Patents Examined by Marjorie A. Moran
  • Patent number: 7142988
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel method and an information system for allowing a non-random selection of a genotype of a plant cultivar that yields a selected plant product with desired processing features. The method involves determining structural and functional variables of the selected plant product, genetic variables responsible for said structural and functional variables and processing variables of the selected plant, and correlating the structural and functional variables to the genetic variables and to the processing variables so as to make a non-random selection of the genotype of the plant cultivar that yields the plant product with desired processing features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventor: Peter C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7138516
    Abstract: A method for preparing probes, as well as several probes for use in qualitative or quantitative hybridization assays are disclosed. The method comprises constructing an oligonucleotide that is sufficiently complementary to hybridize to a region of rRNA selected to be unique to a non-viral organism or group of non-viral organisms sought to be detected, said region of rRNA being selected by comparing one or more variable region rRNA sequences of said non-viral organism or group of non-viral organisms with one or more variable region rRNA sequences from one or more non-viral organisms sought to be distinguished. Hybridization assay probes for Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis-complex bacteria, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella, Salmonella, Chlamydia trachomatis, Campylobacter, Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus, Enterobacter cloacae, E. coli, Pseudomonas group I, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, bacteria, and fungi also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated
    Inventors: James John Hogan, Richard Dana Smith, Jo Ann Kop, Sherrol Hoffa McDonough
  • Patent number: 7133814
    Abstract: A system for modeling thrombopoietic lineage in an individual is presented. The system comprises a thrombopoiesis system model including a process progression model, for cells involved in thrombopoiesis, said progression model including multiplication and differentiation. It further comprises a system model modifier, wherein said thrombopoiesis system model is modified by the system model modifier based on parameters specific to the individual. In addition to modifying an individual's thrombopoietic process, the system can be modified to portray different pathological scenarios as well as different scenarios of response to treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Optimata Ltd.
    Inventors: Zvia Agur, Sarel Fleishmann, Kirill Skomorovski, Moshe Vardi
  • Patent number: 7130747
    Abstract: A process is provided for the high throughput screening of binding of ligands to macromolecules using high resolution powder diffraction data including producing a first sample slurry of a selected polycrystalline macromolecule material and a solvent, producing a second sample slurry of a selected polycrystalline macromolecule material, one or more ligands and the solvent, obtaining a high resolution powder diffraction pattern on each of said first sample slurry and the second sample slurry, and, comparing the high resolution powder diffraction pattern of the first sample slurry and the high resolution powder diffraction pattern of the second sample slurry whereby a difference in the high resolution powder diffraction patterns of the first sample slurry and the second sample slurry provides a positive indication for the formation of a complex between the selected polycrystalline macromolecule material and at least one of the one or more ligands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Robert B. Von Dreele, Kevin D'Amico
  • Patent number: 7129338
    Abstract: Human cDNA encoding a secretory or membrane protein useful as a candidate for developing medicine or as a target molecule for developing medicine. The expression level of the polynucleotide of the present invention increased in NT2 cells after retinoic acid-treatment. Accordingly, this cDNA is associated neurological disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Research Association for Biotechnology
    Inventors: Toshio Ota, Takao Isogai, Tetsuo Nishikawa, Yuri Kawai, Tomoyasu Sugiyama, Koji Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7127379
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for achieving an optimal function of a biochemical reaction network. The methods can be performed in silico using a reconstruction of a biochemical reaction network of a cell and iterative optimization procedures. The methods can further include laboratory culturing steps to confirm and possibly expand the determinations made using the in silico methods, and to produce a cultured cell, or population of cells, with optimal functions. The current invention includes computer systems and computer products including computer-readable program code for performing the in silico steps of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Bernhard O. Palsson, Jeremy S. Edwards
  • Patent number: 7127357
    Abstract: A WW domain crystal structure of Pin1 is provided. In addition, methods of using the crystal structure and atomic coordinates for the development of WW domain binding agents is also provided. Also provided are computer programs on computer readable medium for use in developing WW domain binding agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Joseph P. Noel, Mark A. Verdecia
  • Patent number: 7117098
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods, and screens for an optical system analysis of cells to rapidly determine the distribution, environment, or activity of fluorescently labeled reporter molecules in cells for the purpose of screening large numbers of compounds for those that specifically affect particular biological functions. The invention involves providing cells containing fluorescent reporter molecules in an array of locations and scanning numerous cells in each location with a high magnification fluorescence optical system, converting the optical information into digital data, and utilizing the digital data to determine the distribution, environment or activity of the fluorescently labeled reporter molecules in the cells. The array of locations may be an industry standard 96 well or 384 well microtiter plate or a microplate which is a microplate having a cells in a micropaterned array of locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Cellomics, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Terry Dunlay, D. Lansing Taylor, Albert H. Gough, Kenneth A. Giuliano
