Patents Examined by Robert A. Zeman
  • Patent number: 8187610
    Abstract: The invention provides Streptococcus vaccine strains (e.g. S. equi which is causative of ‘strangles’) comprising the following modifications in their genomes: (i) attenuation of one or more essential biosynthetic genes, (ii) attenuation of one or more genes which encode a haemolytic toxin, or protein involved in the production thereof, plus preferably any one, two, or most preferably three of the following modifications: (iii) attenuation of one or more genes which encode a protein responsible for immune evasion (iv) modification of one or more genes such as to permit serological discrimination of the vaccine strain based on analysis of a protein encoded by said genes, and (v) attenuation of one or more genes which encode an enzyme responsible for recombination repair of the genome. The invention provides inter alia live attenuated vaccine strains which generate an immune response to multiple protective epitopes presented in a context resembling the live pathogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Animal Health Trust
    Inventors: Andrew Stephen Waller, Carl Robinson, Zoe Heather
  • Patent number: 8178339
    Abstract: Reduced genome strains of E. coli MG1655 are described. In various embodiments, the strains have one or more of equal or improved growth rate, transformation efficiency, protein expression, DNA production, DNA yield and/or DNA quality compared to the parental strain and commercially available strains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Scarab Genomics LLC
    Inventors: John W Campbell, Frederick R. Blattner, Guy Plunkett, Gyorgy Posfai
  • Patent number: 8153138
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recombinant vaccinia viruses derived from the modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) and containing and capable of expressing foreign genes which are inserted at the site of a naturally occurring deletion in the MVA genome, and the use of such recombinant MVA viruses for the production of polypeptides, e.g. antigens or therapeutic agents, or viral vectors for gene therapy, and the use of such recombinant MVA viruses encoding antigens as vaccines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: GSF-Forschungszentrum fur Umwelt und Gesundheit GmbH
    Inventors: Gerd Sutter, Marion Ohlmann, Volker Erfle
  • Patent number: 8153132
    Abstract: Antibodies immunoreactive to mutant Pseudomonas HPPD are provided, and in an embodiment the mutant HPPD is one in which the wild-type HPPD is substituted at residue 336 with tryptophan for glycine. Also provided are hybridomas producing the antibodies, as well as methods of making and using the antibodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: MS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vaithilingam Sekar, Bruce Held, Kyu Chung, Paul F. Russell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8147822
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of reducing the viability of a tumor cell involving administering a virus that is not a common human pathogen to the tumor cell. Preferably, the virus exhibits differential susceptibility, in that normal cells are not affected by the virus. This differential susceptibility is more pronounced in the presence of interferon. The tumor cell is characterized by having low levels, or no, PKR activity, or as being PKR?/?, STAT1?/? or both PKR?/? and STAT1?/?. The virus is selected from the group consisting of Rhabdovirus and picornavirus, and preferably is vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) or a derivative thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Wellstat Biologics Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Bell, Nahum Sonenberg, David F. Stojdl, Earl G. Brown, Harold L. Atkins, Ricardo M. Marius, Brian D. Lichty, Shane B. Knowles
  • Patent number: 8114666
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of animal health and in particular to Lawsonia intracellularis. In particular, the invention relates to a method of diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infection and a diagnostic test kit using Lawsonia intracellularis-specific antibodies. The invention also relates to the use of the method or test kit for diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH
    Inventor: Malik Merza
  • Patent number: 8114667
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of animal health and in particular to Lawsonia intracellularis. In particular, the invention relates to a method of diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infection and a diagnostic test kit using Lawsonia intracellularis-specific antibodies. The invention also relates to the use of the method or test kit for diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH
    Inventor: Malik Merza
  • Patent number: 8106155
    Abstract: A test kit for detecting an antibiotic or antibiotics containing a ?-lactam ring in a biological fluid is provided. The test kit includes at least one recognition agent, which is a receptor which specifically binds to antibiotics containing a ?-lactam ring and is obtained from Bacillus licheniformis. The test kit further contains at least one reference antibiotic immobilized on a solid support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Neogen Corporation
    Inventors: Jacques Degelaen, Benoît Granier, Jean-Marie Frere, Bernard Joris
  • Patent number: 8097717
    Abstract: This invention relates to a composition comprising a chaotropic agent, a buffering substance, and 0.5 to 5% (V/V) polidocanol or a derivative thereof. The invention is further related to uses of this composition and to a kit comprising the composition according to the invention. The invention is further related to a method for the detection of a nucleic acid in a biological sample comprising the steps of incubating the biological sample in the presence of a chaotropic agent, a buffering substance, and 0.5 to 5% (V/V) polidocanol or a derivative thereof, optionally isolating the nucleic acid, optionally amplifying the nucleic acid, and detecting the nucleic acid. The invention is further related to a method for the purification of a nucleic acid in a biological sample comprising the steps of incubating the biological sample in the presence of a chaotropic agent, a buffering substance, and 0.5 to 5% (V/V) polidocanol or a derivative thereof and isolating the nucleic acid thereby purifying the nucleic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sigrid Adie, Hermann Leying, Nicole Nachbaur, Eberhard Russmann
