Patents Examined by Robert A. Zeman
  • Patent number: 9549970
    Abstract: The invention provides methods for culturing yeast at a neutral pH level. Yeast cultured under neutral pH conditions exhibit desirable characteristics useful for biological purposes, such as the development of vaccines, prophylactics and therapeutics. The invention also provides for compositions and kits comprising yeast grown using the methodologies disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: GlobeImmune, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Franzusoff, Deborah Quick
  • Patent number: 9546207
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and compositions for the inhibition of modulation of T cell costimulatory pathway by a pathogenic agent, particularly, the inhibition of activation of a T cell costimulatory pathway by a pyrogenic exotoxin. The direct interaction of a superantigen with a specific site within the dimer interface of a CD28 family member is inhibited using immunomodulatory peptides. Specific antagonist immunomodulatory peptides comprise amino acid sequences derived from a dimer interface of a T cell co-stimulatory pathway member, or peptides which comprise an amino acid sequence which specifically binds to an amino acid sequence within the dimer interface of a T cell co-stimulatory pathway member. Compositions comprising said peptides and methods for the treatment of immune-related disorders are also disclosed. Such molecules may be used in screening for a test substance which specifically binds to the CD28 molecule and is capable of antagonizing pyrogenic exotoxin-mediated activation of Th1 lymphocytes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: YISSUM RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT COMPANY OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM LTD.
    Inventors: Raymond Kaempfer, Gila Arad
  • Patent number: 9527906
    Abstract: Provided herein are self-assembling pharmaceutical compositions comprising a heat shock protein fused to a biotin-binding protein, wherein the biotin-binding protein is non-covalently bound to four biotinylated components, and further wherein at least two of the four biotinylated components are not identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Gelfand, Mark C. Poznansky, Pierre R. Leblanc, Svetlana E. Korochkina
  • Patent number: 9511137
    Abstract: Adjuvant for vaccines that comprises a non-lipidated bacterial outer-membrane polypeptide (Omp), in which the bacteria may be of those of Brucella genus. The adjuvant may be a modified polypeptide or may be, for example, the Omp19S polypeptide or the Omp16S polypeptide, parts or mixtures of the two. In a preferred embodiment, the adjuvant is the non-lipidated polypeptide included in SEQ ID No: 1, or parts thereof. In a further preferred embodiment, the adjuvant is the non-lipidated polypeptide included in SEQ ID No: 2 or parts thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: CONSEJO NACIONAL DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Y TECNICAS, INIS BIOTECH LLC
    Inventors: Mirta L. Coria, Karina A. Pasquevich, Andres E. Ibanez, Guillermo H. Giambartolomei, Juliana Cassataro, Maria Victoria Delpino
  • Patent number: 9506922
    Abstract: Methods for producing an immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) are disclosed herein. In several examples, the immune response is a protective immune response. In additional embodiments, methods are disclosed for inhibiting an infection with Mtb, preventing an infection with Mtb, or treating an infection with Mtb. Pharmaceutical compositions for the inhibition, prevention and/or treatment of tuberculosis are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignees: Oregon Health & Science University, The United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: David M. Lewinsohn, Deborah A. Lewinsohn
  • Patent number: 9421251
    Abstract: Booster immunization can lead to rapid induction of protective immunity against pathogens (e.g. ?7 days after the booster dose). This rapid response means that booster immunization can be used at short notice prior to an event that might require an activated immune response. For instance, a subject can be primed at a young age against a pathogen that typically affects more elderly subjects under specific circumstances such that, when the subject is older, the immune response can be mobilized rapidly if those specific circumstances are expected. An example would be to prime a subject against infections that are typically acquired nosocomially and then, soon before a scheduled hospital appointment, to boost their immune response so that they enter hospital in an immune-alert state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Giuseppe Del Giudice, Rino Rappuoli
  • Patent number: 9399674
