Patents Examined by Celine Qian
  • Immunoregulatory compositions
    Patent number: 7358330
    Abstract: The invention relates to compounds exhibiting immunoregulatory activity as determined by measuring the compound's ability to modulate production of NO by a cell. Preferred compounds include or consist of a sequence AAL AAQ AAG AAV wherein AAL is a substituted or unsubstituted non-polar amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ala and Leu; wherein AAQ is a substituted or unsubstituted amino acid selected from the group consisting of Gln, Pro, and Ala; wherein AAG is a substituted or unsubstituted amino acid Gly, and wherein AAV is a substituted or unsubstituted non-polar amino acid selected from the group consisting of Val and Ala. In one embodiment, the compound consists of a tripeptide selected from the group AQG, MTR, VVC, and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Biotempt B.V.
    Inventors: Nisar Ahmed Khan, Robbert Benner
  • Establishment of cellular manipulations which enhance oligo-mediated gene targeting
    Patent number: 7358090
    Abstract: The invention relates to improved methods for the modification, including recombination, of genes in cells. More specifically, the invention relates to the increased efficiency of modification, including recombination, by introduction of a DNA-modifying molecule into a cell cycle synchronized cell. Additionally, the invention relates to target DNA that has been modified, mutated or marked by the approaches disclosed herein. The invention also relates to cells, tissue, and organisms which have been modified by the invention's methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Michael M. Seidman, Alokes Majumdar
  • Dendritic cell line
    Patent number: 7341870
    Abstract: The invention relates to plasmacytoid dendritic human cell lines and methods for producing the cell lines. More specifically, the invention relates to the plasmacytoid dendritic human cell line called GEN2.2, which is deposited in the CNCM under number CNCM 1-2938 and the plasmacytoid dendritic human cell line called GEN3, which is deposited in the CNCM under number I-3110. The use of cells from the cell lines is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Etablissement Francais du Sang
    Inventors: Joel Plumas, Laurence Chaperot-Dubonnet
  • Hydrophobic biomolecular structure
    Patent number: 7338931
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new hydrophobe biomolecular structure, which is compacted due to the passing of the structure over its point of collapse, a method for the preparation of the structure and use of the new structure for the manufacture of a medicament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Inventor: Gustaf Jederstrom
  • Buffer solution for electroporation and a method comprising the use of the same
    Patent number: 7332332
    Abstract: The invention relates to a buffer solution for suspending animal or human cells and for dissolving biologically active molecules in order to introduce biologically active molecules into cells using an electric current. The inventive buffer solution has a buffering capacity of at least 20 mmol?1×pH?1 and an ionic strength of at least 200 mmol×1?1 during a change to the pH value from pH 7 to pH 8 and at a temperature of 25° C. The use of a buffer solution of this type allows biologically active molecules to be introduced into animal and human cells with a high degree of transfection efficiency and at the same time a low cell mortality. Different cell types, in particular dormant and actively dividing cells of low activity, can be successfully transfected in the buffer solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Amaxa AG
    Inventors: Gudula Riemen, Elke Lorbach, Juliana Helfrich, Gregor Siebenkotten, Herbert Müller-Hartmann, Kirsten Rothmann, Corinna Thiel, Meike Weigel, Heike Wessendorf, Helmut Brosterbus, Michael Nix
  • Corneodesmosin based test and model for inflammatory disease
    Patent number: 7329540
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polynucleotide encoding the corneodesmosin protein having one or more nucleotide insertions, deletions or substitutions at one or novel positions. The invention also relates to the corneodesmosin protein having one or more amino acid insertions, deletions and substitutions. These nucleotide and amino acid polymorphisms are useful in diagnosing or determining susceptibility to corneodesmosin-mediated disease, for example inflammatory diseases including psoriasis, and in treating such disease. Host cells and transgenic non-human animals comprising polynucleotides or proteins of the invention are provided. Methods of screening for agents for use in treating corneodesmosin-mediated disease are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: York Pharma (R & D) Limited
    Inventors: Mark Olavesen, Nick Lench, Maxine Allen, Rachind Tazi-Ahnini
  • Polynucleotides encoding stem cell growth factor-like polypeptides
    Patent number: 7317099
    Abstract: The invention provides novel polynucleotides and polypeptides encoded by such polynucleotides and mutants or variants thereof that correspond to a novel human secreted stem cell growth factor-like polypeptide. These polynucleotides comprise nucleic acid sequences isolated from cDNA libraries prepared from human fetal liver spleen, ovary, adult brain, lung tumor, spinal cord, cervix, ovary, endothelial cells, umbilical cord, lymphocyte, lung fibroblast, fetal brain, and testis. Other aspects of the invention include vectors containing processes for producing novel human secreted stem cell growth factor-like polypeptides, and antibodies specific for such polypeptides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Kirin Pharma Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ivan Labat, Y. Tom Tang, Radoje T. Drmanac, Chenghua Liu, Juhi Lee, Nancy K. Mize, John Childs, Cheng-Chi Chao