  • Patent number: 8093034
    Abstract: This invention relates to the optimization of culture conditions to improve the production of bacterial capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus strains in fed-batch culture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventor: Erwin Frans Swennen
  • Patent number: 8058062
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of animal health and in particular to Lawsonia intracellularis. In particular, the invention relates to a method of diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infection and a diagnostic test kit using Lawsonia intracellularis-specific antibodies. The invention also relates to the use of the method or test kit for diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH
    Inventor: Malik Merza
  • Patent number: 8026049
    Abstract: The invention is methods and related kits for diagnosing a disease state of cachexia by measuring biomarker profiles from a biological sample. Rapid measurement of early onset or progression of the disease in a subject is determined by measuring biomarker levels from the subject and optionally comparing the biomarker levels to a standard biomarker profile or metabolome phase portrait for the disease. The biomarkers measured in the assay and related kit for cachexia progression include biomarkers selected from the group consisting of lactate, citrate, formate, acetoacetate, 3-hydroxy butrate, alanine, glutamine, glutamate, valine, isoleucine leucine, thrionine, lysine, arginine, tyrosine, phenyl alanine, histidine and tryptophan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Fariba Masoumeh Assadi-Porter, Mark E. Cook, Hamid Reza Eghbalnia, Marco Tonelli, Warren Paul Porter, Daniel Elmer Butz
  • Patent number: 8021667
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an immunogenic composition comprising a conjugate between an antigen and an oxidized mannan comprising mannose units and aldehyde groups, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: MacFarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health Ltd
    Inventors: Ian F. C. McKenzie, Vasso Apostolopoulos, Geoffrey A. Pietersz
  • Patent number: 8021663
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of animal health and in particular to Lawsonia intracellularis. In particular, the invention relates to a method of diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infection and a diagnostic test kit using Lawsonia intracellularis-specific antibodies. The invention also relates to the use of the method or test kit for diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH
    Inventor: Malik Merza
  • Patent number: 8007802
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of animal health and in particular to Lawsonia intracellularis. In particular, the invention relates to a method of diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infection and a diagnostic test kit using Lawsonia intracellularis-specific antibodies. The invention also relates to the use of the method or test kit for diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH
    Inventor: Malik Merza
  • Patent number: 8007801
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of animal health and in particular to Lawsonia intracellularis. In particular, the invention relates to a method of diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infection and a diagnostic test kit using Lawsonia intracellularis-specific antibodies. The invention also relates to the use of the method or test kit for diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH
    Inventor: Malik Merza
  • Patent number: 8003107
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of animal health and in particular to Lawsonia intracellularis. In particular, the invention relates to a method of diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infection and a diagnostic test kit using Lawsonia intracellularis-specific antibodies. The invention also relates to the use of the method or test kit for diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH
    Inventor: Malik Merza
  • Patent number: 7998668
    Abstract: A method for determining whether a human individual is or has been infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is provided. The method detects a Neisseria gonorrhoeae, porA nucleic acid fragment obtained from a biological sample. The method includes subjecting the biological sample to nucleic acid sequence amplification using primers having respective nucleotide sequences according to SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:2, to thereby produce a porA Neisseria gonorrhoeae, amplification product. The amplification product is detected by fluorescence resonance energy transfer using oligonucleotides having respective nucleotide sequences according to SEQ ID NO:3 which has a donor fluorophore and SEQ ID NO:4, which has an acceptor fluorophore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: The State of Queensland Acting Through Its Department of Health
    Inventors: David Mark Whiley, Theo Pieter Sloots
  • Patent number: 7993649
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of animal health and in particular to Lawsonia intracellularis. In particular, the invention relates to a method of diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infection and a diagnostic test kit using Lawsonia intracellularis-specific antibodies. The invention also relates to the use of the method or test kit for diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH
    Inventor: Malik Merza
  • Patent number: 7988977
    Abstract: Safe and effective live vaccines against Aeromonas hydrophila of fish were created through the induction of rifampicin resistance in native Aeromonas hydrophila isolates; these including rifampicin-resistant mutants NRRL-B-50040 and NRRL-B-50041. Single immersion exposure of fish stimulated acquired immunity against virulent Aeromonas hydrophila infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Phillip H. Klesius, Craig A. Shoemaker, Joyce L. Evans