Patents Examined by James C. Housel
  • Patent number: 6159749
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for chemical and biological analysis, the apparatus having an optical trapping means to manipulate the reaction substrate, and a measurement means. The optical trapping means is essentially a laser source capable of emitting a beam of suitable wavelength (e.g., Nd:YAG laser). The beam impinges upon a dielectric microparticle (e.g., a 5 micron polystyrene bead which serves as a reaction substrate), and the bead is thus confined at the focus of the laser beam by a radial component of the gradient force. Once "trapped," the bead can be moved, either by moving the beam focus, or by moving the reaction chamber. In this manner, the bead can be transferred among separate reaction wells connected by microchannels to permit reactions with the reagent affixed to the bead, and the reagents contained in the individual wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventor: Yagang Liu
  • Patent number: 6159698
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to assays for the detection of mycophenolic acid. The method comprises including in an assay medium suspected of containing mycophenolic acid a releasing agent for releasing mycophenolic acid from a complex with endogenous proteins. Another aspect of the present invention is an improvement in a method for the determination of mycophenolic acid in a sample suspected of containing such analyte. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing in combination in an assay medium the sample and a binding partner for the analyte and (b) detecting the binding of the binding partner to the analyte. The improvement comprises including in the assay medium a releasing agent for releasing mycophenolic acid from a complex with endogenous proteins. The present invention also provides assay reagents as well as packaged kits useful for performing the methods of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Dade Behring Marburg GmbH
    Inventors: Mark A. Staples, Richard F. Parrish
  • Patent number: 6159689
    Abstract: Methods of capturing and labeling a species, include attracting magnetically attractable particles to a solid support by magnetic forces, which particles have an affinity for the species, contacting the particles on the support with a sample containing the species to capture the species onto the particles on the support, and binding the species captured on the particles directly or indirectly to a detectable label before and/or whilst the species is captured on the particles on the support. The label may be bound to the captured species via an immunological binding partner which binds selectively to the species and may be a fluorescent label, luminescent label, enzyme label, dye label, phosphorescent label, metal-chelating label, radio label, spin label, heavy metal label, nucleic acid or nucleic acid analog hybridization label, avid or avid-like label suitably bound to or incorporated in particles which also bear a binding agent such as an antibody causing the particles to bind to the captured species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Genera Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Adrian Parton
  • Patent number: 6159469
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel vaccines for the prevention or attenuation of infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae. The invention further relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding antigenic polypeptides of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Antigenic polypeptides are also provided, as are vectors, host cells and recombinant methods for producing the same. The invention additionally relates to diagnostic methods for detecting Streptococcus nucleic acids, polypeptides and antibodies in a biological sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Human Genome Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Gil H. Choi, Charles A. Kunsch, Steven C. Barash, Patrick J. Dillon, Brian Dougherty, Michael R. Fannon, Craig A. Rosen
  • Patent number: 6156525
    Abstract: A method of judging the eradication of H. pylori to judge whether the sample is positive or negative through a quick and easily operation is provided. A PG I value and a PG II value in the body fluids (e.g., in the blood) of an H. pylori positive patient are measured before the H. pylori eradicating treatment and after the passage of a period in which a substantially significant result occurs from the eradicating treatment, a PG I/PG II ratio in the body fluids (e.g., in the blood) is found, a rate of change in the PG I/PG II ratio in the body fluids (e.g., in the blood) is found before the H. pylori eradicating treatment and after the passage of the period in which a substantially significant result occurs from the eradicating treatment, and the change in the PG I/PG II ratio is used as a marker to indicate that H. pylori is eradicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventor: Takahisa Furuta
  • Patent number: 6156521
    Abstract: The invention relates in part to methods and compositions for identifying the presence, measuring the amount, stabilizing, and facilitating recovery of troponin complexes or individual troponin isoforms in a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Biosite Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Buechler, Paul H. McPherson
