Patents Assigned to The United States of America represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
  • CHIMERIC FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE VIRUSES
    Publication number: 20110014232
    Abstract: Foot and mouth disease (FMD) viruses which are able to grow on BHK-21 cells in suspension are described herein. The new viruses are recombinant chimeric viruses formed by replacing the outer capsid coding region of a first FMDV strain, which has previously been shown to be an effective vaccine strain, with the outer capsid coding region of a second FMDV strain. The outer capsid coding region of the second FMDV strain is also modified to introduce a heparan sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG) binding site. The chimeric viruses are then used as seed viruses in the production of inactivated vaccine antigens which have been tailored for specific outbreak situations or locality. The invention also relates to the product of expression of the chimeric FMD viruses and to uses therefor, such as to form antigenic, immunological or vaccine compositions for prevention of FMD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicants: Agricultural Research Council, United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture, Intervet International B.V.
    Inventors: Francois Frederick MAREE, Belinda Blignaut, Aida Elizabeth Rieder, Nicolaas Visser
  • Mycobacterial diagnostics
    Patent number: 7867704
    Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid molecules unique to M. paratuberculosis. The invention also provides the polypeptides encoded by the M. paratuberculosis-specific nucleic acid molecules of the invention, and antibodies having specific binding affinity for the polypeptides encoded by the M. paratuberculosis-specific nucleic acid molecules. The invention further provides for methods of detecting M. paratuberculosis in a sample using nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, and antibodies of the invention. The invention additionally provides methods of preventing a M. paratuberculosis infection in an animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignees: Regents of the University of Minnesota, The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Vivek Kapur, John P. Bannantine, Ling-Ling Li, Qing Zhang, Alongkorn Amonsin
  • Polymorphism in bovine prion protein gene sequence
    Patent number: 7867710
    Abstract: A specific, non-synonymous SNP in the Prnp gene encoding the bovine prion protein affects the susceptibility of bovine animals to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Depending on the number of octapeptide repeat units present in the Prnp gene, the position of the SNP is either nucleotide 631 of exon 3 (codon 211) when the Prnp gene comprises six octapeptide repeat region sequences, nucleotide 607 of exon 3 (codon 203) when the Prnp gene comprises five octapeptide repeat region sequences, or nucleotide 655 of exon 3 (codon 219) when the Prnp gene comprises seven octapeptide repeat region sequences. Alleles of the bovine Prnp wherein the SNP at these positions is lysine (K) at the corresponding amino acids (i.e., 211, 203 or 219) in the bovine prion protein are all indicative of increased susceptibility to BSE in comparison to alleles which encode glutamic acid (E) at the same position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: Juergen A. Richt
  • Multi-component biocide composition for wood protection
    Patent number: 7858125
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a multi-component biocide composition comprising a borate component in combination with an azole component to both inhibit mold fungi, decay fungi, such as brown-rot fungi and white-rot fungi, and to resist insect infestation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Carol A. Clausen, Vina W. Yang, Michael H. West, Erlene West, legal representative
  • Sorting of agricultural process streams
    Patent number: 7858893
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for automated sorting of objects comprising a population, and for methods of sorting using same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Ronald P. Haff, Eric S. Jackson
  • Correction of x-ray images
    Patent number: 7860214
    Abstract: A technique to correct deficiencies in x-ray images of cylindrical or spherical objects that are a consequence of the geometry of the sample is disclosed, for both normal imaging of stationary objects with film or digital detectors and linescan imaging of moving objects. The methods described involve the use of attenuators specifically shaped to equalize the x-ray absorption across the sample, thus correcting the variation in pixel intensity caused by the varying thickness of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: Ronald P Haff
  • Process of making a product containing at least partially denatured milk protein
    Patent number: 7851010
