Patents Examined by Donna C. Wortman
  • Recombinant antigen from the NS3 region of the hepatitis C virus
    Patent number: 6306579
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a polypeptide which is composed of the amino acids 1207±10 to 1488±10 of a hepatitis C virus and of less than 20 foreign amino acids and the use of this polypeptide as an antigen in an immunological test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Seidel, Ursula-Henrike Wienhues, Urban Schmitt, Manfred Motz, Michael Wiedmann, Barbara Upmeier, Erwin Soutschek
  • Herpes virus entry receptor protein
    Patent number: 6303336
    Abstract: The present invention provides isolated and purified polynucleotides that encode HVEM of mammalian origin, expression vectors containing those polynucleotides, host cells transformed with those expression vectors, a process of making HVEM using those polynucleotides and vectors, and isolated and purified HVEM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Patricia G. Spear, Rebecca I. Montgomery
  • Immunoreactive polypeptide compositions
    Patent number: 6303292
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to immunoreactive polypeptide compositions comprising hepatitis type C viral epitopes, methods of using the compositions in immunological applications, and materials and methods for making the compositions
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Chiron Corporation
    Inventors: Amy J. Weiner, Michael Houghton
  • Process for preparing novel ice-controlling molecules
    Patent number: 6303388
    Abstract: A dispersal pattern of hydrogen bonding sites on an ice surface is used as a template in a process for the design, selection and manufacture of synthetic ice interface dopants. Ice interface dopants are molecules which when bound to a surface of an ice crystal inhibit the incorporation of additional water molecules into the crystal. The ice interface dopants thus inhibit ice crystal growth, recrystallization, and sublimation. Ice interface dopants can also inhibit heterogenous nucleating agents, and thus postpone or prevent ice nucleation. Exemplary dopant structures are provided that achieve near-perfect ice-bonding efficiency while being thoroughly adaptable to a wide variety of specialized ice-bonding applications. Orbital steering provides for steering lone pair orbitals of ice bonding atoms in the interface dopant to result in an optimal angular alignment with the complementary binding sites on ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Organ Recovery Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory M. Fahy
  • Methods and compositions for early detection and treatment of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
    Patent number: 6300089
    Abstract: The subject invention concerns a novel process for the early detection of insulin dependent diabetes (IDD). The novel process described here enables the detection of the onset of IDD before clinical symptoms appear. The novel process involves the detection, in a sample of biological fluid, of an autoantibody which is highly specific to individuals who will later develop the clinical manifestations of IDD. Novel treatments for the prevention of IDD are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Atkinson, Noel K. Maclaren
  • FTCD antigen
    Patent number: 6300139
    Abstract: The present invention relates to FTCD antigen which is liver specific to serve as a diagnostic tool for Autoimmune Hepatitis type II. There is provided a human liver specific FTCD antigen recognized by LC1 antibodies which essentially consists in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:3 and 4 or variants thereof which are recognized by LC1 antibodies. There is also disclosed a method of diagnosis of Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) type II disease in a patient biological sample, which comprises the steps of: a) subjecting a Western Blot having bound thereto an FTCD antigen of the present invention with the patient biological sample; and b) detecting the presence of LC1 antibodies in the sample; whereby the presence of LC1 antibodies is indicative of AIH type II disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Hô ;pital Sainte-Justine
    Inventor: Fernando Alvarez
  • Adjuvant formulation comprising a submicron oil droplet emulsion
    Patent number: 6299884
    Abstract: An adjuvant composition, comprising a metabolizable oil and an emulsifying agent, wherein the oil and the detergent are present in the form of an oil-in-water emulsion having oil droplets substantially all of which are less than 1 micron in diameter. In preferred embodiments, the emulsifying agent is also an immunostimulating agent, such as a lipophilic muramyl peptide. Alternatively, an immunostimulating agent separate from the emulsifying agent can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Chiron Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Van Nest, Gary Ott, Gail Barchfeld
  • Myc homology region II—associated protein and uses thereof
    Patent number: 6297368
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel MHRII-associated protein designated MHRII-AP62 and antibodies immunoreactive with the MHRII-AP62 protein. Also provided are kits containing these antibodies and methods of using the antibodies for the detection of the MHRII-AP62 protein. The present invention also provides for a nucleic acid encoding the MHRII-AP62 protein and nucleic acid probes for use in the detection of the MHRII-AP62 protein. Further provided by the present invention are agents that mimic the activity of the MHRII-AP62 protein by binding to the MHRII, agents that inhibit the activity of the MHRII-AP62 protein by binding to the MHRII-AP62 protein, or by binding to the nucleic acid encoding the MHRII-AP62 protein, and methods of using these agents to treat cancer and cancer causing diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
    Inventor: Ronald A. DePinho
  • Method and formulation for stabilization of enzymes
    Patent number: 6294365
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and a formulation for the stabilization of an enzyme for storage at temperatures above freezing. Specifically, the invention involves the use of formulated excipients that when added to an enzyme or mixture of enzymes and subsequently lyophilized renders stability. Upon reconstitution, the stabilized materials are useful in assays, diagnostic or molecular biology research kits, and other biological applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Molecular Biology Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Therese A. De Rosier, Norberto B. de la Cruz, Richard K. Wilkosz
  • Hepatitis E virus antigens and uses therefor
    Patent number: 6291641
