Patents Examined by Robert A. Zeman
  • Device for detecting bacterial contamination and method of use
    Patent number: 7244583
    Abstract: A device and method for detecting the presence or absence of a prokaryotic microorganism are provided, comprising the steps of identifying a protein, such as a microbial-specific protease that characterizes the presence of a specific prokaryotic microbe and thereby provides a marker for that microbe; detecting the protease that is a marker for the presence of a specific prokaryotic microbe by cleaving a substrate when the protease is present; and signaling the presence of that protease when cleavage has occurred. More specifically, the method comprises identifying at least one outer membrane protein or a secreted protein that is unique to a particular microbial pathogen such as for example Listeria monocytogenes and that is substrate specific.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: ECI Biotech Inc.
    Inventor: Mitchell C. Sanders
  • Acid- and bile salt-resistant isolates having the ability to lower and assimilate cholesterol
    Patent number: 7244425
    Abstract: Disclosed are acid- and bile salt-resistant Lactobacillus isolates having the ability to lower cholesterol. The present Lactobacillus isolates or their sub-cultured offspring or mutants derived therefrom can be used in the preparation of various food products, and in the manufacture of medicaments for use in the treatment or prevention of gastrointestinal diseases and for use in lowering serum cholesterol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Food Industry Research and Development Institute
    Inventors: Yu-Ju Liu, Chin-Chu Yu, Ching-Fen Tan, Chii-Cherng Liao
  • Microorganism EROM101, having immune enhancement, anticancer and antimicrobial activities
    Patent number: 7241441
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel Pediococcus genus microorganism and more particularly, Pediococcus pentosaceus EROM101 (KCCM-10517) originated from human intestines having immune enhancement, anticancer and antiviral activities and a use thereof. Due to its excellent immune enhancement, anticancer and antimicrobial activities by activating macrophages/spleen cells and inducing gut immunity, the Pediococcus pentosaceus EROM101 of the present invention can be effectively used for the production of various products such as immune enhancement agent, anticancer agent, antimicrobial agent, food additive, intestinal function-controlling agent, live bacterial agent, feed additive and other fermented products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Eromlife Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Won Choi, Mi Hyoun Park, Sang Ho Hwang, Suk Gyu Woo, Mi Kyung Song, Jong Jun Im, Sung Gil Hong, Joong Hark Kim, Jung Soon Jang, Hwa Young Kim
  • Methods and compositions for culturing spirochete and treating spirochetal diseases
    Patent number: 7235397
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for culturing spirochetes and treating spirochetal diseases. For example, the present invention provides serum-free media for culturing spirochete bacteria in vitro. The present invention further provides methods for identifying spirochete susceptibilities to antimicrobials and antimicrobial compositions and cocktails. The present invention also provides methods for treating subjects suspected of having a spirochete infection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Gensys, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen R. Wechter
  • Methods for detecting malaria parasites and reagent kits therefor
    Patent number: 7236236
    Abstract: Methods for detecting a malaria parasite are described that include: releasing the malaria parasite by allowing an erythrocyte in a specimen to undergo hemolysis; staining the released malaria parasite with a fluorescent dye to prepare a measurement sample; detecting optical information from the measurement sample; and distinguishing the malaria parasite based on the optical information obtained. Apparatuses and reagent kits are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuaki Hanaoka, Yasunori Maekawa, Yasumasa Akai, Satoshi Nakayama
  • Formulation of adenovirus for gene therapy
    Patent number: 7235391
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the need to improve the long-term storage stability (i.e. infectivity) of vector formulations. In particular, it has been demonstrated that for adenovirus, the use of bulking agents, cryoprotectants and lyoprotectants imparts desired properties that allow both lyophilized and liquid adenovirus formulations to be stored at 4° C. for up to 6 months and retain an infectivity between 60–100% of the starting infectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Introgen Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Zheng Wu, Shuyuan Zhang
  • Formulations to increase in vivo survival of probiotic bacteria and extend their shelf-life
    Patent number: 7229818