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dietary composition produced by a process involving extruding a protein containing product and water through an extruder (e.g., at about 50-about 450 rpm and at a temperature of about 40° to about 120° C., wherein the residence time of the protein containing product (e.g., whey protein isolate) in the extruder is about 15-about 90 seconds) to produce the dietary composition, wherein the dietary composition contains partially denatured protein containing product or totally denatured protein containing product or mixtures thereof. The present invention also concerns a food product containing at least one food ingredient and a dietary fiber composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: Charles I. Onwulata
  • Hybridomas producing highly specific monoclonal antibodies to detect subspecies
    Patent number: 7851170
    Abstract: Hybridoma cell lines which produce and secrete monoclonal antibodies which selectively bind to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis have been produced. Cells of M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis in biological samples may be detected and quantified by contacting the sample with the antibodies to form a M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis/antibody immunocomplex when M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis is present, which immunocomplex may then be detected. The monoclonal antibodies also may be incorporated into kits for the detection and quantification of M. avium subspecies paratuberculosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: John P. Bannantine
  • PROTEIN PRODUCTION AND STORAGE IN PLANTS
    Publication number: 20100313307
    Abstract: A transgenic dicotyledonous plant having a deficiency of one or more plant seed storage proteins, further having a transgenic polynucleotide construct comprising an open reading frame operably linked to a storage protein promoter and an ER signal sequence. The polynucleotide construct encodes a protein product that can accumulate at high levels in the seed. Also provided are methods of producing a heterologous protein in a plant seed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicants: DONALD DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTER, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
    Inventors: ELIOT M. HERMAN, MONICA A. SCHMIDT
  • Enhanced antiviral activity against foot and mouth disease
    Patent number: 7833533
    Abstract: Previously, we showed that type I interferon (alpha/beta interferon [IFN-?/?]) can inhibit foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) replication in cell culture, and swine inoculated with 109 PFU of human adenovirus type 5 expressing porcine IFN-? (Ad5-pIFN-?) were protected when challenged 1 day later. In this study, we found that type II pIFN (pIFN-?) also has antiviral activity against FMDV in cell culture and that, in combination with pIFN-?, it has a synergistic antiviral effect. We also observed that while each IFN alone induced a number of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), the combination resulted in a synergistic induction of some ISGs. To extend these studies to susceptible animals, we inoculated groups of swine with a control Ad5, 108 PFU of Ad5-pIFN-?, low- or high-dose Ad5-pIFN-?, or a combination of Ad5-pIFN-? and low- or high-dose Ad5-pIFN-? and challenged all groups with FMDV 1 day later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Marvin J. Grubman, Marla J. Koster, Mauro Moraes
  • Marek's disease virus vaccine
    Patent number: 7824690
    Abstract: An effective vaccine for Marek's disease may be prepared using a viral agent which is a Marek's disease virus unable to express a functional meq protein. This viral agent is effective to elicit an immune response in a chicken to very virulent strains of Marek's disease virus without causing a significant degree of pathogenicity in the inoculated bird. Suitable formulations of the vaccine for use in chickens include an effective immunization dosage of this novel viral agent with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Sanjay M. Reddy, Blanca M. Lupiani
  • System for distributing poultry litter below the soil surface
    Patent number: 7814848
    Abstract: Biodegradable solid soil amendment material such as poultry litter may be disposed of in soil using an apparatus which includes a soil cutter for cutting a trench and a dispenser for transporting the material and simultaneously grinding or shearing the material and distributing it to the trenches in the soil. The receptacle includes a plurality of troughs across its bottom surface, each having an outlet at one end thereof, and corresponding screw augers therein for distributing and transporting the material to the outlets. As the material is transported toward each of the outlets by the augers it is crushed or ground to a small size. This apparatus allows the material to be dispensed through the multiple outlets at a substantially steady, uniform rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Daniel H. Pote, Stephen M. Haller
