Abstract: Compounds and methods for determining transmembrane potential, monitoring changes in transmembrane potential, and/or drug screening are provided. In one aspect, compounds of the invention have a structure according to the formula: E-M-A, wherein A is a fluorophore, selected from xanthenes, coumarins, cyanines, bimanes, and difluoroboradizaindacenes, charged at physiological pH; M is a molecular wire; and E is a hydrophobic moiety, wherein A and E are capable of being involved in a photo-induced, intramolecular electron transfer that quenches the fluorescence of A in response to a voltage condition. When in use, compounds of the invention are membrane-impermeant and oriented within the cell membrane such that the charged moiety localizes at the outer leaflet of the lipid bilayer and the hydrophobic moiety and molecular wire associate with the hydrophobic portion of the lipid bilayer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 21, 2012
Date of Patent:
May 16, 2017
Assignee:
The Regents of the University of California
Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for inducing desired activity in enzymes or microorganisms capable of producing the enzymes. The invention is further directed to methods of stabilizing activity in microorganisms. In specific embodiments, the invention provides methods for inducing and stabilizing nitrile hydratase activity, amidase activity, and asparaginase I activity. The invention further provides compositions comprising enzymes or microorganisms having induced and/or stabilized activity.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 2, 2012
Date of Patent:
March 28, 2017
Assignee:
Georgia State University Research Foundation, Inc.
Inventors:
George E. Pierce, Gene K. Drago, Sangeeta Ganguly
Abstract: The present disclosure provides charged lipoprotein complexes that include as one component a negatively charged phospholipid that is expected to impart the complexes with improved therapeutic properties.
Abstract: The present invention provides a lipase powder composition which comprises a filter aid(s) and a product obtained by pulverizing a Thermomyces sp.-derived lipase immobilized to a silica carrier(s) into the average particle diameter of 1 ?m or more and less than 300 ?m. This lipase powder composition improves the lipase activity and operability and, therefore, can be suitably used in the methods for exchanging esters of fats and oils and for esterification.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 7, 2007
Date of Patent:
January 24, 2017
Assignees:
THE NISSHIN OILLIO GROUP, LTD., NOVOZYMES A/S
Inventors:
Satoshi Negishi, Junko Suzuki, Isamu Takahashi, Hans Christian Holm
Abstract: The present invention relates to a luciferase derived from a Malaysian Luciola firefly, the luciferase having a maximum luminescent wavelength of 557 nm at pH 8, or the luciferase inducing luminescence having 1.5 times or more the luminous intensity of luminescence induced by Photinus pyralis firefly luciferase.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 11, 2014
Date of Patent:
December 20, 2016
Assignees:
OLYMPUS CORPORATION, NIMURA GENETIC SOLUTIONS CO., LTD., PERAK STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Abstract: Modified nucleic acids are described herein, including pharmaceutical compositions comprising the modified nucleic acids, and methods of using the modified nucleic acids.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 7, 2010
Date of Patent:
December 6, 2016
Assignee:
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Inventors:
Muthiah Manoharan, Kallanthottathil G. Rajeev
Abstract: The present invention provides von Willebrand Factor-polymer conjugates and Factor VIII-polymer conjugates, each having a releasable linkage. Methods of making conjugates, methods for administering conjugates, are also provided.
