Patents by Inventor Loren D. Schultz

Loren D. Schultz 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).

  • Optimized expression of HPV31 L1 in yeast
    Patent number: 7276243
    Abstract: Synthetic DNA molecules encoding the HPV31 L1 protein are provided. Specifically, the present invention provides polynucleotides encoding HPV31 L1 protein, wherein said polynucleotides are free from internal transcription termination signals that are recognized by yeast. Also provided are synthetic polynucleotides encoding HPV31 L1 wherein the polynucleotides have been codon-optimized for high level expression in a yeast cell. The synthetic molecules may be used to produce HPV31 virus-like particles (VLPs), and to produce vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the HPV31 VLPs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kathrin U. Jansen, Loren D. Schultz, Michael P. Neeper, Henry Z. Markus
  • Optimized expression of HPV 45 L1 in yeast
    Patent number: 7250170
    Abstract: Synthetic DNA molecules encoding the HPV45 L1 protein are provided. Specifically, the present invention provides polynucleotides encoding HPV45 L1 protein, wherein said polynucleotides have been codon-optimized for high level expression in a yeast cell. The synthetic molecules may be used to produce HPV45 virus-like particles (VLPs), and to produce vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the HPV45 VLPs. The vaccines of the present invention provide effective immunoprophylaxis against papillomavirus infection through neutralizing antibody and cell-mediated immunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Janine T. Bryan, Michelle K. Brownlow, Loren D. Schultz, Kathrin U. Jansen
  • Synthetic human papilloma virus genes
    Patent number: 7211569
    Abstract: Synthetic DNA molecules encoding papillomavirus proteins are provided. The codons of the synthetic molecules are codons preferred by the projected host cell. The synthetic molecules may be used as a polynucleotide vaccine which provides effective immunoprophylaxis against papillomavirus infection through stimulation of neutralizing antibody and cell-mediated immunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P Neeper, William L. McClements, Kathrin U. Jansen, Loren D. Schultz, Ling Chen, Xin-Min Wang
  • Synthetic human papillomavirus genes
    Patent number: 7001995
    Abstract: Synthetic DNA molecules encoding papillomavirus proteins are provided. The codons of the synthetic molecules are codons preferred by the projected host cell. The synthetic molecules may be used as a polynucleotide vaccine which provides effective immunoprophylaxis against papillomavirus infection through stimulation of neutralizing antibody and cell-mediated immunity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P Neeper, William L. McClements, Kathrin U. Jansen, Loren D. Schultz, Ling Chen, Xin-Min Wang
  • Method of increasing production of disulfide bonded recombinant proteins by saccharomyces cerevisiae
    Patent number: 6291205
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for increasing the yield of disulfide bonded recombinant proteins produced by yeast, especially recombinant secreted proteins The enzyme protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) catalyzes the formation of disulfide bonds in secretory and cell-surface proteins. We disclose the construction of recombinant strains of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae which overproduce either human PDI or yeast PDI in a regulated fashion. These strains show greatly increased secretion of disulfide bonded proteins of potential therapeutic significance. These strains have the potential to increase the production of various disulfide bonded proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignees: Merck & Co., Inc., University of Kent at Canterbury
    Inventors: Michael F. Tuite, Robert B. Freedman, Loren D. Schultz, Ronald W. Ellis, Henry Z. Markus, Donna L. Montgomery
  • Trains of yeast for the expression of heterologous genes
    Patent number: 5068185
    Abstract: The GAL4 protein is rate-limiting in quantity as a positive regulator for galactose-inducible promoters in strains of yeast. Novel strains are described in which the GAL4 protein can be overproduced in a regulatable fashion. These strains are useful for the regulatable expression in yeast of heterologous genes whose expression is driven by a galactose-inducible promoter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Hopper, Loren D. Schultz, Kathryn J. Hofmann, Ronald W. Ellis