Patents Examined by Nita Minnifield
  • Methods of measuring urinary myelin basic protein-like material
    Patent number: 5998150
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining the status of a multiple sclerosis patient, i.e., predicting the transition from a status of relapsing-remitting to a progressive phase of multiple sclerosis, comprising the step of measuring the levels of urinary myelin basic protein-like material in the patient. The present invention also provides a method of determining the amount of lesions and total lesion area of a multiple sclerosis patient, comprising the step of measuring the levels of urinary myelin basic protein-like material in the patient. Further provided is a method of monitoring myelination in a developing child, comprising the step of: measuring the levels of myelin basic protein-like material in the urine of said child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: UAB Research Foundation
    Inventors: John Nicholas Whitaker, Robert David Kachelhofer, Beverly Ann Layton, Edwin Luther Bradley, Jr., Sheila Loughran Burgard, Anthony Thomas Reder, Wendy Jean Morrison, Guojun Zhao, Donald Winston Paty
  • Multicatalytic protease inhibitors
    Patent number: 5990083
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are inhibitors of the multicatalytic protease enzyme which are represented by the general formula: ##STR1## Constituent members and preferred constituent members are disclosed herein. Methodologies for making and using the disclosed compounds are also set forth herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Cephalon, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Iqbal, James L. Diebold, Robert Siman, Sankar Chatterjee, James C. Kauer
  • Interleukin-2 stimulated T lymphocyte cell death for the treatment of allergic responses
    Patent number: 5989546
    Abstract: A method for the treatment or prevention of allergic disorders is provided, comprising inducing the death by apoptosis of a subpopulation of T lymphocytes that is capable of causing such diseases, while leaving substantially unaffected the majority of other T lymphocytes. Cell death is achieved by cycle(s) comprising challenging via immunization these T cells with antigenic substance at short time intervals, or by immunization followed by administering interleukin-2 (IL-2) when these T cells are expressing high levels of IL-2 receptor so as to cause these T cells to undergo apoptosis upon re-immunization with the antigenic peptide or protein. These methods are applicable to the treatment of allergic disorders such as hay fever, extrinsic asthma, or insect bite and sting allergies, and food and drug allergies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventor: Michael J. Lenardo
  • Leptospiral outer membrane proteins
    Patent number: 5989547
    Abstract: This invention presents antigenic preparations of Leptospira species outer membrane proteins and their immunogenic fragments which are useful for inducing immune response in animals, e.g., for use as vaccines against diseases caused by leptospirosis. Also presented are methods and kits for diagnosing leptospirosis by detecting the presence of these proteins, their immunogenic fragments, antibodies to these proteins or their fragments, or polynucleotides which encode or are translatable into these proteins or their fragments. Further disclosed are methods for isolating these proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: University of California
    Inventor: David A. Haake
  • Bordetella strains
    Patent number: 5985286
    Abstract: The invention relates to an immunogenic composition, characterized in that it comprises an adenyl cyclase-hemolysin (AC-Hly) protein, or an immunogenic portion of this AC-Hly, of a strain of Bordetella chosen from B. pertussis, B. parapertussis or B. bronchiseptica, and in that it comprises, in addition, a bacterial extract containing the expression products of the vrg genes of a strain of Bordetella chosen from B. pertussis, B. parapertussis or B. bronchiseptica, or a portion of these expression products which is sufficient to induce an immune response in a host to which the extract might be administered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Institut Pasteur
    Inventors: Pascale Gueirard, Nicole Guiso
  • Genes of Helicobacter pylori necessary for the regulation and maturation of urease and their use
    Patent number: 5986051
    Abstract: This invention relates to Helicobacter polypeptides, particularly UreE, UreF, UreG, UreH, and UreI, immunogenic fragments of those polypeptides, and compositions containing those polypeptides or fragments. This invention also relates to purified antibodies that bind to the polypeptides of this invention and to compositions comprising those antibodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignees: Institut Pasteur, Institut National de la Santa et de la Recherche Medicale