    Abstract: The present invention provides fully human antibodies that bind to either toxin A or toxin B of Clostridium difficile, or to both toxin A and toxin B, compositions comprising the antibodies and methods of use. The antibodies of the invention are useful for neutralizing the toxins from C. difficile, thus providing a means of treating the disease and symptoms associated with a C. difficile infection, including the treatment of diarrhea, or pseudomembranous colitis caused by C. difficile. The antibodies may also prevent the severity and/or duration of the primary disease, or may prevent the number, duration, and/or the severity of recurrences, or relapses of the disease attributed to the presence of C. difficile. The antibodies of the invention may also be useful for diagnosis of an infection by C. difficile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Anne Gurnett-Bander, Carlos Arrecubieta, Israel Lowy
  • Patent number: 9400279
    Abstract: The instant invention is to provide a method for detecting and measuring malaria infection utilizing the induction by hemozoin (HZ); a method for screening a vaccine for malaria infection and a preventative or therapeutic agent for malaria infection using the method for detecting and measuring; and a means for regulating the induction of innate immunity using the HZ, synthetic HZ, or derivatives thereof as an adjuvant or immunostimulant. Malaria infection is detected and measured of by detecting and measuring HZ-induced, TLR9-mediated, and MyD88-dependent innate immune activity. The detection and measurement of malaria infection can be used to diagnose malaria infection. The method for detecting and measuring is also used for screening a vaccine for malaria infection and a preventative or therapeutic agent for malaria infection. Further, HZ, synthetic HZ, or derivatives thereof are used as an adjuvant or immunostimulant to regulate HZ-induced innate immune induction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Osaka University
    Inventors: Shizuo Akira, Ken Ishii, Cevayir Coban
  • Patent number: 9388398
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods of altering the enzymatic activity or solubility of an extremophilic enzyme or post-translationally modifying a protein of interest via using isolated or partially purified glycosyltransferases and/or post-translational modification proteins, extracts of cells comprising glycosyltransferases and/or post-translational modification proteins, and/or in cells comprising one or more glycosyltransferases and/or post-translational modification proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: David N. Thompson, David W. Reed, Vicki S. Thompson, Jeffrey A. Lacey, William A. Apel
  • Patent number: 9383373
    Abstract: Methods and kits which utilize a conjugate, preferably an adduct, of ergosterol for determining the presence or level of a broad spectrum of ergosterol-containing organisms (e.g., fungi) in various substrates are disclosed. These methods and kits can be used to accurately and efficiently diagnose a subject having a fungal infection, particularly invasive fungal infection, and to accurately and efficiently detect the presence of fungi and other ergosterol-containing organisms in other substrates. Antibodies and other compounds (e.g., molecularly imprinted polymers) that are capable of selectively binding to ergosterol or to an ergosterol-containing conjugate and methods of producing same are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Semorex Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard S. Green, Inna Tzomik, Rina Arad-Yellin
  • Patent number: 9366673
    Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for eliciting an immune response against Porphyromonas gingivalis. The compositions and methods relate to P. gingivalis polypeptides and fragments and variants thereof and the corresponding polynucleotides which are useful in the diagnosis, prevention and therapy of P. gingivalis infections (e.g. periodontitis). Antibodies against the polypeptides and compositions and methods including these antibodies are also disclosed. The disclosure also describes methods for the detection, prevention and treatment of P. gingivalis infection (e.g. periodontitis).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Sanofi Pasteur Limited
    Inventors: Jacqueline McCluskey, Robert Charlebois, Laurence Quemeneur, Jeremy Yethon, Michael Leach
  • Patent number: 9346860
    Abstract: An immunogenic reagent which produces an immune response which is protective against Bacillus anthracis, said reagent comprising one or more polypeptides which together represent up to three domains of the full length Protective Antigen (PA) of B. anthracis or variants of these, and at least one of said domains comprises domain 1 or domain 4 of PA or a variant thereof. The polypeptides of the immunogenic reagent as well as full length PA are produced by expression from E. coli. High yields of polypeptide are obtained using this method. Cells, vectors and nucleic acids used in the method are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: The Secretary of State For Defence
    Inventors: Ethel Diane Williamson, Julie Miller, Nicola Jane Walker, Leslie William James Baillie, Paula Thomson Holden, Helen Claire Flick-Smith, Helen Lisa Bullifent, Richard William Titball, Andrew William Topping
  • Patent number: 9339532
    Abstract: The present invention discloses novel isolates of Neorickettsia risticii, compositions comprising such isolates, vaccines and methods for using such vaccines against Potomac Horse Fever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Intervet Inc.