  • GROWTH MEDIA AND SAPROPHYTIC USE FOR PICHIA ANOMALA
    Publication number: 20100254957
    Abstract: A biologically pure culture of a yeast of the species Pichia anomala (WRL-076). The yeast is identified as NRRL Y-30842 and is applied to a site containing a deleterious microorganism. Further disclosed is a growth medium for increasing the viablility of yeast organisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
    Inventor: SUI-SHENG T. HUA
  • Compositions for inhibiting the scent tracking ability of mosquitoes in environmentally defined three dimensional spaces
    Patent number: 7807721
    Abstract: Composition for inhibiting the ability of mosquitoes to locate a target by olfactory emissions of the target comprise a composition of at least one inhibiting compound selected from the group consisting of 3-methyl-1-alkene-3-ols of the formula: and 3-methyl-1-alkyn-3-ols of the formula: wherein R1 and R2 are each independently a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group containing from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms, in a vehicle base that is a porous or waxy medium. The composition being capable of dispensing the inhibiting compound in an non-lethal amount effective to inhibit the ability of mosquitoes to sense a target in a three dimensional environmental space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignees: Biosensory Inc., Bedouklan Research, Inc., The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: James A. Nolen, Robert H. Bedoukian, Robert E. Maloney, Daniel L. Kline
  • Thermally-tolerant pectin methylesterase
    Patent number: 7803597
    Abstract: Enzymes accumulated in plant cell walls serve diverse physiological functions including metabolism, polysaccharide structure modification, and molecular communication in interactions with other organisms. Pectin methylesterases are economically important enzymes for their impact on quality and processing properties of fruit and vegetable food products. We have now purified TT-PME to homogeneity from sweet orange finisher pulp and determined the complete corresponding nucleic acid sequence. Purified TT-PME was observed by SDS-PAGE as two doublet bands with molecular masses of approximately 46,000 Da and 56,000 Da. Direct Edman sequencing from these proteins showed a common N-terminal peptide. De novo sequencing of eight TT-PME tryptic peptides determined by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry provided additional internal sequences. TT-PME did not correspond to any previously reported Citrus spp. PME sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Brett J. Savary, Randall G. Cameron, Gary A. Luzio, Thomas G. McCollum, Prasanna Vasu, Alberto Nunez
  • Pyrolytic products from poultry manure
    Patent number: 7794601
    Abstract: Chars may be produced by carbonization or pyrolysis of poultry manure. Chars produced from poultry manure by the method described herein exhibit enhanced activity for metal ion adsorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Isabel M. Lima, Wayne E. Marshall
  • Egg micro-crack detection systems
    Patent number: 7796241
    Abstract: An avian eggshell egg-check/crack detection system was developed to aide official egg graders. It includes an imaging system and a device to produce negative pressure in an egg chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Kurt C. Lawrence, Seung C. Yoon, Gerald W. Heitschmidt, Deana Jones, Bosoon Park, Vernon A. Savage
  • Newcastle disease virus monoclonal antibodies
    Patent number: 7794714
    Abstract: Anti-peptide monoclonal antibodies (MAb's) specific for Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) are used for rapid diagnostic identification between poultry infected with vaccine strains of NDV (LaSota/B1) and END virus (ENDV). Exotic Newcastle Disease is a contagious and fatal viral disease of birds and poultry. The present invention provides for diagnostic detection of ENDV in commercial poultry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: Darrell R. Kapczynski
  • Peach tree named ‘KV00398’
    Patent number: PP21378
    Abstract: A new and distinct variety of peach which is characterized by producing large, yellow, melting-flesh fruit with an excellent sweet, only mildly acidic dessert quality flavor. Fruit are melting flesh freestone with an 80% red over-color (blush) over a golden yellow undercolor and average 71 to 75 mm in diameter, ripening in early mid season.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Ralph Scorza, William R. Okie
  • Peach tree named ‘KV981175’
    Patent number: PP21379
    Abstract: A new and distinct variety of peach tree which is characterized by an upright tree growth form; producing yellow, melting-flesh fruit of excellent dessert-quality flavor, of large size with approximately 80% red blush over a yellow ground color, ripening in late mid-season.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventor: Ralph Scorza