Patents Examined by Gary Benzion
  • Patent number: 8012719
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method for the quantitative detection of HHV-6 subtypes A and/or B based on the use of a calibrator, suitable primers and probes, and a nucleic acid polymerase with 5?-3? nuclease activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventors: Paolo Lusso, Mauro Malnati, Giulia Cassina
  • Patent number: 8012718
    Abstract: The invention is generally directed to a physiogenomic method for predicting diabetes and metabolic syndromes induced by psychotropic drugs. In one embodiment, the invention relates to the use of genetic variants of marker genes to predict the likelihood that an individual will experience undesirable metabolic side effects as a result of the use of a drug including, but not limited to, psychotropic drugs. The invention also relates to methods predicting the likelihood of diabetes and metabolic syndromes induced by the use of drugs with undesirable metabolic side effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Genomas, Inc.
    Inventors: Gualberto Ruano, Andreas Windemuth, John W. Goethe
  • Patent number: 8012720
    Abstract: A protein detecting device, which comprises: (1) a detecting unit having a bonding section, which has properties for specifically bonding to a protein to be detected, a detecting section for detecting the bonding of the protein to be detected to the bonding section, the detecting section being made up of a polynucleotide double strand and a charge separating group, and an electrode section detecting the change in electrical conductivity of, or amount of transferred charge in, the polynucleotide double strand modified by the bond of the protein, (2) a standard electrode, (3) a reference electrode, (4) a container for housing the detecting unit, the standard electrode and the reference electrode, and containing a sample solutions comprising the protein to be detected, and (5) a measuring unit for measuring the protein based on a signal detected in the detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Shozo Fujita, Shunsaku Takeishi, Tsuyoshi Fujihara
  • Patent number: 7998707
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for rapid, reliable and simple isolation of RNA, DNA and proteins from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples. RNA purified in this manner can be used to monitor gene expression levels. The tissue sample can be a tumor or other pathological tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Kathleen D. Danenberg, Peter V. Danenberg, Steven Swenson
  • Patent number: 7989186
    Abstract: Disclosed are oligonucleotides useful in methods for determining whether a sample contains Cryptococcus neoformans, a causative agent for human cryptococcosis. These oligonucleotides, which have nucleotide sequences derived from a coding segment of the gene encoding the fungal specific transcription factor gene in Cryptococcus neoformans, are useful as forward and reverse primers for a polymerase chain reaction using nucleic acids from a biological sample as templates, and as probes for detecting any resultant amplicon. Detection of an amplicon indicates the sample contains Cryptococcus neoformans. Real-time PCR and detection using florescence resonance energy transfer is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Melanie Feola, Martin Adelson, Eli Mordechai, John Entwistle
  • Patent number: 7960147
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for rapid, reliable and simple isolation of RNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples. RNA purified in this manner can be used for quantitative measurement gene expression levels. The tissue sample can be a tumor or other pathological tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Kathleen D Danenberg, Peter V Danenberg, Steven Swenson
  • Patent number: 7955822
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to methods for detecting a target nucleic acid and a target protein in a single assay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Predictive Biosciences Corp.
    Inventors: Anthony P. Shuber, Eugene Chiu
  • Patent number: 7951563
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide methods, nucleic acids and kits for detecting, or for detecting and distinguishing between or among liver cell proliferative disorders or for detecting, or for detecting and distinguishing between or among colorectal cell proliferative disorders. Particular aspects disclose and provide genomic sequences the methylation patterns of which have substantial utility for the improved detection of and differentiation between said class of disorders, thereby enabling the improved diagnosis and treatment of patients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Epigenomics AG
    Inventors: Juergen Distler, Thomas Hildmann, Ralf Lesche, Catherine Lofton-Day, Fabian Model, Matthias Schuster, Andrew Z. Sledziewski, Reimo Tetzner, Xiaoling Song
  • Patent number: 7943347
    Abstract: Provided is a simple and highly sensitive nucleic acid amplification method including hybridizing two types of oligonucleotide probes with a target gene and ligating the oligonucleotide probes with DNA ligase and amplifying the resultant single-stranded oligonucleotide in accordance with LAMP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Chihiro Uematsu, Yukie Nakashima, Toshiyuki Hatano
  • Patent number: 7939264
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for determining the sequence of a polynucleotide, the method relying on the detection of a conformational change in an enzyme that interacts with and processes along the polynucleotide. The detection of a conformational change may be carried out by measuring changes in a fluorophore bound to the enzyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated
    Inventor: Daniel Henry Densham
  • Patent number: 7932037
    Abstract: Encoded bead multiplex assays for chromosomal gains and losses are provided that provide the benefits of complex, large template DNA sources, such as BAC DNA, as the probe material without bead networking or other assay performance problems. Reagents for assaying DNA are described herein which include a plurality of encoded particles having attached amplicons amplified from a template DNA sequence. Each individual attached amplicon includes a nucleic acid sequence identical to a random portion of the template DNA sequence, wherein the amplicons together represent substantially the entire template DNA and wherein the nucleic acid sequence identical to a random portion of the template DNA sequence of each individual amplicon is shorter than the entire template DNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Edwin Adler, Mack J. Schermer