    Abstract: Antigens are provided which are derived from the enterically transmitted non-A/non-B viral hepatitis agent, known as hepatitis E virus (HEV). The HEV antigens and in particular, a soluble 62 kDa species of the capsid protein encoded by ORF2, are immunoreactive with sera from individuals infected with HEV. The 62K antigen may be produced by a baculovirus expression vector and forms virus-like particles (VLPs). The antigens are useful as diagnostic reagents in diagnostic methods and kits for determining infection of an individual with HEV. The antigens are also useful in vaccine compositions effective in methods for preventing HEV infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Genelabs Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Fuerst, C. Patrick McAtee, Patrice O. Yarbough, Yi-Fan Zhang
  • Method for isolating a C3 binding protein of streptococcus pneumoniae
    Patent number: 6291654
    Abstract: This invention relates to the identification of a human complement C3 binding protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae and to its sequence and to methods for its purification and use. The protein binds but does not degrade or cleave C3 and is implicated in S. pneumoniae virulence. The protein is recognized by antibodies produced by humans recovering from pneumococcal infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Margaret K. Hostetter, Qi Cheng
  • Adenovirus mutants with deleted protease gene
    Patent number: 6291226
    Abstract: An adenovirus vector/packaging cell line system is disclosed, in which the vector replication is blocked by deletion of a single gene, which deletion does not interfere with any other viral functions. The deleted gene is the gene of the adenovirus protease. The protease is expressed in a complementing (packaging) cell line through a regulatable expression cassette which induces no toxic effects in the cells, thus making the generation and propagation of the vector easier and more efficient. As the deleted gene is highly specific of adenovirus, no complementation of the gene in transduced cells is expected, which increases the safety of the new vectors for gene transfer purposes. Also disclosed is a new system of generating recombinant adenovirus vectors by positive selection of recombinants deleted for the endogenous protease gene, which gene is cloned in another region of the adenoviral genome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Bernard Massie, Wahiba Oualikene
  • Herpes virus entry receptor protein
    Patent number: 6291207
    Abstract: The present invention provides isolated and purified polynucleotides that encode HVEM of mammalian origin, expression vectors containing those polynucleotides, host cells transformed with those expression vectors, a process of making HVEM using those polynucleotides and vectors, and isolated and purified HVEM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Patricia G. Spear, Rebecca I. Montgomery
  • DNA virus vectors and methods for their preparation
    Patent number: 6291246
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the preparation of DNA virus vectors capable of replication in eukaryotic as well as in prokaryotic cells as well as to DNA virus vectors prepared by this method. Preferably, the method is used to prepare Epstein-Barr virus vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: GSF Forshungszentrum fur Umwelt und Gesundheit GmbH Ingolstradter
    Inventors: Henri-Jacques Delecluse, Dagmar Pich, Wolfgang Hammerschmidt
  • Western blot test for the identification of antibodies specific against the HCMV virus
    Patent number: 6287760
    Abstract: Diagnostic tool for the identification of anti-HCMV antibodies in human serum. The tool comprises a means of solid support having two sections, a first section bearing a plurality of HCMV proteins (vp) obtained from purified virions concentrated in separate bands forming a predetermined pattern, one of these bands being pp 150 of HCMV; a second section bearing recombinant fusion proteins as controls, at least one band comprising a recombinant fusion protein carrying at least one epitope of pp 150.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Maria P. Landini, Gregory T. Maine, Alessandro Ripalti, Tiziana Lazzarotto
  • Synthetic antigens for the detection of antibodies to hepatitis C virus
    Patent number: 6287761
    Abstract: Peptide sequences are provided which are capable of mimicking proteins encoded by HCV for use as reagents for screening of blood and blood products for prior exposure to HCV. The peptides are at least 5 amino acids long and can be used in various specific assays for the detection of antibodies to HCV, for the detection of HCV antigens, or as immunogens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Innogenetics N.V.
    Inventors: Robert J. Deleys, Dirk Pollet, Geert Maertens, Hugo Van Heuverswijn
  • Diagnostic methods for alzheimer's disease
    Patent number: 6287793
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the identification of key diagnostic antibodies and antigens characteristic of a disease state of interest. Key diagnostic antibodies and antigens, diagnostic kits, and methods for diagnosis, are disclosed for Alzheimer's disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale B. Schenk, Robin M. Barbour, Kelly L. Johnson
  • Treatment of hepatitis C virus infection using a protease and a flavonoid
    Patent number: 6280728
    Abstract: The use of at least one hydrolytic enzyme and at least one flavonoid shows better activity than &agr;-interferon or ribavirin in the treatment of diseases caused by hepatitis C viruses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Mucos Pharma GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Gerhard Stauder, Karl Ransberger
  • Immortalized avian cell lines
    Patent number: 6280970
    Abstract: The invention features non-transformant immortal avian cells, in particular derived from avian tissues, i.e. other than blood or haemotopoietic cells, particularly fibroblasts and epithelial cells, for instance of embryos. The avian cells are immortalized by the SV40 T+t gene in the dependence of the MTI promoter. In particular they integrate the pDAMT vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Institut Naltional de la Recherche Agronomiqe
    Inventors: Jean-François Bouquet, Miloud Benchaïbi, Jacques Samarut, Philippe Desmettre
  • Compositions containing thrombin and microfibrillar collagen and methods for preparation and use thereof
    Patent number: 6280727
    Abstract: The present invention relates to thrombin-containing hemostatic compositions, their preparation and use. In particular, it relates to hemostatic compositions comprising stabilized thrombin and microfibrillar collagen in an aqueous medium. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the compositions are used in a kit comprising two different components, one of which is autologous patient's plasma as the source of fibrinogen, and the other of which is the thrombin-containing composition which also contains microfibrillar collagen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Cohesion Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Prior, Donald G. Wallace, David H. Sierra, Frank A. DeLustro