Patents by Inventor Francis Mark Dunning
Francis Mark Dunning 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).
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Publication number: 20240002443Abstract: Recombinant nucleic acids encoding reporting constructs for characterizing botulinum neurotoxin protease activity and cells that incorporate such recombinant nucleic acids and that are suitable for use in cell-based assays for the neurotoxin are provided. The encoded reporting constructs are a pair of recombinant hybrid proteins that act in concert. The reporting constructs are a pair of recombinant hybrid proteins that act in concert, and that include a botulinum neurotoxin protease recognition and cleavage sequence positioned to release a fluorophore upon cleavage.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Inventors: Ward C Tucker, Francis Mark Dunning
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Patent number: 11661442Abstract: Vesicles that incorporate reporting constructs for characterizing Botulinum neurotoxin protease activity and suitable for use in an assay are provided. The reporting constructs are a pair of recombinant hybrid proteins that act in concert. The reporting constructs are a pair of recombinant hybrid proteins that act in concert, and that include a Botulinum neurotoxin protease recognition and cleavage sequence positioned to release a fluorophore upon cleavage.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: BioMadison, Inc.Inventors: Ward C Tucker, Francis Mark Dunning
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Publication number: 20230143149Abstract: Systems are described in which a primary detergent or surfactant in an aqueous solution is removed by the addition of a secondary detergent or surfactant in concentrations that exceed the critical micellar concentration (CMC) of the secondary detergent or surfactant using a size separation device. These systems are particularly applicable to protein-containing solutions. Typical primary detergents/surfactants include polysorbate 20, polysorbate 80, and Triton X-100. Suitable secondary detergents or surfactants can be ionic, nonionic, or zwitterionic. Typical secondary detergents/surfactants include, but are not limited to, galactoside detergents (e.g. octyl-?-galactoside), glucamide detergents (e.g. MEGA 8, MEGA 9, MEGA 10), cholamide detergents (e.g. CHAPS, CHAPSO, BIGCHAPS), and sulfobetaine detergents (such as sulfobetaine 3-10).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2023Publication date: May 11, 2023Inventors: Francis Mark Dunning, Ward C. Tucker
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Patent number: 11578099Abstract: Compositions and methods are described in which a primary detergent or surfactant in an aqueous solution is removed by the addition of a secondary detergent or surfactant in concentrations that exceed the critical micellar concentration (CMC) of the secondary detergent or surfactant. These compositions and methods are particularly applicable to protein-containing solutions. Typical primary detergents/surfactants include polysorbate 20, polysorbate 80, and Triton X-100. Suitable secondary detergents or surfactants can be ionic, nonionic, or zwitterionic. Typical secondary detergents/surfactants include, but are not limited to, galactoside detergents (e.g. octyl-?-galactoside), glucamide detergents (e.g. MEGA 8, MEGA 9, MEGA 10), cholamide detergents (e.g. CHAPS, CHAPSO, BIGCHAPS), and sulfobetaine detergents (such as sulfobetaine 3-10).Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: BioMadison, Inc.Inventors: Francis Mark Dunning, Ward C. Tucker
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Publication number: 20220273776Abstract: Methods for treating diseases characterized by elevated secretory activity using a protease directed to a non-neuronal SNARE protein are described. The protease is produced by selective mutation of a botulinum neurotoxin light chain, and is characterized utilizing a reporting construct that includes all or part of the non-neuronal SNARE protein. Such a protease has utility in the treatment of diseases associated with hypersecretion, where the hypersecretion is mediated by a non-neuronal SNARE protein.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2022Publication date: September 1, 2022Inventors: Francis Mark Dunning, Ward Tucker
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Publication number: 20220196634Abstract: Compositions and methods for improved cell-based methods of characterizing botulinum neurotoxins are provided. Cells utilized in these methods include a reporting construct that is cleaved following uptake and processing of botulinum neurotoxin by the cell, resulting in proteolysis of the portion of the reporting construct that is released following cleavage. The released portion includes a fluorophore and amino acid substitutions or sequences that enhance the rate of proteolysis. A pair of reporting constructs can be utilized in which one member of the pair is modified to resist cleavage by the botulinum neurotoxin while co-localizing with the remaining member of the pair.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2022Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Timothy Piazza, Francis Mark Dunning, Ward C Tucker
