Patents Examined by W. Gary Jones
  • Patent number: 7192772
    Abstract: Recombinant host cells are obtained that comprise (A) a heterologous, polypeptide-encoding polynucleotide segment, stably integrated into a chromosome, which is under transcriptional control of an endogenous promoter and (B) a mutation that effects increased expression of the heterologous segment, resulting in enhanced production by the host cells of each polypeptide encoded by that segment, relative to production of each polypeptide by the host cells in the absence of the mutation. The increased expression thus achieved is retained in the absence of conditions that select for cells displaying such increased expression. When the integrated segment comprises, for example, ethanol-production genes from an efficient ethanol producer like Zymomonas mobilis, recombinant Escherichia coli and other enteric bacterial cells within the present invention are capable of converting a wide range of biomass-derived sugars efficiently to ethanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: The University of Florida Research Foundations, Inc.
    Inventors: Lonnie O. Ingram, Kazuyoshi Ohta, Brent E. Wood
  • Patent number: 7052840
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and compositions wherein nucleic acids are associated with a solid phase that comprises a carboxylated substrate. In specific embodiments, precipitation of the nucleic acids occurs in the absence of salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Capitol Genomix, Inc.
    Inventors: Indira Carey, Teri Heiland, Anna Smith, Jill Ray
  • Patent number: 7037655
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reproducible method to determine flocculating properties of bottom fermenting yeast, at a short time, easily and quickly, without fermentation. It is characterized in using an ORF sequence of a flocculation gene FLO5 of laboratory's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Asahi Breweries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Makiko Jibiki
  • Patent number: 7029849
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for detecting a risk of hypertension and for targeting antihypertensive treatment in a subject, the method comprising isolating genomic DNA from said subject, determining the DNA sequence comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a variant ?2B-adrenoceptor protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Oy Jurilab Ltd.
    Inventor: Jukka T. Salonen
  • Patent number: 6986985
    Abstract: This invention provides in vitro processes for producing copies of specific nucleic acids using protein-nucleic acid constructs which are part of conjugates which are introduced into cells. Illustrative of the elements useful in these constructs for producing copies of specific nucleic acids are promoters, sequences coding for proteins or providing templates for transcription, and RNA polymerases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Enzo Life Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean L. Engelhardt, Jannis G. Stavrianopoulos, Elazar Rabbani, James J. Donegan
  • Patent number: 6982143
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for normalizing and amplifying RNA populations. The methods generally comprise the steps of copying message RNA (mRNA) to form first single-stranded (ss) cDNA; converting the first ss-cDNA to first double-stranded (ds) cDNA; linearly amplifying the first ds-cDNA to form first amplified RNA (aRNA); tagging the 3? end of the first aRNA with a known sequence to form 3?-tagged first aRNA; copying the 3?-tagged first aRNA to form second ss-cDNA; and normalizing the mRNA and/or the first aRNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: John Ngai, David Lin
  • Patent number: 6974703
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for detection of a target molecule. The apparatus includes a probe labeled with a transition metal-ligand complex that hybridizes with the target to form an initial complex, a metal ion for doping the initial complex and forming a final complex, and a potential means for providing a potential to the final complex to produce a detectable signal indicating the presence of the target after redox reaction. The method of the invention teaches the steps of hybridizing a probe with an attached label to the target to produce an initial complex, adding a metal ion to the initial complex to form a final complex and applying a potential to the final complex to produce a measurable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ganapati R. Mauze, Dan-Hui Yang
  • Patent number: 6962780
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for synthesis of nucleic acids to amplify an intended nucleic acid in a region in which a GC content is rich, wherein a polyhydric alcohol and/or ammonium sulfate is present in an amplification reaction solution. According to the present invention, it is possible to amplify nucleic acids in a GC rich region efficiently and directly from a sample such as blood containing lots of PCR inhibitory substances without undergoing a process of isolating and purifying the nucleic acid, even though conducting PCR in the GC rich region tends to be difficult using conventional processes even if purified DNA is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoko Nakayama, Naoyuki Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6911306
    Abstract: The invention relates to the identification of a novel gene, TMS1, which is transcriptionally silenced as a result of methylation. Nucleic acids and polypeptides are provided as are methods and tools for diagnosing and treating disorders characterized by such methylation, and/or abnormally low levels of TMS1 expression products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Emory University
    Inventor: Paula M. Vertino
  • Patent number: 6900048
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an addressable array of biopolymers on a substrate using a biomonomer with a first linking group which must be activated for linking to a substrate bound moiety, and apparatus and computer program products for executing the method. The method includes forming on a region of the substrate carrying the substrate bound moiety, a solid activator composition. A biomonomer containing fluid composition is deposited on the region so that the solid activator activates the first linking group and the biomonomer links to the substrate bound moiety. The foregoing steps may be repeated, wherein a biomonomer deposited and linked to the substrate bound moiety in one cycle is the substrate bound moiety for the next cycle, so as to form the biopolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michel G. M. Perbost
  • Patent number: 6881538