    Abstract: Disclosed is a formulation for preserving the life of probiotic bacteria during passage through the stomach, while permitting their release in the intestine, and which has a low water activity and correspondingly long shelf life. These formulations are designed to retain potency up to the product expiration date. The formulation includes a substantially water-free mixture of probiotic bacteria with monovalent alginate salts, wherein the mixture has been formed and is maintained in a substantially water-free environment. The alginate salts include sodium-alginate and potassium alginate, but not divalent salts such as magnesium alginate or calcium alginate. Generally, an enteric coating (e.g., gelatin or cellulose encapsulation) for the formulation is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Inventor: Randolph Stanley Porubcan
  • Lactic acid bacteria for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of giardiasis
    Patent number: 7229616
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a supernatant of lactic acid bacteria or of Bifidobacteria capable of preventing colonization of intestinal cells by Giardia intestinalis, for the preparation of an ingestible carrier for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of disorders associated with the colonization of the gut by Giardia intestinalis. The present invention also pertains to specific strains of Bifidobacterium having the above traits and to the ingestible carrier, such as a food or pharmaceutical composition, containing such supernatant or the microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Eduardo Schiffrin, Pablo Perez
  • Method of removing endotoxin from vaccines
    Patent number: 7226775
    Abstract: A method of removing bacterial endotoxin from a pharmaceutical process solution is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises treating the solution with a surfactant effective to dissociate the endotoxin from a pharmaceutical drug or vaccine substance in the solution, and then filtering the solution through a molecular cut-off filter having a pore size effective to retain the pharmaceutical drug or vaccine substance but allow the dissociated bacterial endotoxin to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Medeva Europe Limited
    Inventors: Bridget Kathleen Mapleson, Philip Sizer
  • Antimicrobial composition
    Patent number: 7226590
    Abstract: This invention provides novel Streptococcus salivarius, compositions containing same, and use of S. salivarius strains as antimicrobial agents. The strains are bacterial inhibitors with respect to at least S. mutans and/or MS and therefore have a number of therapeutic applications. The applications include but are not limited to forming part of therapeutic formulations for use in controlling, treating, or preventing dental caries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: BLIS Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Norman Chilcott, John Robert Tagg
  • Methods for treating restenosis with a neurotoxin
    Patent number: 7223399
    Abstract: The present invention provides for methods of treating cardiovascular diseases in a mammal. The methods include a step of administering an effective amount of a botulinum toxin directly to a blood vessel of a mammal thereby treating a cardiovascular disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory F. Brooks, Stephen Donovan
  • formulation
    Patent number: 7217420
    Abstract: The present invention provides a protective formulation that prevents virulent Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection in birds of the order Galliformes. The formulation comprises a protective amount of live MG strain K5054 or derivatives thereof in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A vaccine that prevents virulent Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection in birds of the order Galliformes is also presented. Methods for administering the formulation and vaccine are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley H. Kleven, Naola Ferguson
  • DNA synthetase
    Patent number: 7211647
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide proteins that have both DNA primase activity and DNA polymerase activity. This subject is solved by a protein (p41) that has an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1. This is for the first time that proteins that have both DNA primase activity and DNA polymerase activity were found. A protein (p46) that has amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 forms a complex with p41, and enforces DNA synthesis activity that is independent and/or dependent from primer of p41.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Celestar Lexico-Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshizumi Ishino, Isaac Cann, Arnaud Bocquier, Lidong Liu
  • Fret protease assays for botulinum serotype A/E toxins
    Patent number: 7208285