    Inventors: Agnes Labigne, Valerie Cussac, Richard Ferrero
  • Synthetic peptides, antibodies against them and their use
    Patent number: 5981697
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the generation of antibodies which preferentially bind to fibrinogen fragments E1, E2, and E3, but exhibit little or no cross-reactivity against fibrin monomer and fibrinogen. Thus, the invention provides synthetic peptides containing defined amino acid sequences corresponding to the carboxy terminal regions of the E fragments which arise as a result of plasmin cleavage of fibrin and fibrinogen. The synthetic peptides may be synthesized chemically, or through genetic manipulations, and may contain additional amino acid sequences which are not contiguous with the defined E fragment sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Behringwerke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Kraus, Werner Stuber
  • Adjuvant composition containing synthetic hydrophobic lipopolysaccharide
    Patent number: 5976538
    Abstract: According to the present invention the adjuvants comprise an emulsion containing at least one synthetic hydrophobic lipopolysaccharide, which can either or not be provided with anionic groups, while maintaining the overall hydrophobicity, an interface-forming constituent (such as an oil) and optionally an aqueous solute. In particular the adjuvant and vaccines prepared with it contain a lipopolysaccharide which had an HLB value of less then 9, more favorably less than 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventors: Lucas A.T. Hilgers, Peter-Paul L.I. Platenburg
  • Urease-based vaccine against helicobacter infection
    Patent number: 5972336
    Abstract: Method of eliciting in a mammalian host a protective immune response to Helicobacter infection by administering to the host an immunogenically effective amount of a Helicobacter urease or urease subunits as antigen. Vaccine compositions are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: OraVax Merieux Co.
    Inventors: Pierre Michetti, Andre Blum, Catherine Davin, Rainer Haas, Irene Corthesy-Theulaz, Jean-Pierre Kraehenbuhl, Emilia Saraga
  • Inactivated Mycolplasma hyopneumoniae and uses therefor
    Patent number: 5968525
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making an inactivated vaccine of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae by inactivating the bacteria with Thimerosal. The resulting bacterin is mixed with an adjuvant of aluminum hydroxide and DEAE dextran and injected into pigs. The resulting bacterin and adjuvant mixture can also be mixed with other bacteria such as Bordetella and Pasteurella, for further adjuvant effect. Protective immunity against mycoplasmal pneumonia is elicited in swine using these vaccines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Ambico, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald R. Fitzgerald, C. Joseph Welter
  • GNRH-leukotoxin chimeras
    Patent number: 5969126
    Abstract: New immunological carrier systems, DNA encoding the same, and the use of these systems, are disclosed. The carrier systems include chimeric proteins which comprise a leukotoxin polypeptide fused to a selected GnRH multimer which consists essentially of at least one repeating GnRH decapeptide sequence, or at least one repeating unit of a sequence corresponding to at least one epitope of a selected GnRH molecule. Under the invention, the selected GnRH sequences may all be the same, or may correspond to different derivatives, analogues, variants or epitopes of GnRH so long as the GnRH sequences are capable of eliciting an immune response. The leukotoxin functions to increase the immunogenicity of the GnRH multimer fused thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: University of Saskatchewan
    Inventors: Andrew A. Potter, John G. Manns
  • Antibody recognizing endothelial cell ligand for leukocyte CR3
    Patent number: 5968512
    Abstract: Peptides which will inhibit the reaction between the RGD tripeptide of FHA and the integrin receptors of endothelial cells and their utility as therapeutic agents are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: The Rockefeller University
    Inventors: Elaine Tuomanen, H. Robert Masure
  • Polypeptides and methods for the detection of L. tropica infection
    Patent number: 5965142
    Abstract: Compounds and methods for diagnosing Leishmania tropica infection, or for screening for L. tropica infection, are disclosed. The disclosed compounds are polypeptides that contain one or more epitopes of an L. tropica protein, Lt-210. The compounds are useful in a variety of in vitro and in vivo immunoassays for detecting L. tropica infection. The polypeptides are further useful in vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions for preventing leishmaniasis in individuals exposed to L. tropica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Corixa Corporation
