Patents Assigned to University of Massachusetts Medical Center
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Patent number: 10870886Abstract: The present invention includes methods of determining whether an individual in need thereof has, or is at risk of developing, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD).Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2015Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: University of Massachusetts Medical CenterInventors: Peter L. Jones, Takako Jones, Johnny Salameh, Colin Quinn, Oliver D. King
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Patent number: 7850956Abstract: This invention relates to a method of immunizing a vertebrate, comprising introducing into the vertebrate a DNA transcription unit which comprises DNA encoding a desired antigen or antigens. The uptake of the DNA transcription unit by a host vertebrate results in the expression of the desired antigen or antigens, thereby eliciting humoral or cell-mediated immune responses or both humoral and cell-mediated responses. The elicited humoral and cell-mediated immune response can provide protection against infection by pathogenic agents, provide an anti-tumor response, or provide contraception. The host can be any vertebrate, avian or mammal, including humans.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2004Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignees: University of Massachusetts Medical Center, St. Jude Children's Research HospitalInventors: Harriet L. Robinson, Ellen F. Fynan, Robert G. Webster, Shan Lu
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Patent number: 7722874Abstract: Methods for inducing antigen-specific T cell tolerance are disclosed. The methods involve contacting a T cell with: 1) a cell which presents antigen to the T cell, wherein a ligand on the cell interacts with a receptor on the surface of the T cell which mediates contact-dependent helper effector function; and 2) an antagonist of the receptor on the surface of the T cell which inhibits interaction of the ligand on the antigen presenting cell with the receptor on the T cell. In a preferred embodiment, the cell which presents antigen to the T cell is a B cell and the receptor on the surface of the T cell which mediates contact-dependent helper effector function is gp39. Preferably, the antagonist is an anti-gp39 antibody or a soluble gp39 ligand (e.g., soluble CD40). The methods of the invention can be used to induce T cell tolerance to a soluble antigen or to an allogeneic cell.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1998Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignees: Trustees of Dartmouth College, University of Massachusetts Medical CenterInventors: Randolph J. Noelle, Teresa M. Foy, Fiona H. Durie
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Publication number: 20090186843Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene function. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2007Publication date: July 23, 2009Applicants: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Wissenschaften E.V.Inventors: Thomas Tuschl, Phillip D. Zamore, Phillip A. Sharp, David P. Bartel
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Publication number: 20080299603Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro method for determining the ability of a vaccine composition which comprises one or more antigens or a nucleic acid molecule which encodes one or more antigens to stimulate a T cell response.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2008Publication date: December 4, 2008Applicant: University of Massachusetts Medical CenterInventor: Francis A. Ennis
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Publication number: 20080199967Abstract: The present invention describes a novel, simplified method for detecting and monitoring the presence of nitrosylated proteins, such as S-nitrosoproteins, in a biological sample using fluorescence detection. The present invention further describes a method which can both quantify and identify the nature of nitrosylated proteins, which method is useful for monitoring both normal and disease states, in the development and screening of potential therapeutic drug species.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2008Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PATENT FOUNDATIONInventors: Joan Mannick, Benjamin Gaston, Barbara Leinweber
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Publication number: 20080193382Abstract: Described are methods and compositions that inhibit IL-1 signalling for the treatment of acute inflammatory response to cell necrosis, and the attendant collateral tissue damage.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2007Publication date: August 14, 2008Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL CENTERInventors: Kenneth L. Rock, Chun-Jen Chen
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Publication number: 20080171693Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds that inhibit Hsp90 interactions with IAP proteins, such as Survivin, XIAP, cIAP1, or cIAP2, and methods for identifying and using such compounds.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2008Publication date: July 17, 2008Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL CENTERInventors: Dario C. Altieri, Janet Plescia, Whitney Salz
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Patent number: 7387882Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro method for determining the ability of a vaccine composition which comprises one or more antigens or a nucleic acid molecule which encodes one or more antigens to stimulate a T cell response.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2005Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Assignee: University of Massachusetts Medical CenterInventor: Francis A. Ennis
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Publication number: 20080132461Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene function. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2007Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicants: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Forderung derInventors: Thomas Tuschi, Phillip D. Zamore, Phillip A. Sharp, David P. Bartel