    Abstract: The present invention provides clostridial toxin substrates useful in assaying for the protease activity of any clostridial toxin, including botulinum toxins of all serotypes as well as tetanus toxins. A clostridial toxin substrate of the invention contains a donor fluorophore; an acceptor having an absorbance spectrum overlapping the emission spectrum of the donor fluorophore; and a clostridial toxin recognition sequence that includes a cleavage site, where the cleavage site intervenes between the donor fluorophore and the acceptor and where, under the appropriate conditions, resonance energy transfer is exhibited between the donor fluorophore and the acceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance E. Steward, Ester Fernandez-Salas, Kei Roger Aoki
  • P153 and P156 antigens for the immunodiagnosis of canine and human ehrlichioses and uses thereof
    Patent number: 7204992
    Abstract: Sequences encoding two immunoreactive glycoproteins were cloned from Ehrlichia canis (p153 gene) and Ehrlichia chaffeensis (p156 gene). These two glycoproteins are species-specific immunoreactive orthologs that are useful as subunit vaccines and for serologic and molecular diagnostics for E. canis and E. chaffeensis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Clayton Foundation for Research
    Inventors: Jere W. McBride, David H. Walker
  • Production of recombinant protein pap 31 for the diagnosis and prevention of infection
    Patent number: 7201902
    Abstract: The invention relates to a recombinant DNA and polypeptide sequence of an immuno-dominant phage particle associated protein from Bartonella bacilliformis. The recombinant protein is easily produced permitting the conduct of more accurate and rapid diagnositic assays for the detection of B. bacilliformis infection with reduced reagent and equipment requirements over that required by currently available methods of diagnosis. The DNA and polypeptide sequence is also useful in vaccine preparations against B. bacilliformis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Wei-Mei Ching, Laura Hendrix, Jesus Gonzalez
  • Recombinant MVA virus, and the use thereof
    Patent number: 7198934
    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: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: GSF-Forschungszentrum fur Umwelt und Gesundheit GmbH
    Inventors: Gerd Sutter, Marion Ohlmann, Volker Erfle
  • Method for growth of bacteria, minimising the release of endotoxins from the bacteria into the surrounding medium
    Patent number: 7198936
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for growth of bacteria, such as Gram negative bacteria and its corresponding supernatant. The bacteria are cultivated without substantial release of endotoxins from the bacteria into the surrounding medium. Thereby the need of purification steps necessary to remove endotoxins are reduced or eliminated such as when the bacteria are producing a product which later on should be administered to a mammal, such as a human. The bacteria are also cultivated without substantial formation of acetic acid. The level of the carbon/energy source is controled during the cultivation and oxygen limitation is avoided through regulation of the temperature. The method may be used for cultivation of bacterial in fermenters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Novozymes Biopharma AB
    Inventors: Gustav Silfversparre, Sven-Olof Enfors, Ling Han, Lena Häggström, Harald Skogman
  • Oligoribonucleotides alert the immune system of animals to the imminence of microbial infection
    Patent number: 7189834
    Abstract: This invention provides novel methods and compositions for modulating and stimulating the immune system of animals to withstand microbial infections and the lethality of endotoxic shock by feeding or injecting bacteria-free oligoribonucleotides (ORNs) released by either harmless or pathogenic bacteria. The invention also describes the molecular mode of action of the health benefits derived from consuming fermented dairy products and probiotic bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Inventor: William E. Marshall
  • Cell-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assays for clostridial toxins
    Patent number: 7183066
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining clostridial toxin activity by (a) contacting with a sample a cell containing a clostridial toxin substrate that includes a donor fluorophore; an acceptor having an absorbance spectrum overlapping the emission spectrum of the donor fluorophore; and a clostridial toxin recognition sequence containing a cleavage site that intervenes between the donor fluorophore and the acceptor, where resonance energy transfer is exhibited between the donor fluorophore and the acceptor under the appropriate conditions; (b) exciting the donor fluorophore; and (c) determining resonance energy transfer of the contacted cell relative to a control cell, where a difference in resonance energy transfer of the contacted cell as compared to the control cell is indicative of clostridial toxin activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Ester Fernandez-Salas, Lance E. Steward, Kei Roger Aoki