Patents Examined by James Housel
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Patent number: 7037508Abstract: The present invention is directed to attenuated pestivirus mutants, which have a reduced ability to replicate as exhibited by a small plaque size. The mutations are in the 5? nontranslated region of the viral genome. These mutant viruses are useful as live vaccines in the control of bovine viral diarrhea, border disease and classical swine fever.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2001Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Akzo Nobel NVInventors: Heinz-Jürgen Thiel, Paul P. Becher, Michaela M. Orlich
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Patent number: 7038030Abstract: The subject invention provides polynucleotide sequences, designated BIVM, and transcriptional/translational products obtained from the polynucleotide sequences of the invention. The subject invention also provides polynucleotide and polypeptide sequences provided by SEQ ID NOs:1–28. Also provided are methods of detecting the presence of BIVM nucleic acids or polypeptides in samples suspected of containing BIVM genes, BIVM transcriptional products, or BIVM translational products. These methods are also useful for the detection of BIVM orthologs. Other embodiments provide polypeptide and/or nucleic acid vaccines for the induction of an immune response to in an individual. Kits for detecting the presence of BIVM genes, orthologs thereof, BIVM polypeptides, or BIVM transcriptional products are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2003Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: University of South FloridaInventors: Gary W. Litman, Noel A. Hawke, Jeffrey A. Yoder, Donna D. Eason
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Patent number: 7037682Abstract: The present invention provides an in vitro activity assay for human hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA polymerase, which comprises using, as the 5? oligonucleotide in PCR amplification of HBV DNA polymerase from a sample, an oligonucleotide into which has been incorporated the SP6 viral polymerase promoter, directly transcribing and translating the PCR products in the presence of a radio-labelled agent and measuring the priming of the HBV DNA polymerase. The present invention also provides the use of such an assay to assay activity of various serum samples, to screen for inhibitors of the HBV DNA polymerase and to test and/or screen potential anti-HBV drugs for their ability to inhibit DNA priming activity of human HBV DNA polymerase.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2002Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Government of the Republic of SingaporeInventors: Chong Jin Oon, Wei Ning Chen, Gek Keow Lim, Ai Lin Leong
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Patent number: 7038029Abstract: Oligonucleotides containing the non-palindromic sequence motif: X1X2X3X4X5X6X7X8, wherein X1 is C,T,G or A (preferably T or C); wherein X2 is C,T,G or A; wherein X7 is C,T,G or A (preferably G); at least three, and preferably all, of X3, X4, X5, X6 and X8 are T; and with the proviso that, in the motif, a C does not precede a G (in other terms, the nucleic acid motif does not consist of a CpG oligonucleotide), that modulate the immune response of animals of the order Primate, including humans, are disclosed. This immune modulation is characterized by stimulation of proliferation, differentiation, cytokine production and antibody production on B-cells and cell differentiation on plasmacytoid dendritic cells.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2002Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Immunotech S.A.Inventor: Ricardo Agustin Lopez
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Patent number: 7030234Abstract: Retroviral strains of the non-M, non-O HIV-1 group, in particular a strain designated YBF30, its fragments and also its uses as a diagnostic reagent and as an immunogenic agent. The HIV-1 viruses which differ both from the M group and the O group exhibit the following characteristics: little or no serological reactivity with regard to the proteins of the M and O groups and strong serological reactivity with regard to the proteins which are derived from the strain YBF30 according to the invention or the strain CPZGAB SIV; absence of genomic amplification when using primers from the env and gag regions of the M and O HIV-1 groups; genomic amplification in the presence of primers which are derived from the YBF30 strain according to the invention; and homology of the products of the envelope gene which is greater than 70% with regard to the YBF30 strain.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2002Date of Patent: April 18, 2006Assignees: Institute National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale-Inserm, Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris, Institute PasteurInventors: Phillippe Mauclere, Ibtissam Loussert-Ajaka, Francois Simon, Sentob Saragosti, Francoise Barre-Sinoussi
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Patent number: 7026443Abstract: This invention uses our knowledge of the mechanisms by which antigen is recognized by T cells to identify and prepare human papillomavirus (HPV) epitopes, and to develop epitope-based vaccines directed towards HPV. More specifically, this application communicates our discovery of pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use in the prevention and treatment of HPV infection.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2000Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Epimmune Inc.Inventors: Alessandro Sette, John Sidney, Scott Southwood, Robert Chesnut, Esteban Celis, Howard M. Grey
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Patent number: 7026113Abstract: The invention provides an equine infectious anemia (EIA) vaccine that provides immunity to mammals, especially equines, from infection with equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) and which allows differentiation between vaccinated and non-vaccinated, but exposed, mammals or equines. Preferably said vaccine encompasses at least one mutation in an EIAV which produces a non-functional gene in the vaccine virus that is always expressed in disease-producing wild-type EIA viruses. Additionally, said EIA vaccine virus cannot cause clinical disease in mammals or spread or shed to other mammals including equines.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2002Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Akzo Nobel N.V.Inventors: Ronald Montelaro, Bridget Puffer, Feng Li, Charles Issel, Kristina J. Hennessy, Karen K. Brown