  • Patent number: 7919280
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for rapid, reliable and simple isolation of RNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples. RNA purified in this manner can be used to monitor gene expression levels. The tissue sample can be a tumor or other pathological tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Kathleen Danenberg, Peter V. Danenberg, Steven Swenson
  • Patent number: 7919238
    Abstract: Alternatively spliced RNA, along with their normally-spliced counterparts, can be rapidly identified by hybridizing cDNA from normal tissue to cDNA from an abnormal or test tissue. The two cDNA populations are separately tagged prior to hybridization, which allows isolation of double-stranded cDNA containing both normal and alternatively spliced molecules. Within this population, pairing of cDNA molecules representing an alternatively spliced mRNA with cDNA molecules representing the counterpart normally spliced mRNA will form double-stranded cDNA with single-stranded mismatched regions. The mismatched double-stranded cDNA are isolated with reagents that bind single-stranded nucleic acids. The strands of each mismatched double-stranded cDNA are then coupled and analyzed, simultaneously identifying both normal and alternatively spliced molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventor: Albert J. Wong
  • Patent number: 7906280
    Abstract: The present invention describes methods for the production and use of single chain (single-stranded) fluorescence resonance energy transfer (“FRET”) DNA or RNA aptamers containing fluorophores (F) and quenchers (Q) at various loci within their structures, such that when its specific matching analyte is bound and the FRET-aptamers are excited by specific wavelengths of light, the fluorescence intensity of the system is modulated (increased or decreased) in proportion to the amount of analyte added. F and Q are covalently linked to nucleotide triphosphates (NTPs), which are incorporated by various nucleic acid polymerases such as Taq polymerase during the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then selected by affinity chromatographic, size-exclusion or molecular sieving, and fluorescence techniques. Further separation of related FRET-aptamers can be achieved by ion-pair reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or other types of chromatography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Inventors: John G. Bruno, Joseph Chanpong
  • Patent number: 7892734
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aptamer-based calorimetric sensor system for determining the presence and optionally the concentration of an analyte in a sample. Methods of utilizing the sensor system and kits that include the sensor also are provided. The sensor utilizes a linker and oligonucleotide functionalized particles to form an aggregate, which disaggregates in response to the analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Yi Lu, Juewen Liu
  • Patent number: 7883871
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to compositions and methods useful for the amplification of nucleic acid molecules by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Specifically, the invention provides compositions and methods for the amplification of nucleic acid molecules in a simplified one- or two-step RT-PCR procedure using combinations of reverse transcriptase and thermostable DNA polymerase enzymes in conjunction with sulfur-containing molecules or acetate-containing molecules (or combinations of such sulfur-containing molecules and acetate-containing molecules), and optionally bovine serum albumin. The invention thus facilitates the rapid and efficient amplification of nucleic acid molecules and the detection and quantitation of RNA molecules. The invention also is useful in the rapid production and amplification of cDNAs which may be used for a variety of industrial, medical and forensic purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jun E. Lee, Ayoub Rashtchian
  • Patent number: 7875442
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method conducting real-time PCR. Unlabeled capture molecules of a specific design are immobilized on a solid support, and contacted with amplicons produced in one or more PCR cycles. Detection of amplicons may take place during or between the PCR cycles while the solid support is in fluidic contact with the PCR solution. In an alternate embodiment detection of the amplicons takes place when the solid support is not in fluidic contact with the PCR solution. The method is suitable for the simultaneous detection and quantification of closely homologous target molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Eppendorf Array Technologies
    Inventors: Isabelle Alexandre, Sylvain Margaine, Dieter Husar, Nathalie Zammatteo, Heinz Koehn, José Remacle
  • Patent number: 7851184
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a droplet-based nucleic acid amplification method and apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignees: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc., Duke University
    Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Philip Y. Paik, Vamsee K. Pamula
  • Patent number: 7846657
    Abstract: A pair of oligonucleotide probes comprising a first oligonucleotide probe that comprises a first clamp section that is capable of hybridising to a second clamp section of a second oligonucleotide probe and a first target section that is capable of hybridising to a first section of a target DNA sequence to be detected, a second oligonucleotide probe that comprises a second clamp section that is capable of hybridising to the first clamp section of the first oligonucleotide probe and a second target section that is capable of hybridising to a second section of the target DNA sequence to be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Keygene N.V.
    Inventor: Michael Josephus Theresia Van Eijk
  • Patent number: 7842482
    Abstract: Disclosed is a non-invasive method for diagnosis, prognosis or monitoring of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated cancer by detecting and/or quantifying EBV associated nucleic acid fragments in a urine sample from an individual. Kits for diagnosis, prognosis or monitoring of cancer are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Yuk Ming Dennis Lo, Kwan Chee Allen Chan