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Patent number: 7330531Abstract: A system for spectroscopic imaging of bodily tissue in which a scintillation screen and a charged coupled device (CCD) are used to accurately image selected tissue. Applications include the imaging of radionuclide distributions within the human body or the use of a dual energy source to provide a dual photon bone densitometry apparatus that uses stationary or scanning acquisition techniques. An x-ray source generates x-rays which pass through a region of a subject's body, forming an x-ray image which reaches the scintillation screen. The scintillation screen reradiates a spatial intensity pattern corresponding to the image, the pattern being detected by a CCD sensor. The image is digitized by the sensor and processed by a controller before being stored as an electronic image. A dual energy x-ray source that delivers two different energy levels provides quantitative information regarding the object being imaged using dual photon absorptiometry techniques.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 1995Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: University of Massachusetts Medical CenterInventor: Andrew Karellas
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Publication number: 20070003960Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene function. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2006Publication date: January 4, 2007Applicants: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Forderug der Wissenschaften E.V.Inventors: Thomas Tuschl, Phillip Zamore, Phillip Sharp, David Bartel
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Publication number: 20070003962Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene function. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2006Publication date: January 4, 2007Applicants: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Forderug der Wissenschaften E. V.Inventors: Thomas Tuschl, Phillip Zamore, Phillip Sharp, David Bartel
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Publication number: 20070003963Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene finction. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2006Publication date: January 4, 2007Applicants: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Forderug der Wissenschaften E.V.Inventors: Thomas Tuschl, Phillip Zamore, Phillip Sharp, David Bartel
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Publication number: 20070003961Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene function. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2006Publication date: January 4, 2007Applicants: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Forderug der Wissenschaften E.V.Inventors: Thomas Tuschl, Phillip Zamore, Phillip Sharp, David Bartel
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Publication number: 20050277109Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro method for determining the ability of a vaccine composition which comprises one or more antigens or a nucleic acid molecule which encodes one or more antigens to stimulate a T cell response.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2005Publication date: December 15, 2005Applicant: University of Massachusetts Medical CenterInventor: Francis Ennis
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Patent number: 6962790Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro method for determining the ability of a vaccine composition which comprises one or more antigens or a nucleic acid molecule which encodes one or more antigens to stimulate a T cell response.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1998Date of Patent: November 8, 2005Assignee: University of Massachusetts Medical CenterInventor: Francis A. Ennis
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Publication number: 20050152897Abstract: Methods for inducing T cell tolerance to a tissue or organ graft in a transplant recipeint are disclosed. The methods involve administering to a subject: 1) an allogeneic or xenogeneic cell which expresses donor antigens and which has a ligand on the cell surface which interacts with a receptor on the surface of a recipient T cell which mediates contact-dependent helper effector function; and 2) an antagonist of the receptor which inhibits interaction of the ligand with the receptor. In a preferred embodiment, the allogeneic or xenogeneic cell is a B cell, preferably a resting B cell, and the molecule on the surface of the T cell which mediates contact-dependent helper effector function is gp39. A preferred gp39 antagonist is an anti-gp39 antibody. The allogeneic or xenogeneic cell and the gp39 antagonist are typically administered to a transplant recipient prior to transplantation of the tissue or organ.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2004Publication date: July 14, 2005Applicants: Trustees of Dartmouth College, University of Massachusetts Medical CenterInventors: Randolph Noelle, Fiona Durie, David Parker, Michael Appel, Nancy Phillips, John Mordes, Dale Grenier, Aldo Rossini
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Publication number: 20050129703Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of gene sequences and proteins involved in vaccinia virus dominant T cell epitopes. Two vaccinia virus CD8+ T cell epitopes restricted by the most common human MHC class I allele, HLA-A0201 have been identified. Both epitopes are highly conserved in vaccinia and variola viruses. The induction of the T cell responses following primary vaccination is demonstrated by the kinetics of epitope specific CD8+ T cells in 3 HLA-A0201 individuals. This information will be useful for the design and analyses of the immunogenicity of experimental vaccinia vaccines, and for basic studies of human T cell memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2004Publication date: June 16, 2005Applicant: University of Massachusetts Medical CenterInventors: Masanori Terajima, John Cruz, Francis Ennis
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Patent number: 6895077Abstract: A system for x-ray fluoroscopic imaging of bodily tissue in which a scintillation screen and a charge coupled device (CCD) is used to accurately image selected tissue. An x-ray source generates x-rays which pass through a region of a subject's body, forming an x-ray image which reaches the scintillation screen. The scintillation screen re-radiates a spatial intensity pattern corresponding to the image, the pattern being detected by the CCD sensor. In a preferred embodiment the imager uses four 8×8-cm three-side buttable CCDs coupled to a CsI:T1 scintillator by straight (non-tapering) fiberoptics and tiled to achieve a field of view (FOV) of 16×16-cm at the image plane. Larger FOVs can be achieved by tiling more CCDs in a similar manner. The imaging system can be operated in a plurality of pixel pitch modes such as 78, 156 or 234-?m pixel pitch modes. The CCD sensor may also provide multi-resolution imaging.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2001Date of Patent: May 17, 2005Assignee: University of Massachusetts Medical CenterInventors: Andrew Karellas, Srinivasan Vedantham, Sankararaman Suryanarayanan