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Patent number: 7026137Abstract: A screening method of identifying a compound for treating hepatitis. Also disclosed is a method for evaluating responsiveness of a subject having hepatitis to a drug.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2004Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Chang Gung UniversityInventor: Chau-Ting Yeh
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Patent number: 7026457Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for purifying recombinant HCV single or specific oligomeric envelope proteins selected from the group consisting of E1 and/or E1/E2 characterized in that upon lysing the transformed host cells to isolate the recombinantly expressed protein a disulphide bond cleavage or reduction step is carried out with a disulphide bond cleavage agent. The present invention also relates to a composition isolated by such a method. The present invention also relates to the diagnostic and therapeutic application of these compositions. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of HCV E1 protein and peptides for prognosing and monitoring the clinical effectiveness and/or clinical outcome of HCV treatment.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2001Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Innogenetics N.V.Inventors: Geert Maertens, Fons Bosman, Guy De Martynoff, Marie Ange Buyse
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Patent number: 7022830Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to the discovery of a novel hepatitis C virus (HCV) isolate. Embodiments include HCV peptides, nucleic acids encoding said HCV peptides, antibodies directed to said peptides, compositions containing said nucleic acids and peptides, as well as methods of making and using the aforementioned compositions including, but not limited to, diagnostics and medicaments for the treatment and prevention of HCV infection.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2002Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Tripep ABInventor: Matti Sallberg
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Patent number: 7022496Abstract: The present invention provides a modified adenovirus comprising genomic adenoviral DNA which has been modified so that (i) the only gene product of the early region (E4) that is expressed is open reading frame 6 (ORF-6), (ii) neither the gene product of the E1A region nor the gene product of the E1B region is expressed, and (iii) no other early or late gene products are expressed. The present invention also provides methods of inhibiting repair of breaks in double-stranded DNA in a cell, preventing concatamerization of linear wild-type adenoviral DNA, inhibiting V(D)J recombination of nucleic acid sequences encoding immunoglobulins, preventing apoptosis, and preventing and treating cancer.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2001Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: The Johns Hopkins UniversityInventors: Gary Ketner, Julie L. Boyer
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Patent number: 7018807Abstract: A microbe-specific medium for detection of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci in a test sample within 24 hours and preferably within 18 hours. The testing medium provides a selective growth medium for vancomycin-resistant Enterococci and includes specific nutrient indicators which only the target microbe can significantly metabolize and use for growth. The nutrient indicator contain a nutrient moiety and a detectable moiety linked together by a covalent bond. The nutrient indicators produce detectable signals only if the nutrient indicators are hydrolyzed by the Enterococci specific enzymes including ?-glucosidase and pyrrolidonyl arylamidase.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2002Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Chung-Ming Chen, Stephen C. Edberg
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Patent number: 7018826Abstract: The present invention relates to particles, comprising: a protein envelope with a fusion protein, which comprises a virus protein, a cell permeability-mediating peptide and a heterologous cell-specific binding site; and a nucleic acid present in the protein envelope, which comprises the sequence for a virus-specific packaging signal and a structural gene. The invention further relates to methods for the preparation of such particles and means suitable for this purpose, as well as the use of the particles in gene therapy.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2000Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: Island Pharmaceuticals Ltd.Inventors: Eberhard Hildt, Peter Hofschneider
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Patent number: 7018627Abstract: The present invention provides purified and isolated polynucleotide sequences encoding a novel macrophage-derived C—C chemokine designated “Macrophage Derived Chemokine” (MDC), and polypeptide fragments and analogs thereof. Also provided are materials and methods for the recombinant or synthetic production of the chemokine, fragments, and analogs; and purified and isolated chemokine protein, and polypeptide fragments and analogs thereof. Also provided are antibodies reactive with the chemokine and methods of making and using all of the foregoing. Also provided are assays for identifying modulators of MDC chemokine activity.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1998Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: Icos CorporationInventors: Patrick W. Gray, David H. Chantry, Michael C. Deeley, Carol J. Raport, Ronald Godiska