    Inventors: Lisa Purtle, Mark Mellencamp, Wendy Vaala
  • Patent number: 9340841
    Abstract: The invention relates to control of pathogen caused diseases on leaves, fruits and ears in plants, such as apple scab (Venturia inaequalis by treatment of plant with an isolate of Cladosporium cladosporioides. The treatment is effective in both prevention and treatment of the fungal infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: STICHTING DIENST LANDBOUWKUNDIG ONDERZOEK
    Inventor: Jurgen Anton Kohl
  • Patent number: 9334311
    Abstract: The invention relates to the development of chimeric OspA molecules for use in a new Lyme vaccine. More specifically, the chimeric OspA molecules comprise the proximal portion from one OspA serotype, together with the distal portion from another OspA serotype, while retaining antigenic properties of both of the parent polypeptides. The chimeric OspA molecules are delivered alone or in combination to provide protection against a variety of Borrelia genospecies. The invention also provides methods for administering the chimeric OspA molecules to a subject in the prevention and treatment of Lyme disease or borreliosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignees: BAXALTA INCORPORATED, BAXALTA GMBH
    Inventors: Brian A. Crowe, Ian Livey, Maria O'Rourke, Michael Schwendinger
  • Patent number: 9309293
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a surface exposed protein (protein E; pE), a virulence factor, which can be detected in Haemophilus influenzae, having an amino acid sequence as described in SEQ ID NO: 1, an immunogenic fragment of said surface exposed protein, and a recombinant immunogenic protein (pE (A)) or truncated variants thereof based on said surface exposed protein. Nucleic acid sequences, vaccines, plasmids and phages, non human hosts, recombinant nucleic acid sequences, fusion proteins and fusion products are also described. A method of producing the said protein or truncated fragments thereof recombinantly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: ARNE FORSGREN ET AL
    Inventor: Olle Forsgren
  • Patent number: 9303073
    Abstract: The invention relates to the development of chimeric OspA molecules for use in a new Lyme vaccine. More specifically, the chimeric OspA molecules comprise the proximal portion from one OspA serotype, together with the distal portion from another OspA serotype, while retaining antigenic properties of both of the parent polypeptides. The chimeric OspA molecules are delivered alone or in combination to provide protection against a variety of Borrelia genospecies. The invention also provides methods for administering the chimeric OspA molecules to a subject in the prevention and treatment of Lyme disease or borreliosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignees: BAXALTA INCORPORATED, BAXALTA GMBH, Research Foundation of the State University of New York, Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC
    Inventors: Brian A. Crowe, Ian Livey, Maria O'Rourke, Michael Schwendinger, John J. Dunn, Benjamin J. Luft
  • Patent number: 9297803
    Abstract: Contemplated compositions, devices, and methods comprise immunodominant antigens from selected human pathogens (Burkholderia pseudomallei, Borrelia burgdorferi, Brucella melitensis, Chlamydia muridarum, Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, human Herpes virus 1 and 2, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Plasmodium falciparum, and Vaccinia virus) can be used as a vaccine, as diagnostic markers, and as therapeutic agents. In particularly preferred aspects, the antigens have quantified and known relative reactivities with respect to sera of a population infected with the pathogen, and have a known association with a disease parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignees: Immport Therapeutics, Inc., Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    Inventors: Philip Felgner, David Huw Davies, Xiaowu Liang, Maria Laura Gennaro
  • Patent number: 9289481
    Abstract: The present invention features incapacitated whole-cell bacterial immunogenic compositions and methods of their production, which compositions are useful to deliver antigens in a manner resembling the live infectious organism in terms of elicitation of a robust immune response, but with reduced risk or no risk of disease. The compositions of the invention are produced by rendering a bacterium bacteriostatic through expression of a recombinant promoter in the bacterial cell, which promoter can be operably linked to a polynucleotide encoding a recombinant gene product. In one embodiment, where the bacterium is a gram negative host, the recombinant gene product provides for reduced toxicity of LPS. In one embodiment, the gene product is a bacteriophage protein, such as endolysin, holin, or ndd.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Gangagen, Inc.
    Inventors: Janakiraman Ramachandran, Sriram Padmanabhan, Bharathi Sriram
  • Patent number: 9279002
    Abstract: The invention provided Mucorales CotH polypeptides and encoding nucleic acid molecules. The Mucorales CotH polypeptides and encoding nucleic acids can be advantageously used to diagnose, treat or prevent fungal conditions, in particular mucormycosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: LOS ANGELES BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT HARBOR-UCLA MEDICAL CENTER
    Inventors: Ashraf S. Ibrahim, Mingfu Liu, Teklegiorgis Ghebremariam, Yue Fu, John E. Edwards, Scott Filler