Inventors:
Mary J. Bossard, Gayle Stephenson, Zhihao Fang, Harold Zappe, Stacy Mitchell, Ping Zhang, Friedrich Scheiflinger, Peter Turecek, Juergen Siekmann, Katalin Varadi, Herbert Gritsch
Abstract: The invention relates to materials and methods of conjugating a water soluble polymer to an oxidized carbohydrate moiety of a therapeutic protein comprising contacting the oxidized carbohydrate moiety with an activated water soluble polymer under conditions that allow conjugation. More specifically, the present invention relates to the aforementioned materials and methods wherein the water soluble polymer contains an active aminooxy group and wherein an oxime or hydrazone linkage is formed between the oxidized carbohydrate moiety and the active aminooxy group on the water soluble polymer, and wherein the conjugation is carried out in the presence of a nucleophilic catalyst.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 20, 2013
Date of Patent:
November 15, 2016
Assignees:
BAXALTA INCORPORATED, BAXALTA GMBH
Inventors:
Stefan Haider, Andreas Ivens, Hanspeter Rottensteiner, Juergen Siekmann, Peter Turecek
Abstract: A process for separating polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from less saturated long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) in a lipid composition, wherein said PUFAs and LCFAs are present as (i) triglycerides, or (ii) free fatty acids or monoalkyl esters, by exchange of at least a portion of LCFAs with short and/or medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs). The process can suitably be employed on marine derived oil, marine oil 2 derived oil products and other sources of PUFAs, including PUFA-rich singe cell oils (SCOs), and oils from genetically modified organisms with a modified lipid metabolism. The inventive process is based on novel use of lipases and distillation techniques, selectively chemically modifying species in the substrate material such that the desired species and chemically similar species become sufficiently dissimilar to be separable.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 23, 2011
Date of Patent:
October 25, 2016
Assignee:
Epax AS
Inventors:
Gudmundur G. Haraldsson, Bjorn Kristinsson
Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for delaying a plant development process comprising exposing a plant or plant part to one or more bacteria or enzymes. In specific embodiments, the one or more bacteria are selected from the group consisting of Rhodococcus spp., Pseudomonas chloroaphis, Brevibacterium ketoglutamicum, and a mixture comprising any combination of these bacteria. Apparatuses for delaying a plant development process comprising a catalyst that comprises one or more of the above bacteria.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 4, 2013
Date of Patent:
October 11, 2016
Assignee:
Georgia State University Research Foundation, Inc.
Inventors:
George E. Pierce, Sangeeta Ganguly-Mink, Gene K. Drago
Abstract: The present invention relates to the bioupgrading of crude oil is directed to a process for decreasing the acidity of an acidic crude oil, comprising contacting an acidic crude oil with a mixture nitrogen containing compounds selected from the group comprising ammonia, ammonia hydroxide, amines and the salts thereof, and in the presence of lipase enzyme, under conditions of suitable temperature and pressure sufficient to form the corresponding amide. The resulting naphthenic acid derived amides can then be processed normally in a refinery using such processes as cracking or hydrotreating and converted to hydrocarbon, ammonia and carbon dioxide without causing damage to the refinery infrastructure. This enzyme process is done at reduced temperatures (40-60° C.) and pressures requiring less energy.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 14, 2009
Date of Patent:
August 2, 2016
Assignee:
Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of Canada As Represented By The Minister Of Natural Resources
Abstract: This invention relates to a culture medium, a kit containing the culture medium and to a method for detection of a parasite such as Dientamoeba fragilis and/or another parasite. The culture medium of the invention is bi-phasic and includes a solid phase containing an egg slope or agar slope and a liquid phase containing a serum and a peptone.
Abstract: A therapeutic composition for the treatment of lung diseases or disorders and diseases or disorders of the airway passages including pneumonia, acute respiratory failure, and acute respiratory distress syndrome is based on the generation of a biocidal anion by an enzymatic reaction catalyzed by a peroxidase. The peroxide utilized by the peroxidase enzyme can be endogenous or can be generated by the action of an oxidase enzyme on a suitable substrate.
Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, compositions and methods for CNS delivery of lysosomal enzymes for effective treatment of lysosomal storage diseases. In some embodiments, the present invention includes a stable formulation for direct CNS intrathecal administration comprising a heparan N-sulfatase (HNS) protein, salt, and a polysorbate surfactant for the treatment of Sanfilippo Syndrome Type A.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 25, 2011
Date of Patent:
April 26, 2016
Assignee:
Shire Human Genetic Therapies, Inc.