  • Patent number: 6153194
    Abstract: The present invention presents three B. burgdorferi membrane proteins: Oms28, Oms45, and Oms66, each of about 28, 45, and 66 kDa respectively; and with average single channel conductances of about 0.6, 0.22, and 9.7 nS, respectively. Also disclosed are the methods for purifying these proteins from B. burgdorferi, methods for producing antibodies to these proteins, and the resulting antibodies. These proteins and their immunogenic fragments, and antibodies capable of binding to them are useful for inducing an immune response to pathogenic B. burgdorferi as well as providing a diagnostic target for Lyme disease. Further disclosed are the nucleotide and amino acid sequences, the cloning of the genes encoding the proteins and their recombinant proteins, and methods for obtaining the foregoing. Other B. burgdorferi outer membrane spanning proteins (Oms) obtainable by the isolation and purification methods of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jonathan T. Skare, Ellen S. Shang, Cheryl I. Champion, David R. Blanco, James N. Miller, Michael A. Lovett, Tajib A. Mirzabekov, Bruce L. Kagan, Paul Tempst, Denise M. Foley
  • Patent number: 6153390
    Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid encoding an approximately 120-128 kilodalton antigen of Helicobacter pylori, or an antigenic fragment thereof, wherein the antigen is associated with peptic ulceration. The present invention also provides methods of detecting the presence of a Helicobacter pylori strain possessing the 120-128 kilodalton antigen in a subject, comprising the steps of contacting an antibody-containing sample from the subject with a detectable amount of the tagA antigen or antigenic polypeptide of the present invention and detecting the binding of the antigen or fragment and the antibody. The detection of a strain expressing the TagA antigen is an indication of predisposition to peptic ulceration and gastric carcinoma. A mutant H. pylori not expressing a functional TagA antigen is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Timothy L. Cover, Martin J. Blaser, Harry Kleanthous, Murali K. R. Tummuru
  • Patent number: 6153202
    Abstract: Methods for the safe and effective live in ovo vaccination of eyed eggs of catfish against enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC) were created through the use of rifampicin resistant native E. ictaluri isolates; these including rifampicin-resistant strain ATCC 202058 of Edwardsiella ictaluri originally isolated from the walking catfish Clarius batrachus from Thailand. Single immersion exposure of eyed eggs of catfish stimulated strong acquired immunity against many isolates of E. ictaluri without the need for booster immunization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Phillip H. Klesius, Craig A. Shoemaker, Joyce J. Evans
  • Patent number: 6153192
    Abstract: A peptide according to the present invention is not more than 40 amino acids long and contains a sequence which is at least 6 amino acids long from the amino acid partial sequence between the amino acids 144 and 183 of human .alpha.1-microglobulin or/and a sequence which is at least 6 amino acids long from the amino acid partial sequence between the amino acids 1 and 20 of human .alpha.1-microglobulin.An antibody according to the present invention is capable of specific binding to a peptide according to the present invention as well as to human .alpha.1-microglobulin.In order to determine human .alpha.1-microglobulin in a sample liquid by an immunoassay, the sample liquid is brought into contact simultaneously or sequentially with defined amounts of the components antibody and peptide whereby one of the components is labelled and the determination is carried out by means of this label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Boehringer Mannheim GmbH
    Inventors: Erhard Kopetzki, Christian Klein, Dieter Mangold, Werner Stock, Reiner Schlipfenbacher
  • Patent number: 6150501
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of these cyclophilins, hereinafter referred to as `tyrosine-containing` cyclophilins, in a method for identifying compounds capable of binding to and/or inhibiting the enzymatic activity of these proteins. Such compounds may be further screened for their ability to inhibit parasites which are not susceptible to the anti-parasitic effects of CsA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: New England Biolabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Clotilde K. S. Carlow, Xiqiang Hong, Dong Ma
  • Patent number: 6150114
    Abstract: A method for determining the amount of an antiplatelet compound in a subject being treated with the compound which comprises calculating the ACT number of the subject's blood containing a reagent which immunoreacts with the antiplatelet compound and comparing the figure to a standardized concentration figure. In subjects concurrently being treated with heparin and antiplatelet compounds, the method can be practiced without additional heparin added to the blood sample. The invention also provides reagents which immunoreact with antiplatelet compounds and kits comprising immunoreactive reagents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: G. D. Searle & Co.
