Abstract: A general method of analyzing immune signaling networks for identification of potential therapeutic targets in complex, chronic medical disorders is described. The disclosure provides the CD3?/CD56+ natural killer (NK) cell population as a potential therapeutic target in the clinically-overlapping disorders Gulf War Illness (GWI) and Myalg Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). The disclosure also provides a method for improving or restoring Natural Killer (NK) cell function by stimulating the NK cells with interleukin-15 (IL-15).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 14, 2014
Date of Patent:
September 15, 2020
Assignees:
Nova Southeastern University, University of Miami, University of Alberta, TEC Edmonton
Inventors:
Mary Ann Fletcher, Gordon Broderick, Nancy Klimas, Zachary Barnes
Abstract: Amylin receptor antagonists capable of binding to the amylin receptor and inhibiting activity of amylin or amyloid-beta protein are provided. The amylin receptor antagonists can be administered in the form of pharmaceutical compositions or the like. Methods for preparing and using the amylin receptor antagonists for treating, preventing, or ameliorating Alzheimer's disease are also provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 15, 2017
Date of Patent:
September 8, 2020
Assignee:
The Governors of the University of Alberta
Inventors:
Jack Jhamandas, Rania Soudy, Kamaljit Kaur, Wen Fu, David MacTavish, Aarti Patel
Abstract: The disclosure relates to modified apelin polypeptides having increased stability against kallikrein, NEP and ACE2 degradation and/or potency relative to the native apelin-13 and apelin-17 polypeptides. Embodiments also disclose methods of using the polypeptides for treating cardiovascular disorders.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 16, 2020
Date of Patent:
July 28, 2020
Assignee:
THE GOVERNERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
Inventors:
Gavin Oudit, John Vederas, Shaun McKinnie, Conrad Fischer
Abstract: The invention, in some aspects relates to compositions and methods for altering cell activity and function and the introduction and use of light-activated ion channels.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 2, 2019
Date of Patent:
July 21, 2020
Assignees:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Governors of the University of Alberta
Inventors:
Nathan Klapoetke, Brian Yichiun Chow, Edward Boyden, Gane KA-Shu Wong, Yongku Peter Cho
Abstract: The invention, in some aspects relates to compositions and methods for altering cell activity and function and the introduction and use of light-activated ion channels.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 13, 2019
Date of Patent:
July 14, 2020
Assignees:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Governors of the University of Alberta
Inventors:
Nathan Klapoetke, Brian Yichiun Chow, Edward Boyden, Gane Ka-Shu Wong, Yongku Peter Cho
Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions that find use in facilitating a diagnosis of inflammatory liver disease in a subject. The methods and compositions generally involve detection of eotaxin-3 (E3) levels, either alone or with levels of eotaxin-1 (E1), and optionally, with levels of CCL22 and, further optionally, with levels of IL15. These levels can be used to facilitate a diagnosis of a liver disease of at least one of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and/or to facilitate a differential diagnosis between AIH, PBC, and PSC. The methods and compositions of the present disclosure also find use in facilitating treatment decisions for a subject.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 15, 2018
Date of Patent:
May 5, 2020
Assignees:
The Governors of the University of Alberta, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
Inventors:
Abdolamir Landi, Michael Houghton, D. Lorne Tyrrell, Tim Lankisch, Tobias Weismueller, Michael Manns
Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards methods of converting glycerol to an allyl compound, involving deoxydehydrating glycerol with formic acid and heat to form allyl alcohol; and esterifying the allyl alcohol with formic acid and/or phthalic anhydride and heat to form allyl formate and diallyl phthalate. In some instances, the heat is generated by a microwave. In further instances, the methods involve polymerizing the allyl alcohol, allyl formate and/or diallyl phthalate to form poly(allyl alcohol) or poly(allyl formate) or poly (diallyl phthalate). In some instances, the allyl polymers were used for the consolidation of oil sands tailings.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 27, 2019
Date of Patent:
April 28, 2020
Assignee:
The Governors of the University of Alberta
Abstract: Provided herein are variants of an archaerhodopsin useful for application such as optical measurement of membrane potential. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, cells comprising the polynucleotides, and cells comprising the polypeptides; and methods of using the variants.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 16, 2019
Publication date:
April 23, 2020
Applicants:
President and Fellows of Harvard College, The Governors of the University of Alberta
Inventors:
Adam Ezra Cohen, Daniel Hochbaum, Peng Zou, Samouil Leon Farhi, Robert Earl Campbell, Yongxin Zhao, Daniel Jed Harrison