Inventors:
Farah Natoli, Gaozhong Zhu, Jennifer Terew, Yuan Jiang, Jamie Tsung, Zahra Shahrokh, Brian Vernaglia, Jing Pan, Richard Pfeifer, Pericles Calias
Abstract: The invention provides a method for forming an immobilized agent gradient within a 3-dimensional porous scaffold. A 3-dimensional scaffold formed from a biocompatible material is provided. The surface of the scaffold and/or the agent is activated so as to allow binding of the agent to the scaffold. The activated scaffold is contacted with a solution containing the agent. Contact with the solution is maintained for a sufficient period of time to allow diffusion of the solution through a portion of the scaffold, thereby forming a desired gradient of the agent through the 3-dimensional scaffold.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 19, 2006
Date of Patent:
March 22, 2016
Assignees:
Trustees of Tufts College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Inventors:
Charu Vepari, David L. Kaplan, Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic
Abstract: The present invention provides an effective and less invasive approach for direct delivery of therapeutic agents to the central nervous system (CNS). In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods including a step of administering intrathecally to a subject suffering from or susceptible to a lysosomal storage disease associated with reduced level or activity of a lysosomal enzyme, a composition comprising a replacement enzyme for the lysosomal enzyme.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 25, 2011
Date of Patent:
March 15, 2016
Assignee:
Shire Human Genetic Therapies, Inc.
Inventors:
Pericles Calias, Jing Pan, Jan Powell, Lawrence Charnas, Thomas McCauley, Teresa Leah Wright, Richard Pfeifer, Zahra Shahrokh
Abstract: A process for capturing or concentrating microorganisms for detection or assay comprises (a) providing a particulate concentration agent that comprises gamma-FeO(OH); (b) providing a fluid sample comprising at least one microorganism strain; and (c) contacting the concentration agent with the sample such that at least a portion of the concentration agent is dispersed in the sample and at least a portion of the at least one microorganism strain is bound to or captured by the concentration agent.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 2, 2008
Date of Patent:
September 29, 2015
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company
Inventors:
Manjiri T. Kshirsagar, Tushar A. Kshirsagar, Thomas E. Wood
Abstract: The invention concerns a method for assaying soluble fibrin in a sample, in which said sample is brought into the presence of a plasminogen activator with a high specificity for soluble fibrin (PA-Fb sp) and the soluble fibrin count in the sample is measured by measuring the difference between the count of fibrin degradation products obtained after degrading soluble fibrin with PA-Fb sp and the base count of fibrin degradation products determined before bringing the sample into the presence of PA-Fb sp.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 23, 2011
Date of Patent:
July 14, 2015
Assignees:
Societe Diagnostica-Stago, Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris
Inventors:
Bibi Shah Soltan Mirshahi, Jeannette Soria
Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-toxic dipolar solvent for chromogenic substrate for detecting presence of lacZ gene and/or gene activity, which comprises a stabilizing amount of a solubilizing agent. The present invention also relates to a method for inducing lac operon in screening assay, comprising the step of contacting an agar plate with at least one essential oil in a concentration sufficient to induce the lac operon. The present invention further relates to a method for detecting the presence of bacteria, comprising the step of contacting an agar plate with at least one essential oil in a concentration sufficient to induce detection of the bacteria.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 5, 2013
Date of Patent:
June 2, 2015
Assignee:
Pierce Biotechnology, Inc.
Inventors:
Pierre Sévigny, Martina Bielefeld-Sévigny
Abstract: A method of treating a cancer of the central nervous system in a subject in need thereof is provided. The method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agent which reduces blood glutamate levels and enhances brain to blood glutamate efflux to thereby treat the cancer of the central nervous system in the subject.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 26, 2008
Date of Patent:
May 19, 2015
Assignee:
Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd.
Inventors:
Vivian I. Teichberg, Angela Ruban-Matuzani