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Patent number: 11357838Abstract: A protease directed to a non-neuronal SNARE protein is described. The protease is produced by selective mutation of a botulinum neurotoxin light chain, and is characterized utilizing a reporting construct that includes all or part of the non-neuronal SNARE protein. Such a protease has utility in the treatment of diseases associated with hypersecretion, where the hypersecretion is mediated by a non-neuronal SNARE protein.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: BioMadison, Inc.Inventors: Francis Mark Dunning, Ward Tucker
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Publication number: 20210269485Abstract: Vesicles that incorporate reporting constructs for characterizing Botulinum neurotoxin protease activity and suitable for use in an assay are provided. The reporting constructs are a pair of recombinant hybrid proteins that act in concert. The reporting constructs are a pair of recombinant hybrid proteins that act in concert, and that include a Botulinum neurotoxin protease recognition and cleavage sequence positioned to release a fluorophore upon cleavage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: Ward C Tucker, Francis Mark Dunning
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Patent number: 10975125Abstract: Reporting constructs for characterizing Botulinum neurotoxin protease activity and suitable for use in a cell-based assay are provided. The reporting construct can be a single recombinant hybrid protein or a pair of recombinant hybrid proteins that act in concert. The recombinant hybrid protein(s) include a fluorophore and an N-terminal non-peptide membrane anchoring portion. The recombinant hybrid protein or at least one of a pair of recombinant hybrid proteins that act in concert include a Botulinum neurotoxin protease recognition and cleavage sequence positioned to release a fluorophore upon cleavage.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: BioMadison, Inc.Inventors: Ward C Tucker, Francis Mark Dunning
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Publication number: 20200291065Abstract: Compositions and methods are described in which a primary detergent or surfactant in an aqueous solution is removed by the addition of a secondary detergent or surfactant in concentrations that exceed the critical micellar concentration (CMC) of the secondary detergent or surfactant. These compositions and methods are particularly applicable to protein-containing solutions. Typical primary detergents/surfactants include polysorbate 20, polysorbate 80, and Triton X-100. Suitable secondary detergents or surfactants can be ionic, nonionic, or zwitterionic. Typical secondary detergents/surfactants include, but are not limited to, galactoside detergents (e.g. octyl-?-galactoside), glucamide detergents (e.g. MEGA 8, MEGA 9, MEGA 10), cholamide detergents (e.g. CHAPS, CHAPSO, BIGCHAPS), and sulfobetaine detergents (such as sulfobetaine 3-10).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2020Publication date: September 17, 2020Inventors: Francis Mark DUNNING, Ward C. Tucker
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Publication number: 20200109174Abstract: Reporting constructs for characterizing Botulinum neurotoxin protease activity and suitable for use in a cell-based assay are provided. The reporting construct can be a single recombinant hybrid protein or a pair of recombinant hybrid proteins that act in concert. The recombinant hybrid protein(s) include a fluorophore and an N-terminal non-peptide membrane anchoring portion. The recombinant hybrid protein or at least one of a pair of recombinant hybrid proteins that act in concert include a Botulinum neurotoxin protease recognition and cleavage sequence positioned to release a fluorophore upon cleavage.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2019Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: Ward C. Tucker, Francis Mark Dunning
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Publication number: 20190381153Abstract: A protease directed to a non-neuronal SNARE protein is described. The protease is produced by selective mutation of a botulinum neurotoxin light chain, and is characterized utilizing a reporting construct that includes all or part of the non-neuronal SNARE protein. Such a protease has utility in the treatment of diseases associated with hypersecretion, where the hypersecretion is mediated by a non-neuronal SNARE protein.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2019Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: Francis Mark Dunning, Ward Tucker
