Patents by Inventor Abraham L. Sonenshein

Abraham L. Sonenshein has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Methods, compositions and kits for vegetative cell-based vaccines and spore-based vaccines
    Patent number: 9610333
    Abstract: Methods for immunizing a subject to an antigen of an infectious agent, a tumor, or an allergen are provided, using vegetative cytoplasmic expression of the antigen or spore surface display of the antigen, and contacting the subject with a composition including a spore or a vegetative cell or both with or without an adjuvant. Also included are thermally-stable vaccine compositions using the method described above and kits including the compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Tufts University
    Inventors: John E. Herrmann, Boris R. Belitsky, Abraham L. Sonenshein, Saul Tzipori
  • Methods and Compositions for Inhibiting Clostridium difficile Spore Germination and Outgrowth
    Publication number: 20170056419
    Abstract: Certain bile acids, including novel bile acids, and derivatives thereof can be used to inhibit the germination of C. difficile spores and/or the growth of C. difficile cells. The methods and compositions of the invention are useful for preventing and treating C. difficile-associated diseases, including but not limited to C. difficile colitis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph Sorg, Abraham L. Sonenshein
  • Methods and compositions for inhibiting clostridium difficile spore germination and outgrowth
    Patent number: 9340569
    Abstract: Certain bile acids, including novel bile acids, and derivatives thereof can be used to inhibit the germination of C. difficile spores and/or the growth of C. difficile cells. The methods and compositions of the invention are useful for preventing and treating C. difficile-associated diseases, including but not limited to C. difficile colitis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Tufts University
    Inventors: Joseph Sorg, Abraham L. Sonenshein
  • Compositions, methods and kits for repressing virulence in gram positive bacteria
    Patent number: 8592162
    Abstract: Bacterial virulence is repressed by compositions and methods for activating permanently a repressor of virulence factors. Compositions provided contain at least one non-metabolizable analog of guanine, guanosine, isoleucine and valine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Tufts University
    Inventor: Abraham L. Sonenshein
  • Compositions, methods and kits for repressing virulence in gram positive bacteria
    Publication number: 20120252752
    Abstract: Bacterial virulence is repressed by compositions and methods for activating permanently a repressor of virulence factors. Compositions provided contain at least one non-metabolizable analog of guanine, guanosine, isoleucine and valine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventor: Abraham L. Sonenshein
  • Compositions, methods and kits for repressing virulence in gram positive bacteria
    Patent number: 8202695
    Abstract: Bacterial virulence is repressed by compositions and methods for activating permanently a repressor of virulence factors. Compositions provided contain at least one non-metabolizable analog of guanine, guanosine, isoleucine and valine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Tufts University
    Inventor: Abraham L. Sonenshein
  • METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR INHIBITING CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE SPORE GERMINATION AND OUTGROWTH
    Publication number: 20110280847
    Abstract: Certain bile acids, including novel bile acids, and derivatives thereof can be used to inhibit the germination of C. difficile spores and/or the growth of C. difficile cells. The methods and compositions of the invention are useful for preventing and treating C. difficile-associated diseases, including but not limited to C. difficile colitis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: TUFTS UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Joseph Sorg, Abraham L. Sonenshein
  • Methods, compositions and kits for vegetative cell-based vaccines and spore-based vaccines
    Publication number: 20110104200
    Abstract: Methods for immunizing a subject to an antigen of an infectious agent, a tumor, or an allergen are provided, using vegetative cytoplasmic expression of the antigen or spore surface display of the antigen, and contacting the subject with a composition including a spore or a vegetative cell or both with or without an adjuvant. Also included are thermally-stable vaccine compositions using the method described above and kits including the compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: TUFTS UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: John E. Herrmann, Boris R. Belitsky, Abraham L. Sonenshein, Saul Tzipori
  • Bacterial spores as a heat stable vaccine delivery system
    Patent number: 5800821
    Abstract: A method of stimulating a vertebrate animal to produce an immune response to at least one antigen is described. The method includes genetically engineering a bacterial cell with DNA encoding at least one antigen and inducing the bacterial cell to sporulate, then orally administering the bacterial spores to an animal. The bacterial spores germinate in the gastrointestinal tract of the animal and express the antigen so that it comes into contact with the animal's immune system and elicits an immune response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignees: New England Medical Center Hospitals, Inc., Trustees of Tufts College
    Inventors: David W. K. Acheson, Abraham L. Sonenshein, Gerald T. Keusch
  • Promoter probe vectors
    Patent number: 4725535
    Abstract: Promoter probe vectors for determining the presence of efficient promoter regions on DNA segments, which segments permit microbiological expression of genetic information. The promoter probe vector comprises replicons active in E. coli and B. subtilis, a structural gene for B-galactosidase and at least one endonuclease restriction site suitable for insertion of promoter-containing DNA fragments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Inventors: Abraham L. Sonenshein, Caroline E. Donnelly