    Inventors: Larry P. Feigen, Christopher P. Carron, Neal F. Haas, Debra M. Meyer, Jimmy D. Page, Jodi A. Pegg
  • Patent number: 6150122
    Abstract: The present invention provides a kit for the improved method for detection of panel-reactive antibodies in serum of a subject against HLA Class I antigens, which comprises an array of microbeads, each microbead presenting HLA antigens from a cell population presenting the same HLA antigens. In the method, serum from a subject is added to said array of microbeads then the mixture is incubated for a sufficient time for anti-HLA antibodies in the serum to bind to the HLA antigens presented on the microbeads. After removing serum components which do not specifically bind with the HLA antigens presented on said microbeads, the microbeads are incubated with a labeled ligand capable of specifically binding with anti-HLA antibodies bound to said HLA antigens. The labeled ligand which is not bound to said HLA antigens are removed and the presence of labeled ligand bound to said HLA antigens are detected by flow cytometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: One Lambada
    Inventors: Jar-How Lee, Rui Pei
  • Patent number: 6149919
    Abstract: An immunogenic detoxified protein comprising the amino acid sequence of subunit A of cholera toxin (CT-A) or subunit A of an Escherichia coli heat labile toxin (LT-A) or a fragment thereof wherein one or more amino acids at, or in positions corresponding to Val-53, Ser-63, Val-97, Tyr-104 or Pro-106 are replaced with another amino acid or deleted. Examples of specific replacements include Val-53-Asp, Val-53-Glu, Val-53-Tyr, Ser-63-Lys, Val-97-Lys, Val-97-Tyr, Tyr-104-Lys, Tyr-104-Asp, Tyr-104-Ser, Pro-106-Ser. The immunogenic detoxified protein is useful as vaccine for Vibrio cholerae or an enterotoxigenic strain of Escherichia coli and is produced by recombinant DNA means by site-directed mutagenesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Biocine S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Domenighini, Rino Rappuoli, Mariagrazia Pizza, Wim Hol
  • Patent number: 6146635
    Abstract: The present invention relates to biotechnology and genetic engineering, particularly the expression of proteins of viral origin in microorganisms through their fusion, by applying the recombinant DNA technology, to bacterial peptides. The present invention provides an efficient process for the expression in Escherichia coli of heterologous proteins as fusion polypeptides with a view to obtaining them with a high degree of purity, in commercially useful amounts, and in an appropriate form for their inclusion in vaccine preparations intended to human use. To this effect, what is essentially used is a stabilizing sequence derived from the first 47 amino acids of the antigen P64k of Neisseria meningitidis B:4:P1.15. In particular, use is made of a recombinant plasmid containing said sequence, under the control of the tryptophane promotor of E.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Centro de Ingenieria Genetica Y Biotecnologia
    Inventors: Carlos Antonio Durate Cano, Enrique Gerardo Guillen Nieto, Anabel Alvarez Acosta, Luis Emilio Carpio Munoz, Diogenes Quintana Vazquez, Carmen Elena Gomez Rodriquez, Recardo de la Caridid Siva Rodriguez, Consuelo Nazabal Galvez, Maria De Jesus Leal Angulo, Alejandro Miguel Martin Dunn
  • Patent number: 6146589
    Abstract: An assay device for detecting the presence of an analyte in a sample, wherein a visible signal indicative of the presence or absence of said analyte is produced at a detection site on a support, characterised in that said signal is generated or enhanced by means of a signal enhancement reaction between a labelled first binding reagent which is labelled and a label developing means, which are arranged to be delivered to the detection site in a single assay step but in a sequential manner such that the first binding reagent arrives at the detection site ahead of the label developing means. The sequential delivery of the reagents to the detection site is provided by techniques such as liquidic circuits, slow release agents, and others. Methods of carrying out assays and kits for use in the assays form a further aspect of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: British Biocell International Limited
    Inventor: John Anthony Chandler
  • Patent number: 6146902
    Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are a method for the purification of polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines by ultrafiltration in a saturated solution of ammonium sulfate. The ultrafiltration method of the present invention provides an efficient, readily scalable method for removal of unbound polysaccharides from polysaccharide-protein vaccines, thereby improving the purity and consistency of the polysaccharide-protein vaccines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Aventis Pasteur, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald McMaster
  • Patent number: 6143505
    Abstract: The instant invention provides for the identification, diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of invasive cells using the laminin 5 gamma-2 chain protein or nucleic acid sequence, or antibodies thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Inventors: Karl Tryggvason, Pekka Kallunki, Charles Pyke
  • Patent number: 6143537
    Abstract: A method for stabilizing analyses with antibodies and antibody fragments comprises dissolving the analyte in a liquid to form a solution, adding analyte-specific antibodies, fragments of such antibodies, or both to the solution, heating the solution, and then cooling and filtering the solution. The filtered solution may be diluted in a suitable matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Medical Analysis Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Shing F. Kwan, Ivan E. Modrovich, Rebecca J. Hunt
  • Patent number: 6143574
    Abstract: A method of determining affinity and kinetic properties for the solution interaction between an analyte and a binding partner therefor, which method comprises: (a) mixing a solution of said analyte with a solution of said binding partner, contacting the resulting reaction solution with (i) immobilised binding partner, or analogue, for said analyte, and/or (ii) immobilised analyte, or analogue, and monitoring the binding of said analyte and/or binding partner in said reaction solution to the respective immobilised species to determine the variation with time of the concentration of free analyte and/or binding partner in said solution; and/or (b) contacting a solution of the reaction complex of said analyte and a binding partner therefor with (i) immobilised binding partner, or analogue, and/or (ii) immobilised analyte, or analogue, and monitoring the binding of said analyte and/or binding partner in said reaction complex solution to the respective immobilised species to determine the variation with time of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Biacore AB
    Inventors: Robert Karlsson, Stefan Lof.ang.s, Ralf W. Glaser