    Inventors: Davin C. Dillon, Steven G. Reed
  • Diagnostic tests and kits for Clostridium difficile
    Patent number: 5965375
    Abstract: This invention provides methods, compositions, and kits for detecting the presence of toxigenic strains of C. difficile in a biological sample. One embodiment provides methods for C. difficile detection that involve assaying for both C. difficile glutamate dehydrogenase and C. difficile toxin A or toxin B. In another embodiment, the invention provides a highly sensitive assay for C. difficile toxin A that is useful for determining whether a C. difficile strain is toxigenic. This embodiment involves binding of toxin A to a moiety that reversibly binds to a capture moiety present on a magnetic bead. A magnetic field is applied to the sample to concentrate the toxin A, after which the magnetic beads are dissociated and removed from the solution to obtain a highly concentrated preparation of toxin A, thus making possible a very sensitive assay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Biosite Diagnostics
    Inventor: Gunars E. Valkirs
  • Process to remove catalyst poisons from hop extracts
    Patent number: 5965777
    Abstract: A process for the removal of catalyst poisons from hops and hop extracts is disclosed. After processing the hops to extract the alpha or beta acids therein, the alpha or beta acids are treated with activated nickel catalyst. The activated nickel catalyst binds the catalyst poisons which are believed to be sulfur containing compounds. The activated nickel and catalyst poisons are separated from the alpha or beta acids, and the alpha or beta acids are then hydrogenated and isomerized into tetrahydroisoalpha acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Cultor Food Service, Inc.
    Inventor: George Gauthier
  • Purified mammalian NK antigens and related reagents
    Patent number: 5965401
    Abstract: NK cell surface antigen from a mammal, reagents related thereto including purified proteins, specific antibodies, and nucleic acids encoding this antigen. Methods of using those reagents and diagnostic kits are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Schering Corporation
    Inventors: Chiwen Chang, Lewis L. Lanier, Joseph H. Phillips, Jr.
  • Submicron emulsions as vaccine adjuvants
    Patent number: 5961970
    Abstract: A vaccine adjuvant composition of an oil-in-water submicron emulsion that has about 0.5 to 50% of a first component of an oil, about 0.1 to 10% of a second component of an emulsifier, about 0.05 to 5% of a nonionic surfactant, about 0.00001 to 1% of an immunogen, and an aqueous continuous phase. This submicron emulsion has a mean droplet size in the range of between about 0.03 and 0.5 .mu.m, and preferably 0.05 and 0.2 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignees: Pharmos Corporation, The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: George H. Lowell, Shimon Amselem, Doron Friedman, Haim Aviv
  • Deformylase
    Patent number: 5962666
    Abstract: The invention provides def polypeptides and DNA (RNA) encoding def polypeptides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing def polypeptides to screen for antibacterial compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: SmithKline Beecham Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Arthur Lonetto
  • Insulinotropic hormones and uses thereof
    Patent number: 5958909
    Abstract: Derivatives of glucagon-like peptide I (GLP-1) and especially GLP-1(7-36) have been found to have insulinotropic activity. The invention pertains to the use of GLP-1(7-36) for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventor: Joel F. Habener
  • Self-adjuvanting peptide vaccine delivery system and production thereof
    Patent number: 5955080
    Abstract: The present invention provides self-adjuvanting vaccines for use in raising antibodies to peptides without the use of oil or alum adjuvants. Further, the present invention provides methods of therapy using these vaccines and has particular application in chemical castration. In one aspect the vaccine comprises in admixture a peptide conjugated to 1-3 fatty acids and a peptide conjugated to a carrier protein. In preferred forms the peptide is conjugated to the fatty acids via a tromethamine or ethanolamine derivative. The preferred protein carrier is Type 4 fimbriae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Wayne Gerard Reilly, Robert George Whittaker, Phillp Anthony Jennings, Kenneth Geoffrey Finney