Abstract: A metamaterial liner for an MRI bore. The metamaterial liner may cover only a portion of the MRI bore, allowing travelling wave excitations within the lined portion. By restricting the waves to the lined portion, improved signal to noise ratio may be provided. The lined length may be adjustable, for example by forming the metamaterial liner of removable annular segments. A method is provided of adjusting the length of the lined portion by removing metamaterial segments. The segments may be included in interchangeable modules. The MRI liner is suitable for any magnetic field strength, and in particular may provide improved signal to noise at reduced technical difficulty at magnetic field strengths between conventional field strengths suitable for a birdcage coil and conventional travelling wave field strengths.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 12, 2018
Date of Patent:
April 21, 2020
Assignees:
The Governors of the University of Alberta, Alberta Health Services
Inventors:
Ashwin K. Iyer, Justin G. Pollock, Nicola de Zanche
Abstract: An impedance based biosensor and method for detecting a target biomolecule in a sample are provided. The biosensor has a substrate, and first and second spaced-apart electrodes disposed at the substrate. A molecular recognition element (MRE) for binding with the target is bound to the substrate between the first and second electrodes. The biosensor also has a nanoparticle having an MRE bound to its surface. In the presence of the target, the nanoparticle is immobilized between the first and second electrodes due to binding of the target biomolecule with the first MRE and binding of the target biomolecule with the second MRE. A measurable change in electrical impedance across the first and second electrodes occurs due to the immobilization of the nanoparticle between the first and second electrodes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 1, 2017
Date of Patent:
March 10, 2020
Assignee:
The Governors of the University of Alberta
Inventors:
Scott Mackay, Jie Chen, Peter Hermansen, David Scott Wishart
Abstract: The present disclosure provides peptides that modulate an immune response in an individual. The present disclosure provides peptides that modulate cellular responses in vitro. The present disclosure provides compositions comprising the peptides. The peptides and compositions are useful in methods of modulating an immune response in an individual, which methods are also provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 21, 2013
Date of Patent:
February 4, 2020
Assignee:
The Governors of the University of Alberta
Inventors:
Adrian Egli, Deanna Michelle Santer, Aviad Yaagov Levin, Bradley Scott Thomas, Khaled Hassan Sayed Barakat, Michael A. Joyce, Daire Thomas O'Shea, Rakesh Kumar Bhat, Michael Houghton, D. Lorne J. Tyrrell, Atul Humar, Deepali Kumar
Abstract: A method for performing magnetic resonance imaging with variable flip angle (VFA) readouts includes preparing longitudinal magnetization of a spin system associated with a subject to a target state, yielding a prepared longitudinal magnetization. The prepared longitudinal magnetization is converted to an image using a VFA readout sequence, wherein the VFA readout sequence comprises a plurality of radio-frequency pulses with corresponding flip-angles varying according to a modulation function.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 11, 2014
Date of Patent:
February 4, 2020
Assignees:
Siemens Healthcare GmbH, The Governors of the University of Alberta
Inventors:
Kelvin Chow, Richard Thompson, Bruce S. Spottiswoode
Abstract: The invention, in some aspects relates to compositions and methods for altering cell activity and function and the introduction and use of light-activated ion channels.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 13, 2019
Publication date:
January 30, 2020
Applicants:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Governors of the University of Alberta
Inventors:
Nathan Klapoetke, Brian Yichiun Chow, Edward Boyden, Gane Ka-Shu Wong, Yongku Peter Cho
Abstract: Provided herein are methods for identifying a subject with an increased likelihood of developing or having metastatic papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), or a subject with an increased likelihood of developing or having recurrent PTC, and the treatment of such a subject.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 16, 2018
Date of Patent:
January 14, 2020
Assignee:
The Governors of the University of Alberta
Abstract: The invention, in some aspects relates to compositions and methods for altering cell activity and function and the introduction and use of light-activated ion channels.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 2, 2019
Publication date:
November 21, 2019
Applicants:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Governors of the University of Alberta
Inventors:
Nathan KLAPOETKE, Brian Yichiun CHOW, Edward BOYDEN, Gane KA-Shu WONG, Yongku Peter CHO
Abstract: The invention, in some aspects relates to compositions and methods for altering cell activity and function and the introduction and use of light-activated ion channels.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 12, 2012
Date of Patent:
November 12, 2019
Assignees:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Governors of The University of Alberta
Inventors:
Nathan Klapoetke, Brian Yichiun Chow, Edward Boyden, Gane Ka-Shu Wong, Yongku Peter Cho
Abstract: The invention, in some aspects relates to compositions and methods for altering cell activity and function and the introduction and use of light-activated ion channels.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 23, 2016
Date of Patent:
November 12, 2019
Assignees:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Governors of The University of Alberta
Inventors:
Nathan Klapoetke, Brian Yichiun Chow, Edward Boyden, Gane Ka-Shu Wong, Yongku Peter Cho