  • SMRT co-repressors, transcriptional co-repressors that interact with nuclear hormone receptors
    Patent number: 7314747
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polynucleotides encoding a family of silencing mediators of retinoic acid and thyroid hormone receptor (SMRT) isoforms, including vertebrate and invertebrate isoforms thereof. The invention also relates to polypeptide SMRT co-repressors encoded by invention SMRT polynucleotides, and to peptide portions thereof that can modulate transcriptional potential of a nuclear receptor. In addition, the invention relates to chimeric molecules and to complexes containing a SMRT co-repressor or peptide portion thereof, to antibodies that specifically bind such compositions, and to methods for identifying an agent that modulates the repressor potential of a SMRT co-repressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Ronald M. Evans, J. Don Chen, Peter Ordentlich, Michael R. Downes
  • Trap vectors and gene trapping by using the same
    Patent number: 7312075
    Abstract: A trap vector containing a loxP sequence composed of inverted repeat sequence 1, a spacer sequence and inverted repeat sequence 2 in this order, the loxP sequence being a mutant loxP wherein a part of the inverted repeat sequence 1 or 2 is mutated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Transgenic Inc.
    Inventors: Ken-ichi Yamamura, Kimi Araki
  • Rationally designed and chemically synthesized promoter for genetic vaccine and gene therapy
    Patent number: 7312202
    Abstract: The present invention relates to chemically synthesized promoters that circumvent the disadvantages of the universal CMV promoter/enhancer elements. The promoter may be used in a variety of applications, particularly in genetic immunization. The chemically synthesized promoter overcomes the common problems of the CMV promoter element such as: low transgene expression levels, transient expression, and the large amount of plasmid DNA needed for intramuscular injection in subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Stephen Johnston, Bao-Xi Qu
  • Nucleic acid molecules encoding NRC interacting factor-1 (NIF-1)
    Patent number: 7312066
    Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated human and rat nucleic acid molecules encoding a protein or polypeptide that modulates transcriptional activation in a cell with or without collaboration with a nuclear hormone receptor transcriptional co-activator. The present invention also relates to the proteins or polypeptides encoded by those nucleic acid molecules, and antibodies against such proteins or polypeptides. The present invention also relates to a variety of uses for the nucleic acid molecules, proteins or polypeptides, and the related antibodies of the present invention, including methods of: regulating cellular proliferation, differentiation, and development; modulating the activity of a transcriptional co-activator complex and a transcription factor in cells; regulating hormone receptor activity and endocrine function in cells; and treating diabetes and insulin resistance in a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Muktar A. Mahajan, Herbert H. Samuels
  • Use of rapamycin to inhibit immune response and induce tolerance to gene therapy vector and encoded transgene products
    Patent number: 7307068
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for transient co-administration of rapamycin together with a gene therapy vector encoding a transgene. The present invention is directed to inhibiting the immune response of a host to the administered gene therapy vector and encoded trans gene product, thus allowing persistent trans gene expression and repeated administration of the gene therapy product to the host. The present invention is also of relevance in genetic disease patients that mount immune responses to protein replacement therapies in which case the present invention provides for transient co-administration of rapamycin together with protein replacement therapy. In a further aspect of the invention, co-administration of rapamycin could inhibit a secondary immune response in a host that has been pre-immunized with the gene therapy vector or pre-immunized with the protein product encoded by the transgene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Genzyme Corporation
    Inventor: Abraham Scaria
  • Method of identifying substances useful for promoting resistance to cell stress
    Patent number: 7306905
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods for identifying test substances useful for the prevention or treatment of diseases involving an oxidative stress. The methods involve screening assays, including high throughput screening techniques, in which the test substances are tested for their ability to promote resistance to oxidative stress by activating one or more points of the integrated stress response pathway, while not causing stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: David Ron, Heather P. Harding
  • Zinc finger proteins
    Patent number: 7297515
    Abstract: Novel zinc finger proteins and nucleic acids encoding the proteins are provided. The zinc finger proteins interact with ZNF202, a zinc finger protein that regulates the expression of a variety of genes involved in lipid metabolism and transportation. Modulation of the novel zinc finger proteins and their interactions with ZNF202 can be useful in the treatment of coronary heart diseases, dyslipidemia, dyscholesterolemia and obesity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Myriad Genetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Philippe Szankasi, Kimberly Mauck, Daniel Albert Wettstein
