Patents Examined by Arun K. Chakrabarti
  • Patent number: 6562573
    Abstract: This invention describes materials and methods usable for the purification of polyelectrolytes, such as nucleic acids and proteins. The materials of the invention are separation media that possess pH-dependent groups with pKa value in the range of about 5 to about 7. Separation of the nucleic acids or proteins from a separation medium is effected at a neutral or higher pH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventor: Folim G. Halaka
  • Patent number: 6559296
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting nucleic acid molecules such as target DNA molecules and mRNA molecules by using a DNA probe, and provides a DNA capillary, comprising a fluid passageway formed of a cylindrical capillary made of glass, a plurality of independent probe regions formed in the inner wall of the fluid passageway, and DNA probes each immobilized in the probe region, the immobilized DNA probes differing from each other. For performing the measurement, a sample is introduced through an open portion into the capillary so as to perform reaction and, then, fluorimetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Suyama
  • Patent number: 6537759
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes the use of genetic variance information for folate transport or metabolism genes or pyrimidine transport or metabolism genes in the selection of effective methods of treatment of a disease or condition. The variance imformation is indicative of the expected response of a patient to a method of treatment. Methods of determining relevant variance information and additional methods of using such variance information are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Variagenics, Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent P. Stanton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6534262
    Abstract: A method of isolating target nucleic acid molecules from a solution comprising a mixture of different size nucleic acid molecules, in the presence or absence of other biomolecules, by selectively facilitating the adsorption of a particular species of nucleic acid molecule to the functional group-coated surface of magnetically responsive paramagnetic microparticles is disclosed. Separation is accomplished by manipulating the ionic strength and polyalkylene glycol concentration of the solution to selectively precipitate, and reversibly adsorb, the target species of nucleic acid molecule, characterized by a particular molecular size, to paramagnetic microparticles, the surfaces of which act as a bioaffinity adsorbent for the nucleic acids. The target nucleic acid is isolated from the starting mixture based on molecular size and through the removal of magnetic beads to which the target nucleic acid molecules have been adsorbed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
    Inventors: Kevin McKernan, Paul McEwan, William Morris
  • Patent number: 6524786
    Abstract: The invention concerns scintillation proximity assays performed in multiwell plates where a charge coupled device is used to image the wells. Conventional phosphors emit blue light (350-450 nm) which is absorbed by yellow or brown assay components. This problem is addressed by the use of phosphors that emit radiation of longer wavelength (480-900 nm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Amersham plc
    Inventor: Robert A. Jessop
  • Patent number: 6521427
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the fields of oligonucleotide synthesis. More particularly, it concerns the assembly of genes and genomes of completely synthetic artificial organisms. Thus, the present invention outlines a novel approach to utilizing the results of genomic sequence information by computer directed gene synthesis based on computing on the human genome database. Specifically, the present invention contemplates and describes the chemical synthesis and resynthesis of genes defined by the genome sequence in a host vector and transfer and expression of these sequences into suitable hosts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Egea Biosciences, Inc.
    Inventor: Glen A. Evans
  • Patent number: 6514703
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the separation and characterization of the functions potentially present in a biological sample containing nucleic acids, characterized in that it comprises the steps of preparation of nucleic acid fragments starting from said sample, association of each one of said fragments with a vector molecule, isolation of each fragment associated with a vector molecule or with a part of each construction composed of a fragment associated with a vector molecule, in vitro treatment of each fragment associated with a vector molecule or of a part of each construction composed of a fragment associated with a vector molecule to obtain transcripts, and testing of the function of the transcripts or of the proteins encoded thereby after translation of said transcripts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Proteus S.A.
    Inventors: Daniel Dupret, Jean-Michel Masson, Fabrice Lefevre
  • Patent number: 6504019
    Abstract: Highly hydrophilic non-nucleosidic tags with multiple labels are provided for use in nucleic acid probes. The tags are branched structures having a phosphodiester backbone, which have the advantages of a small dimensional size and high hydrophilicity. After the tag is labeled, its high negative charge and minimal size help to keep the carriers away from DNA or RNA molecules, due to repulsion between negative charges. Non-specific intercalation and steric hindrance are therefore minimized, and the hydrophobicity, if any of reporter molecules is reduced. The probes are used in place of conventionally labeled oligonucleotides for a variety of hybridization reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Bayer Corporation
    Inventors: Guohan Yang, Donna M. Ford, Say-Jong Law, John E. Monahan, Todd B. Sells
  • Patent number: 6501004
    Abstract: The sinapine content of seeds of Brassica napus, and other crucifera plants, and the resulting seed meal made therefrom, is reduced by transforming cells of the plants to incorporate an expressible exogenous CYP84 monooxygenase enzyme, particularly ferulate 5-hyroxylase (F5H:) enzyme, or an antisense equivalent thereof. This allows for the production of a seed meal that is commercially more valuable. Three specific nucleic acid sequences encoding the F5H polypeptide are disclosed, designated BNF5H1, BNF5H2 and BNF5H3, and genetic constructs produced. The antisense suppression of sinapine is preferred, which can reduce the sinapine content of seed meal by up to 40% compared to wild type or vector-only transformed plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Gopalan Selvaraj, Ramesh B. Nair, Richard W. Joy, IV, Wilfred A. Keller, Raju S. Datla
  • Patent number: 6498239