  • Patent number: 7115364
    Abstract: The invention provides chips of immobilized probes, and methods employing the chips, for comparing a reference polynucleotide sequence of known sequence with a target sequence showing substantial similarity with the reference sequence, but differing in the presence of e.g., mutations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Affymetrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Chee, Maureen T. Cronin, Stephen P. A. Fodor, Thomas R. Gingeras, Xiaohua C. Huang, Earl A. Hubbell, Robert J. Lipshutz, Peter E. Lobban, Charles Garrett Miyada, Macdonald S. Morris, Nila Shah, Edward L. Sheldon
  • Patent number: 7115712
    Abstract: New cytokine polypeptides, and nucleic acids encoding them, are provided. Compositions including these polypeptides and nucleic acids, recombinant cells comprising said polypeptides and nucleic acids, methods of making the polypeptides and nucleic acid, antibodies to the polypeptides, and methods of using the polypeptides and nucleic acids are provided. Integrated systems comprising the sequences of the nucleic acids or polypeptides are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Maxygen, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Leong, Juha Punnonen
  • Patent number: 7112668
    Abstract: Disclosed are novel polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding same. Also disclosed are vectors, host cells, antibodies and recombinant methods for producing the polypeptides and polynucleotides, as well as methods for using same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: CuraGen Corporation
    Inventors: Luca Rastelli, Xiaojia (Sasha) Guo
  • Patent number: 7092825
    Abstract: A method of protein engineering is provided wherein a searchable computer database is created comprising entries in the form of descriptions of a location and orientation in 3D space of side chains of the constituent amino acid residues of a framework protein. A query is created which corresponds to a description of a location and orientation in 3D space of respective side chains of amino acid residues of a sample protein. The location and orientation in 3D space of constituent side-chains is preferably described as a C?–C? vector. The query is used to search the database and thereby identify a hit which corresponds to a framework protein having structural similarity with said sample protein. Framework protein “hits” so identified may be suitable candidates for further modification. A particular advantage of the present invention is that a modified framework protein may display one or more desired characteristics, such as a function similar to or inhibitory of the sample protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: The University of Queensland
    Inventors: Mark Leslie Smythe, Michael John Dooley, Peter Ronald Andrews
  • Patent number: 7090972
    Abstract: A method for preparing probes, as well as several probes for use in qualitative or quantitative hybridization assays are disclosed. The method comprises constructing an oligonucleotide that is sufficiently complementary to hybridize to a region of rRNA selected to be unique to a non-viral organism or group of non-viral organisms sought to be detected, said region of rRNA being selected by comparing one or more variable region rRNA sequences of said non-viral organism or group of non-viral organisms with one or more variable region rRNA sequences from one or more non-viral organisms sought to be distinguished. Hybridization assay probes for Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis-complex bacteria, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella, Salmonella, Chlamydia trachomatis, Campylobacter, Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus, Enterobacter cloacae, E. coli, Pseudomonas group I, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, bacteria, and fungi also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated
    Inventors: James John Hogan, Richard Dana Smith, JoAnn Kop, Sherrol Hoffa McDonough
  • Patent number: 7087742
    Abstract: A method for preparing probes, as well as several probes for use in qualitative or quantitative hybridization assays are disclosed. The method comprises constructing an oligonucleotide that is sufficiently complementary to hybridize to a region of rRNA selected to be unique to a non-viral organism or group of non-viral organisms sought to be detected, said region of rRNA being selected by comparing one or more variable region rRNA sequences of said non-viral organism or group of non-viral organisms with one or more variable region rRNA sequences from one or more non-viral organisms sought to be distinguished. Hybridization assay probes for Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis-complex bacteria, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella, Salmonella, Chlamydia trachomatis, Campylobacter, Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus, Enterobacter cloacae, E. coli, Pseudomonas group I, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, bacteria, and fungi also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated
    Inventors: James John Hogan, Richard Dana Smith, JoAnn Kop, Sherrol Hoffa McDonough
  • Patent number: 7074901
    Abstract: The invention concerns GENSET polynucleotides and polypeptides. Such GENSET products may be used as reagents in forensic analyses, as chromosome markers, as tissue/cell/organelle-specific markers, in the production of expression vectors. In addition, they may be used in screening and diagnosis assays for abnormal GENSET expression and/or biological activity and for screening compounds that may be used in the treatment of GENSET-related disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Serono Genetics Institute S.A.