  • Mutations in and genomic structure of —a long QT syndrome gene
    Patent number: 7297489
    Abstract: The invention relates to the determination of the genomic structure of HERG which is a gene associated with long QT syndrome. The sequences of the 15 intron/exon junctions has been determined and this information is useful in devising primers for amplifying and sequencing across all of the exons of the gene. This is useful for determining the presence or absence of mutations which are known to cause long QT syndrome. Also disclosed are many new mutations in HERG which have been found to be associated with long QT syndrome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Mark Keating, Igor Splawski
  • Genetic modification of male germ cells for generation of transgenic species and genetic therapies
    Patent number: 7294755
    Abstract: Disclosed is an in vivo method of incorporating exogenous genetic material into the genome of a vertebrate, which involves administering to a male vertebrate's testis a gene delivery mixture comprising a viral vector, such as a retroviral vector, to deliver a polynucleotide encoding a desired trait or product. Also disclosed is an in vitro method of incorporating exogenous genetic material into the genome of a vertebrate, in which germ cells are obtained from a donor male vertebrate and are genetically modified in vitro, before being transferred to a recipient male vertebrate. After the transfer, the male vertebrate bearing the genetically modified germ cells is bred with a female vertebrate such that a transgenic progeny is produced that carries the polynucleotide in its genome. Also disclosed are non-human transgenic vertebrates produced in accordance with the method, including transgenic progeny.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignees: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Imperial College Innovations Ltd.
    Inventors: Carol W. Readhead, Robert Winston
  • Processes for culturing E1-immortalized cells to increase product yields
    Patent number: 7291484
    Abstract: The invention provides processes for culturing cells derived from embryonic retinoblast cells immortalized by adenovirus E1 sequences, preferably PER.C6® (human embryonic retina) cells, to improve product yields from such cells. Feed strategies for such cells and cultures with very high cell densities are provided, resulting in high yields of products, such as recombinant antibodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Crucell Holland B.V.
    Inventor: Christopher A. Yallop
  • High bone mass gene of 11q13.3
    Patent number: 7285400
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and materials used to isolate and detect a high bone mass gene and a corresponding wild-type gene, and mutants thereof. The present invention also relates to the high bone mass gene, the corresponding wild-type gene, and mutants thereof. The genes identified in the present invention are implicated in bone development. The invention also provides nucleic acids, including coding sequences, oligonucleotide primers and probes, proteins, cloning vectors, expression vectors, transformed hosts, methods of developing pharmaceutical compositions, methods of identifying molecules involved in bone development, and methods of diagnosing and treating diseases involved in bone development. In preferred embodiments, the present invention is directed to methods for treating, diagnosing and preventing osteoporosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignees: Genome Therapeutics Corporation, Creighton University
    Inventors: John P. Carulli, Randall D. Little, Robert R. Recker, Mark L. Johnson
  • Human and mammalian stem cell-derived neuron survival factors
    Patent number: 7273725
    Abstract: The present invention relates to human, rat and mouse stem cell-derived neuron survival factor polypeptides (SDNSF), a process for producing them, cDNA encoding SDNSF, a vector comprising the cDNA, host cells transformed by the vector, an antibody against SDNSF, pharmaceutical compositions containing SDNSF or the antibody, a method of assaying SDNSF, a reagent for assaying SDNSF, and a screening method using SDNSF. The polypeptides are effective in the survival of nerve cells and, therefore, efficacious in treating injury to the central nerve system caused by brain infarction, brain hemorrhage, spinal cord injury, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignees: Ono Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tasuku Honjo, Kei Tashiro, Jun Takahashi, Hiroki Toda
  • Vascular endothelial growth factor-2
    Patent number: 7273751
    Abstract: Disclosed are human VEGF-2 polypeptides, biologically active, diagnostically or therapeutically useful fragments, analogs, or derivatives thereof, and DNA(RNA) encoding such VEGF-2 polypeptides. Also provided are procedures for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques and antibodies and antagonists against such polypeptides. Such polypeptides and polynucleotides may be used therapeutically for stimulating wound healing and for vascular tissue repair. Also provided are methods of using the antibodies and antagonists to inhibit tumor angiogenesis and thus tumor growth, inflammation, diabetic retinopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Human Genome Science, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy A. Coleman