    Abstract: The invention relates to DNA sequences coding for sterol glucosyl transferases as well as the use thereof to modify the content and/or the structure of sterol glycosides and/or their synthetic secondary products in transgenic organism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Gesellschaft fur Erwerb und Verwertung von Schutzrechten—GVS mbH
    Inventors: Martina Baltrusch, Ernst Heinz, Dirk Warnecke, Frank P. Wolter
  • Patent number: 6492346
    Abstract: Conjugates between a minor groove binding molecule, such as the trimer of 1,2-dihydro-(3H)-pyrrolo[3,2-e]indole-7-carboxylate (CDPI3), and an oligonucleotide form unusually stable hybrids with complementary target sequences, in which the tethered CDPI3 group resides in the minor groove of the duplex. These conjugates can be used as probes and primers. Due to their unusually high binding affinity, conjugates as short as 8-mers can be used as amplification primers with high specificity and efficiency. MGB conjugation also increases the discriminatory power of short oligonucleotides, providing enhanced detection of nucleotide sequence mismatches by short oligonucleotides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Epoch Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Hedgpeth, Irina A. Afonina, Igor V. Kutyavin, Eugeny A. Lukhtanov, Evgeniy S. Belousov, Rich B. Meyer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6489121
    Abstract: A method of identifying a protein, polypeptide or peptide by means of mass spectrometry and especially by tandem mass spectrometry is disclosed. The method preferably models the fragmentation of a peptide or protein in a tandem mass spectrometer to facilitate comparison with an experimentally determined spectrum. A fragmentation model is used which takes account of all possible fragmentation pathways which a particular sequence of amino acids may undergo. A peptide or protein may be identified by comparing an experimentally determined mass spectrum with spectra predicted using such a fragmentation model from a library of known peptides or proteins. Alternatively, a de novo method of determining the amino acid sequence of an unknown peptide using such a fragmentation model may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Micromass Limited
    Inventor: John Skilling
  • Patent number: 6461630
    Abstract: Disclosed are terminally sterilized osteogenic devices for implantation into a mammal. The devices contain a combination of a biologically active osteogenic protein and an insoluble carrier which after being combined are sterilized by exposure to ionizing radiation, for example, by exposure to gamma rays or an electron beam. The terminally sterilized devices of the invention are characterized in that they induce bone formation following implantation into a mammal. Also disclosed is a method for inducing bone formation in a mammal by implanting a terminally sterilized device of the invention into a preselected locus in a mammal. Also disclosed is a method for preparing the terminally sterilized device of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Marjorie M. Tucker, David C. Rueger, Kuber T. Sampath
  • Patent number: 6444430
    Abstract: The invention provides cDNA which encode Ndr2-related proteins. It also provides for the use of the cDNAs, fragments, complements, and variants thereof and of the encoded proteins, portions thereof and antibodies thereto for diagnosis and treatment of cancer, particularly cancers of the intestine, breast, uterus, liver, brain, and kidney. The invention additionally provides expression vectors and host cells for the production of the proteins and a transgenic model system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Incyte Genomics, Inc.
    Inventors: Susan G. Stuart, Janice Au-Young, Jennifer L. Hillman, Purvi Shah, Henry Yue
  • Patent number: 6440676
    Abstract: The invention is directed towards gene expression characteristic for cancer, in particular brain cancers such as glioblastoma. Compositions, methods and kits encompassing such therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Nyxis NeuroTherapies, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger A. Kroes, Joseph R. Moskal, Hirotaka Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6428793
    Abstract: A composition for and a method of eliciting in a vertebrate a protective immune response against an eukaryotic parasite are disclosed. The method includes administering to the vertebrate a composition having a carrier group coupled to an oligosaccharide obtained from a lipoglycan found on the surface of an eukaryote. The composition is administered in an amount sufficient to elicit a protective immune response against the parasite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventor: Lloyd H. Semprevivo
  • Patent number: 6416950
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are molecules that include a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) covalently bonded to a protein and uses thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Phylos, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Lohse, Markus Kurz
  • Patent number: 6410235
    Abstract: The discriminating capability of hybridization assays is increased by a combination of labelled primers which produce amplificates of one strand of a nucleic acid with a capture probe which is complementary to the same strand of the nucleic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Weindel, Joachim Brand
  • Patent number: 6406850
    Abstract: The Invention relates to a method for providing at least one selected sequence in a nucleic acid with interstrand cross-links. The method comprises hybridizing at least one selected single strand sequence with a complementary single strand nucleic acid or a functional analogue thereof. The selected sequence or complementary nucleic acid or both comprise a cross-linking agent. The invention also relates to a method, referred to as COBRA, for the labeling of a set of at least two bio-organic molecules with a set of at least two colors, comprising generating said set of colors through combining ratio labeling with binary labeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Kreatech Biotechnology B.V.
    Inventors: Herman Volkers, Robert Heetebrij, Hendrik-Jan Houthoff, R. P. M. van Gijlswijk, Hendrikus Johannes Tanke, Anton Klaas Raap
  • Patent number: 6399303
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for detecting a target nucleic acid molecule. A set of oligonucleotide probes integrated into an electric circuit, where the oligonucleotide probes are positioned such that they can not come into contact with one another, are contacted with a sample. If the sample contains a target nucleic acid molecule, one which has sequences complimentary to both probes, the target nucleic acid molecule can bridge the gap between the probes. The resulting bridge can then carry electrical current between the two probes, indicating the presence of the target nucleic acid molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Integrated Nano-Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis Michael Connolly