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Patent number: 10508135Abstract: Compositions and methods for analyzing protease activity, and especially BoNT/B, BoNT/G, BoNT/D, and/or BoNT/F protease activity, using a cell based assay are provided. Cells express at least two recombinant hybrid proteins each of which includes a fluorophore and a membrane anchoring peptide, and at least one of which includes a BoNT protease recognition and cleavage sequence positioned to release a fluorophore upon cleavage. Analysis is performed by monitoring fluorescence following exposure to a BoNT. The fluorophores are positioned so that no useful FRET occurs between them, permitting fluorescence produced by the non-released fluorophore to be used in data normalization.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2019Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: BIOMADISON, INC.Inventors: Ward C Tucker, Francis Mark Dunning
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Patent number: 10441640Abstract: A protease directed to a non-neuronal SNARE protein is described. The protease is produced by selective mutation of a botulinum neurotoxin light chain, and is characterized utilizing a reporting construct that includes all or part of the non-neuronal SNARE protein. Such a protease has utility in the treatment of diseases associated with hypersecretion, where the hypersecretion is mediated by a non-neuronal SNARE protein.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2015Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: BIOMADISON, INC.Inventors: Francis Mark Dunning, Ward Tucker
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Publication number: 20190153037Abstract: Compositions and methods for analyzing protease activity, and especially BoNT/B, BoNT/G, BoNT/D, and/or BoNT/F protease activity, using a cell based assay are provided. Cells express at least two recombinant hybrid proteins each of which includes a fluorophore and a membrane anchoring peptide, and at least one of which includes a BoNT protease recognition and cleavage sequence positioned to release a fluorophore upon cleavage. Analysis is performed by monitoring fluorescence following exposure to a BoNT. The fluorophores are positioned so that no useful FRET occurs between them, permitting fluorescence produced by the non-released fluorophore to be used in data normalization.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Ward C Tucker, Francis Mark Dunning
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Patent number: 10246492Abstract: Compositions and methods for analyzing intracellular BoNT protease activity, and especially BoNT/B, BoNT/G, BoNT/D, and/or BoNT/F protease activity are provided. Cells express at least two recombinant hybrid proteins each of which includes a fluorophore and a membrane anchoring peptide, and at least one of which includes a BoNT protease recognition and cleavage sequence positioned to release a fluorophore upon cleavage. Analysis is performed by monitoring fluorescence following exposure to a BoNT.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: BIOMADISON, INC.Inventors: Ward C. Tucker, Francis Mark Dunning
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Publication number: 20180074044Abstract: Compositions and methods for improved cell-based methods of characterizing botulinum neurotoxins are provided. Cells utilized in these methods include a reporting construct that is cleaved following uptake and processing of botulinum neurotoxin by the cell, resulting in proteolysis of the portion of the reporting construct that is released following cleavage. The released portion includes a fluorophore and amino acid substitutions or sequences that enhance the rate of proteolysis. A pair of reporting constructs can be utilized in which one member of the pair is modified to resist cleavage by the botulinum neurotoxin while co-localizing with the remaining member of the pair.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Timothy Piazza, Francis Mark Dunning, Ward C. Tucker
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Publication number: 20160151466Abstract: A protease directed to a non-neuronal SNARE protein is described. The protease is produced by selective mutation of a botulinum neurotoxin light chain, and is characterized utilizing a reporting construct that includes all or part of the non-neuronal SNARE protein. Such a protease has utility in the treatment of diseases associated with hypersecretion, where the hypersecretion is mediated by a non-neuronal SNARE protein.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2015Publication date: June 2, 2016Inventors: Francis Mark Dunning, Ward Tucker
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Publication number: 20160069862Abstract: Compositions and methods for analyzing intracellular BoNT protease activity, and especially BoNT/B, BoNT/G, BoNT/D, and/or BoNT/F protease activity are provided. Cells express at least two recombinant hybrid proteins each of which includes a fluorophore and a membrane anchoring peptide, and at least one of which includes a BoNT protease recognition and cleavage sequence positioned to release a fluorophore upon cleavage. Analysis is performed by monitoring fluorescence following exposure to a BoNT.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2015Publication date: March 10, 2016Inventors: Ward C. Tucker, Francis Mark Dunning