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Patent number: 7014847Abstract: The present invention pertains to methods for preventing reovirus recognition in the treatment of cellular proliferative disorders, and particularly ras-mediated cellular proliferative disorders, in mammals. The method comprises suppressing or otherwise inhibiting the immune system of the mammal and, concurrently or subsequently, administering to the proliferating cells an effective amount of one or more reoviruses under conditions which result in substantial lysis of the proliferating cells. The methods may include the selective removal of immune constituents that may interfere with the systemic delivery of the virus; preventing reovirus recognition by the host immune system; and removal of the virus from an immune suppressed or immune incompetent host following treatment with reovirus. Alternatively, reovirus may be administered to a mammal with a diminished immune response system under conditions which result in substantial lysis of the proliferating cells.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2003Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Oncolytics Biotech Inc.Inventors: Matthew C. Coffey, Bradley G. Thompson
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Patent number: 7015025Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing virus RNA polymerases of RNA viruses, more specifically, virus RNA polymerases of RNA viruses free of virus genomic RNA. The methods described in this invention includes the procedures for preparation of cDNAs for the genes for the component proteins of RNA polymerase of an RNA virus, incorporation of the cDNA into baculovirus genome to construct recombinant virus, and the infection of insect cells with the recombinant virus to express RNA polymerase. In this method, it is recommended that all species of the recombinant viruses, each of which is designed for expressing each of the above-mentioned component protein genes of RNA polymerase, are coinfected into insect cells. Thus, cDNA is prepared for each of the component proteins of RNA polymerase and incorporated into baculovirus genome to construct recombinant virus for independently expressing the corresponding protein. In addition, the RNA viruses described above include influenza virus especially.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2001Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Japan Science and Technology AgencyInventors: Ayae Honda, Akira Ishihama
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Patent number: 7008621Abstract: The present invention provides a mechanism for studies of apoptosis in aquatic organisms by infecting the aquatic organisms with aquabirnavirus, especially infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV). The infection of IPNV in an aquatic cell such as a Chinook salmon embryo cell (CHSE-214) converts the cell into an apoptotic cell. The present invention also provides a method for monitoring the morphological changes during apoptosis by cloning EGFP (a variant type of GFP) to an aquatic cell and monitoring the fluorescence using microscopic techniques. The intensity of the fluorescence reflects the expression of EGFP in cells. Finally, the present invention provides means for inducing or preventing/rescuing apoptosis in a host, which include aquatic and vertebrate. The apoptosis can be induced by IPNV infection or VP3 transfection that VP3 is a 32 kDa protein derived from IPNV segment A. The apoptosis can be prevented or rescued by an antisense VP3 RNA or a zfMcl-1a protein.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2003Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: Academia SinicaInventors: Jen-Leih Wu, Jiann-Ruey Hong
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Patent number: 7008622Abstract: A composition which elicits antibodies to greater than 95%, and even greater than 99%, of the known variants of HIV-1 Tat protein contains at least one peptide or polypeptide of the formula of Epitope I (based on amino acids 2-10 of HIV-1 Tat consensus sequence) and optionally one or more of a peptide or polypeptide of Epitope II (based on amino acids 41 to 51 of that sequence), of Epitope III (based on amino acids 52-62 of that sequence), or of Epitope IV (based on amino acids 62 through 72 of that sequence with a C-terminal Pro). Vaccinal and pharmaceutical compositions can contain the antibodies induced by the peptide compositions for use in passive therapy. Diagnostic compositions and uses are described for assessing the immune status of vaccinated patients.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2002Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: Thymon, L.L.C.Inventor: Gideon Goldstein
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Patent number: 7005131Abstract: The present invention relates to the identification of a subunit vaccine to prevent or treat infection of Epstein Barr Virus. In particular, EBNA-1 was identified as a vaccine antigen. In a specific embodiment, a purified protein corresponding to EBNA-1 elicited a strong CD4+ T cell response. The responsive CD4+ T cell are primarily TH1 in function. EBNA-1 is an attractive candidate for a protective vaccine against EBV, and for immunotherapy of EBV infection and neoplasms, particularly with dendritic cells charged with EBNA-1.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2000Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: The Rockefeller UniversityInventors: Ralph M. Steinman, Christian Muenz
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Patent number: 6995006Abstract: This invention provides methods and compositions for producing high titer, substantially purified preparations of recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) that can be used as vectors for gene delivery. At the onset of vector production, AAV producer cells of this invention typically comprise one or more AAV packaging genes, an AAV vector comprising a heterologous (i.e. non-AAV) transgene of interest, and a helper virus such as an adenovirus. The AAV vector preparations produced are generally replication incompetent but are capable of mediating delivery of a transgene of interest (such as a therapeutic gene) to any of a wide variety of tissues and cells. The AAV vector preparations produced according to this invention are also substantially free of helper virus as well as helper viral and cellular proteins and other contaminants. The invention described herein provides methods of producing rAAV particles by culturing producer cells under conditions, such as temperature and pH, that promote release of virus.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2001Date of Patent: February 7, 2006Assignee: Targeted Genetics CorporationInventors: Edward M. Atkinson, Victor P. Fung, Perry C. Wilkins, Ryan K. Takeya, Thomas C. Reynolds, Ian L. Aranha