Patents by Inventor John M. Nichols

John M. Nichols 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).

  • Patent number: 8361708
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated novel virus causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in humans (“hSARS virus”). The hSARS virus is identified to be morphologically and phylogenetically similar to known member of Coronaviridae. The present invention provides the complete genomic sequence of the hSARS virus. Furthermore, the invention provides the nucleic acids and peptides encoded by and/or derived from the hSARS virus and their use in diagnostic methods and therapeutic methods, including vaccines. In addition, the invention provides chimeric or recombinant viruses encoded by said nucleotide sequences and antibodies immunospecific to the polypeptides encoded by the nucleotide sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Versitech Limited
    Inventors: Joseph S. M. Peiris, Kwok Yung Yuen, Lit Man Poon, Yi Guan, Kwok Hung Chan, John M. Nicholls, Frederick C. Leung
  • Publication number: 20100285457
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-throughput diagnostic assay for the virus causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in humans (“hSARS virus”). In particular, the invention relates to a high-throughput reverse transcription-PCR diagnostic test for SARS associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). The present assay is a rapid, reliable assay which can be used for diagnosis and monitoring the spread of SARS and is based on the nucleotide sequences of the N (nucleocapsid)-gene of the hSARS virus. The present method eliminates false negative results and provides increased sensitivity for the assay. The invention also discloses the S (spike)-gene of the hSARS virus. The invention further relates to the deduced amino acid sequences of the N-gene and S-gene products of the hSARS virus and to the use of the N-gene and S-gene products in diagnostic methods. The invention further encompasses diagnostic assays and kits comprising antibodies generated against the N-gene or S-gene product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Joseph S.M. Peiris, Kwok Yung Yuen, Lit Man Poon, Yi Guan, Kwok Hung Chan, John M. Nicholls, Frederick C. Leung
  • Patent number: 7785775
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated novel virus causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in humans (“hSARS virus”). The hSARS virus is identified to be morphologically and phylogenetically similar to known member of Coronaviridae. The present invention provides the complete genomic sequence of the hSARS virus. Furthermore, the invention provides the nucleic acids and peptides encoded by and/or derived from the hSARS virus and their use in diagnostic methods and therapeutic methods, including vaccines. In addition, the invention provides chimeric or recombinant viruses encoded by said nucleotide sequences and antibodies immunospecific to the polypeptides encoded by the nucleotide sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Versitech Limited
    Inventors: Joseph Sriyal Malik Peiris, Kwok Yung Yuen, Lit Man Poon, Yi Guan, Kwok Hung Chan, John M. Nicholls, Frederick C. Leung
  • Publication number: 20100184019
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated novel virus causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in humans (“hSARS virus”). The hSARS virus is identified to be morphologically and phylogenetically similar to known member of Coronaviridae. The present invention provides the complete genomic sequence of the hSARS virus. Furthermore, the invention provides the nucleic acids and peptides encoded by and/or derived from the hSARS virus and their use in diagnostic methods and therapeutic methods, including vaccines. In addition, the invention provides chimeric or recombinant viruses encoded by said nucleotide sequences and antibodies immunospecific to the polypeptides encoded by the nucleotide sequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Joseph S.M. Peiris, Kwok Yung Yuen, Lit Man Poon, Yi Guan, Kwok Hung Chan, John M. Nicholls, Frederick C. Leung
  • Publication number: 20100080824
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated novel virus causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in humans (“hSARS virus”). The hSARS virus is identified to be morphologically and phylogenetically similar to known member of Coronaviridae. The present invention provides the complete genomic sequence of the hSARS virus. Furthermore, the invention provides the nucleic acids and peptides encoded by and/or derived from the hSARS virus and their use in diagnostic methods and therapeutic methods, including vaccines. In addition, the invention provides chimeric or recombinant viruses encoded by said nucleotide sequences and antibodies immunospecific to the polypeptides encoded by the nucleotide sequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: The University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Joseph S.M. Peiris, Kwok Yung Yuen, Lit Man Poon, Yi Guan, Kwok Hung Chan, John M. Nicholls, Frederick C. Leung
  • Patent number: 7547512
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-throughput diagnostic assay for the virus causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in humans (“hSARS virus”). In particular, the invention relates to a high-throughput reverse transcription-PCR diagnostic test for SARS associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). The present assay is a rapid, reliable assay which can be used for diagnosis and monitoring the spread of SARS and is based on the nucleotide sequences of the N (nucleocapsid)-gene of the hSARS virus. The present method eliminates false negative results and provides increased sensitivity for the assay. The invention also discloses the S (spike)-gene of the hSARS virus. The invention further relates to the deduced amino acid sequences of the N-gene and S-gene products of the hSARS virus and to the use of the N-gene and S-gene products in diagnostic methods. The invention further encompasses diagnostic assays and kits comprising antibodies generated against the N-gene or S-gene product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: The University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Joseph S. M. Peiris, Kwok Yung Yuen, Lit Man Poon, Yi Guan, Kwok Hung Chan, John M. Nicholls, Frederick C. Leung
