals at risk of pulmonary disorders and diseases. A system according to one embodiment includes a mouthpiece connected to the proximal end of a tube. The distal end of the tube is connected to a flexible tube. A microphone is attached to the tube between the distal and proximal ends therof for recording sound pressure waves. A calculated cough sound index (CSI) can be used in diagnostic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    Inventors: William T. Goldsmith, David Frazer, Jeffrey Reynolds, Aliakbar Afshari, Kimberly Friend, Walter McKinney