    Inventors: Stephane Bejanin, Hiroaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7067500
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of antimicrobial therapy for a patient infected with, or suspected of being infected with a microorganism that has mycolic acid structures in its outer membrane, said method comprising coadministering a betaine-like detergent and an antibiotic to said patient in an amount and for a length of time sufficient to kill said microorganism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Integrated Research Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Charles G. Thornton
  • Patent number: 7065453
    Abstract: A high-throughput molecular docking facility is presented for screening combinatorial libraries to identify binding ligands and ultimately pharmaceutical compounds. The facility employs a pre-docking conformational search to generate multiple solution conformations of a ligand. The molecular docking facility includes: generating a binding site image of the protein, the binding site image having multiple hot spots; matching hot spots of the binding site image to atoms in at least one solution conformation of the multiple solution conformations of the ligand to obtain at least one ligand position relative to the protein in a ligand-protein complex formation; and optimizing the at least one ligand position while allowing translation, orientation and rotatable bonds of the ligand to vary, and while holding the protein fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Accelrys Software, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Diller, Kenneth M. Merz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7065452
    Abstract: The present invention relates to crystallized molecules and molecular complexes which comprise the active site binding pocket or the FKBP12/FK506 binding pocket of calcineurin or close structural homologues to either binding pocket. This invention also relates to a data storage material encoded with the corresponding structure coordinates of those crystallized molecules or molecular complexes. Such data storage material is capable of displaying such molecules and molecular complexes as a graphical three-dimensional representation on a computer screen. In addition, this invention relates to methods of using the structure coordinates of those molecules or molecular complexes to solve the structure of homologous proteins. This invention also relates to methods of using the structure coordinates to screen and design compounds that bind to calcineurin or homologues thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
    Inventors: David M. Armistead, Matthew James Fitzgibbon, Mark Andrew Fleming, James P. Griffith, Eunice E. Kim, Joseph L. Kim, Michael D. Sintchak, John Allan Thomson, Keith P. Wilson
  • Patent number: 7060224
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for the fabrication of microscale, including micron and sub-micron scale, including nanoscale, devices. Electronic transport of movable component devices is utilized through a fluidic medium to effect transport to a desired target location on a substrate or motherboard. Forces include electrophoretic force, electroosmotic force, electrostatic force and/or dielectrophoretic force. In the preferred embodiment, free field electroosmotic forces are utilized either alone, or in conjunction with, other forces. These forces may be used singly or in combination, as well as in conjunction with yet other forces, such as fluidic forces, mechanical forces or thermal convective forces. Transport may be effected through the use of driving electrodes so as to transport the component device to yet other connection electrodes. In certain embodiments, the component devices may be attached to the target device using a solder reflow step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Nanogen, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl F. Edman, Michael J. Heller, Rachel Formosa, Christian Gurtner
  • Patent number: 7062384
    Abstract: Provided are methods of classifying biological samples based on high dimensional data obtained from the samples. The methods are especially useful for prediction of a class to which the sample belongs under circumstances in which the data are statistically under-determined. The advent of microarray technologies which provide the ability to measure en masse many different variables (such as gene expression) at once has resulted in the generation of high dimensional data sets, the analysis of which benefits from the methods of the present invention. High dimensional data is data in which the number of variables, p, exceeds the number of independent observations (e.g. samples), N, made. The invention relies on a dimension reduction step followed by a logistic determination step. The methods of the invention are applicable for binary (i.e. univariate) classification and multi-class (i.e. multivariate) classifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: David M. Rocke, Danh V. Nguyen