  • Patent number: 7375202
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated novel virus causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in humans (“hSARS virus”). The hSARS virus is identified to be morphologically and phylogenetically similar to known member of Coronaviridae. The present invention provides the complete genomic sequence of the hSARS virus. Furthermore, the invention provides the nucleic acids and peptides encoded by and/or derived from the hSARS virus and their use in diagnostic methods and therapeutic methods, including vaccines. In addition, the invention provides chimeric or recombinant viruses encoded by said nucleotide sequences and antibodies immunospecific to the polypeptides encoded by the nucleotide sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: The University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Joseph S. M. Peiris, Kwok Yung Yuen, Lit Man Poon, Yi Guan, Kwok Hung Chan, John M. Nicholls, Frederick C. Leung
  • Patent number: 7267942
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a diagnostic assay for the virus causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in humans (“hSARS virus”). In particular, the invention relates to a real-time quantitative PCR assay for the detection of hSARS virus using reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction. Specifically, the quantitative assay is a TaqMan® assay using the primers and probes constructed based on the genome of the hSARS virus. The invention further relates to a diagnostic kit that comprises nucleic acid molecules for the detection of the hSARS virus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: The University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Joseph S. M. Peiris, Kwok Yung Yuen, Lit Man Poon, Yi Guan, Kwok Hung Chan, John M. Nicholls
  • Patent number: 5596727
    Abstract: An arrangement (FIG. 1) that allows banks (15, 25) of up to eight duplicated active devices (30-37, 40-47) to be connected to a SCSI bus (14) and to share SCSI device IDs, and also allows multiple hosts (10, 20) to share the SCSI bus and the connected active devices. Tri-state buffers (200) act as gates (13, 23, 38, 48) to interface host adapters (12, 24) of a plurality of hosts, and active devices of a plurality of device banks, to the SCSI bus. The gate of only one host adapter and the gates of only one bank of devices are enabled at any one time. Only the devices of the enabled bank can receive and respond to addresses from the SCSI bus, while the devices of the other banks are prevented from receiving and responding to addresses from the SCSI bus. Each host has a tri-state buffer acting as bank selector (16, 26) for selecting one of the device banks, by enabling the gates of the devices of the selected bank through a bank select bus (50). Only one host's bank selector is enabled at any one time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Literati, John M. Nichols, David M. Sueper, Richard A. Windhausen
  • Patent number: 4901348
    Abstract: An arrangement for securing data transmissions to and from one data device from among a plurality of data devices sharing a common interface is disclosed. In a data communication network, a master communication bus connects to a plurality of data transmitting and receiving devices via a single interface. The disclosed arrangement provides circuitry in the common interface which generates a jamming signal to all devices connected to the interface except for that one device which is either transmitting or receiving a data-transmission. The jamming signal inhibits all the connected devices from monitoring and detecting the data transmission processes of the interface. The one transmitting and receiving device is enabled to either transmit or receive data during the generation of the jamming signal which ensures a secure data transmission and prevents "eavesdropping" by the other devices. The jamming signal is removed at the conclusion of the data transmission to or from the one device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignees: American Telephone and Telegraph Company, AT&T Information Systems Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Nichols, Richard A. Windhausen
  • Patent number: 4727537
    Abstract: A data transmission flow control arrangement for controlling the flow of data packets to a network as tramsmitted by one or more data transmitting and receiving devices via an interface is disclosed. The disclosed flow control arrangement provides circuitry in the interface responsive to the storage capacity of a buffer included in the interface. If the buffer contains sufficient space to store a data packet of maximum length, data transmissions continue unencumbered. However, if the buffer contains insufficient space to accomodate a data packet of maximum length, the specialized circuitry of the interface responds to this condition and applies a signal to all of the associated transmitting and receiving devices of the interface. The jamming signal simulates the conditions associated with a busy network and therefore, inhibits the transmission of data from any of the associated transmitting and receiving devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignees: American Telephone and Telegraph Company, AT&T Information Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Nichols