    Abstract: Materials for use in miniaturized arrays, the arrays, and methods of manufacturing. Materials for making arrays described include a substrate with a silicon-containing layer, optionally with linking agents and reactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Louis C. Haddad, Moses M. David, Kurt J. Halverson, Sanjay L. Patil, Jerald K. Rasmussen, James I. Hembre
  • Patent number: 6872523
    Abstract: Materials and methods are provided which rapidly and specifically different between pathogenic and non-pathogenic Aspergillus species in a biological sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
    Inventors: Peter C. Iwen, Steven H. Hinrichs, Travis Henry
  • Patent number: 6869790
    Abstract: The cDNA which codes for factor XIIIa has been isolated using a cDNA bank from human placenta and probes constructed on the basis of the amino acid sequence of factor XIIIa peptide fragments. It is possible with this cDNA not only to obtain factor XIIIa by gene manipulation in high purity but also to prepare diagnostic aids which permit the analysis of genetic factor XIIIa defects. Furthermore, it is possible on the basis of the amino acid sequence to prepare antibodies which are suitable for diagnostic aids and antibody columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Aventis Behring GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Grundmann, Egon Amann, Gerd Zettlmeissl
  • Patent number: 6870037
    Abstract: Disclosed are novel nucleic acid and peptide compositions comprising methythlioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) and methods of use for MTAP amino acid sequences and DNA segments comprising MTAP in the diagnosis of human cancers and development of MTAP-specific antibodies. Also disclosed are methods for the diagnosis and treatment of tumors and other proliferative cell disorders, and idenification tumor suppressor genes and gene products from the human 9p21-p22 chromosome region. Such methods are useful in the diagnosis of multiple tumor types such as bladder cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, brain tumors, lymphomas, gliomas, melanomas, and leukemias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Arch Development Corporation
    Inventor: Olufunmilayo I. Olopade
  • Patent number: 6793488
    Abstract: A fluorescent DNA probes specific to the conserved terminal 3′-noncoding region (nucleotides 10653-10678) of dengue virus and a pair of flanking primers are designed to formulate a dengue specific fluorogenic polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Optimal assay conditions with zero background are disclosed which permit the detection of low levels of dengue virus from clinical specimens. Dengue virus isolates from different geographic regions can be universally detected and identified by the fluorogenic RT-PCR assay. Moreover, the assay is specific for dengue 2 virus and does not recognize other related flaviviruses, including dengue serotypes Louis encephalitis, yellow fever, and Kunjin viruses. The ) 3, and 4, Japanese encephalitis, St. assay also efficiently detected immunocomplexed dengue viruses. The fluorogenic RT-PCR assay readily detected viremia in sera collected from individuals ill with dengue fever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: U.S. Army Medical Research & Materiel Command
    Inventors: Huo-Shu H. Houng, Niranjan Kanesa-Thasan
  • Patent number: 6762293
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to the gene, and mutations, that are responsible for the disease hemochromatosis (HH). In particular, the present invention provides for the presence of one or more mutations on the ferroportin 1 (SLC11A3) gene which results in aberrant SLC11A3 mediated iron transport. The invention also relates to methods for diagnostic tools, drugs and therapies developed for the treatment of patients with HH or anemia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Erasmus University Rotterdam
    Inventors: Cock M. van Duijn, Peter Heutink, Ben A. Oostra
  • Patent number: 6723514
    Abstract: This invention concerns novel methods and compositions useful for directly and rapidly analyzing the biochemical components of microorganisms. The compositions and methods of the present invention obviate the need for extracting and purifying the biochemicals prior to analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Biochaiv Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Xiaoliang Han, Wan-Heng Wang
  • Patent number: 6720138
    Abstract: A method for preparing a gene transcript pattern probe kit characteristic of a disease or condition or a stage thereof in a prokaryotic or eukaryotic organism using mRNA which is differentially expressed in the disease or condition or stage as probes, methods of diagnosis using the method and kits for performing the same are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Diagenic AS
    Inventors: Praveen Sharma, Anders Lönneborg
  • Patent number: 6709813
    Abstract: An aqueous composition containing primers for opposing strands of human cytomegaloviral DNA and a second target DNA can be used in polymerase chain reaction to provide simultaneously rapid and efficient amplification and detection of those nucleic acids. The primers for each target DNA differ in length by no more than 5 nucleotides and have a Tm within the range of from about 65 to about 74° C., while the Tm's are within about 5° C. of each other. Such compositions are useful in diagnostic test kits and methods for amplification and detection of hCMV DNA and other target DNA's using multiple capture probes, in “multiplexing”. All of the capture probes have Tm's which are greater than 50° C. and are within 15° C. of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Lynn Bergmeyer, Thomas J. Cummins, John Bruce Findlay, JoAnne H. Kerschner
  • Patent number: 6706471
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the detection and characterization of nucleic acid sequences, as well as variations in nucleic acid sequences. The present invention also relates to methods for forming a nucleic acid cleavage structure on a target sequence and cleaving the nucleic acid cleavage structure in a site-specific manner. The 5′ nuclease activity of a variety of enzymes is used to cleave the target-dependent cleavage structure, thereby indicating the presence of specific nucleic acid sequences or specific variations thereof. The present invention further relates to methods and devices for the separation of nucleic acid molecules based by charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Third Wave Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Ann D. Brow, Jeff Steven Grotelueschen Hall, Victor Lyamichev, David Michael Olive, James Robert Prudent