Patents by Inventor Magnus Hook

Magnus Hook 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).

  • Publication number: 20060258570
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods of inhibiting fibrin(ogen) clot formation by utilizing decorin proteoglycan as an anticoagulating and antithrombotic agent. The decorin proteoglycan comprises a decorin core protein or a fragment thereof covalently linked to a galactosaminoglycan polysaccharide. The decorin core protein acts as an anticoagulant and as a carrier for the delivery of an antithrombotic galactosaminoglycan to fibrinogen. Fibrin clotting is inhibited by the decorin proteoglycan in a concentration-dependent fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Inventors: Magnus Hook, Tracey Dugan
  • Patent number: 7128912
    Abstract: Disclosed are antibodies that block the binding of fibronectin protein to fibronectin. Also disclosed are site specifically-mutated and truncated peptide epitopes derived from the fnbA and fnbB genes of Staphylococcus aureus, the fnbA and fnbB genes of Streptococcus dysgalactiae, and the sfb gene of Streptococcus pyogenes, and nucleic acid segments encoding these peptides and epitopes. The anti-(fibronectin binding site) antibodies, peptides and epitopes that give rise to antibodies that block the binding of fibronectin binding proteins to fibronectin, and DNA segments encoding these proteins and are of use in various screening, diagnostic and therapeutic applications including active and passive immunization and methods for the prevention of streptococcal and staphylococcal colonization in animals or humans. These DNA segments and the peptides derived therefrom are proposed to be of use directly in the preparation of vaccines and also for use as carrier proteins in vaccine formulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignees: The Texas A&M University System, University Degli Studi di Pavia, University of Manitoba
    Inventors: Magnus Höök, Joseph M. Patti, Karen L. House-Pompeo, Pietro Speziale, Danny Joh, Martin J. McGavin
  • Publication number: 20060229276
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an unexpected use of glycosoaminoglycans such as low molecular weight heparin in the prevention and treatment of sepsis. Low molecular weight heparin is capable of preventing mortality and prolonging survival in a mouse model of S. aureus-induced septic death. Two other glycosaminoglycans, namely chondroitin sulfate A and dermatan sulfate were also shown to exhibit a therapeutic effect in septic mice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Inventors: Magnus Hook, Jorge Rivas
  • Publication number: 20060222651
    Abstract: A method and composition for the passive immunization of patients infected with or susceptible to infection from Staphylococcus bacteria such as S. aureus and S. epidermidis infection is provided that includes the selection or preparation of a donor plasma pool with high antibody titers to carefully selected Staphylococcus adhesins or MSCRAMMs, or fragments or components thereof, or sequences with substantial homology thereto. The donor plasma pool can be prepared by combining individual blood or blood component samples which have higher than normal titers of antibodies to one or more of the selected adhesins or other proteins that bind to extracellular matrix proteins, or by administering carefully selected proteins or peptides to a host to induce the expression of desired antibodies, and subsequently recovering the enhanced high titer serum or plasma pool from the treated host.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Publication date: October 5, 2006
    Inventors: Joseph Patti, Timothy Foster, Magnus Hook
  • Publication number: 20060198852
    Abstract: The present invention provides cell wall anchored proteins of Bacillus anthracis representative of the MSCRAMM family of proteins and DNAs encoding the same. Also provided are collagen-binding peptides comprising the collagen-binding region A of the cell wall anchored proteins and DNAs encoding these peptides. Further provided are pharmaceutical compositions and immunogenic compositions thereof the cell wall anchored proteins, collagen-binding peptides and encoding DNAs. The immunogenic compositions are useful in methods of inducing an immune response against Bacillus anthracis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Magnus Hook, Yi Xu
  • Patent number: 7094880
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods of inhibiting fibrin(ogen) clot formation by utilizing decorin proteoglycan as an anticoagulating and antithrombotic agent. The decorin proteoglycan comprises a decorin core protein or a fragment thereof covalently linked to a galactosaminoglycan polysaccharide. The decorin core protein acts as an anticoagulant and as a carrier for the delivery of an antithrombotic galactosaminoglycan to fibrinogen. Fibrin clotting is inhibited by the decorin proteoglycan in a concentration-dependent fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Magnus Höök, Tracey A. Dugan
  • Publication number: 20060171964
    Abstract: Methods for treating or preventing infections from coagulase-negative staphylococci using proteins and polypeptides from coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteria such as S. epidermidis, including proteins designated SdrF, SdrG and SdrH, and their effective fragments such as their respective A domains, are provided. Methods are also provided wherein antibodies that recognize the SdrG protein or its ligand binding A region are used to treat or prevent staphylococcal infection, and these methods can also be utilized to prevent the formation of infections on indwelling medical devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Inventors: Timothy Foster, Kirk McCrea, Magnus Hook, Stacey Davis, Deirdre Ni Eidhin, Orla Hartford
  • Publication number: 20060110380
    Abstract: A method of achieving safe and effective treatment or prevention of potentially harmful blood clots, or in inhibiting the coagulation of blood when so desired such as during a wide array of disease conditions including stroke, myocardial infarction, sickle-cell crisis and venous thrombosis, is provided by the administration of a fibrinogen-binding protein capable of binding at the N-terminal B? chain of fibrinogen, such as SdrG or Fbe, or their respective binding regions such as the A domain. In addition, compositions comprising effective amounts of the fibrinogen-binding proteins are also provided. The present anti-coagulation compositions have been shown to inhibit thrombin-induced fibrin clot formation by interfering with the release of fibrinopeptide B and the resulting anti-coagulation effects can be achieved without potential for causing or exacerbating unwanted side effects such as thrombocytopenia associated with prior art anticoagulants such as heparin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Stacey Davis, Magnus Hook
  • Patent number: 7045131
    Abstract: A method and composition for the passive immunization of patients infected with or susceptible to infection from Staphylococcus bacteria such as S. aureus and S. epidermidis infection is provided that includes the selection or preparation of a donor plasma pool with high antibody titers to carefully selected Staphylococcus adhesins or MSCRAMMs, or fragments or components thereof, or sequences with substantial homology thereto. The donor plasma pool can be prepared by combining individual blood or blood component samples which have higher than normal titers of antibodies to one or more of the selected adhesins or other proteins that bind to extracellular matrix proteins, or by administering carefully selected proteins or peptides to a host to induce the expression of desired antibodies, and subsequently recovering the enhanced high titer serum or plasma pool from the treated host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Inhibitex, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Patti, Timothy J. Foster, Magnus Hook
  • Publication number: 20060035336
    Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant triple helical proteins or collagen-like proteins comprising a prokaryotic protein or one or more domains of a prokaryotic protein comprising a collagen-like peptide sequence of repeated Gly-Xaa-Yaa triplets and, optionally, one or more domains from a mammalian collagen. Also provided are expression vectors and host cells containing the expression vectors to produce these recombinant proteins and methods of production for the same. Additionally, antibodies are provided that are directed against a recombinant collagen-like protein that, preferably, binds an integrin. Furthermore, a method of screening for potential therapeutic compounds that inhibit the integrin-binding or -interacting activities of recombinant collagen-like proteins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Magnus Hook, Slawomir Lukomski, Yi Xu
  • Publication number: 20050287146
    Abstract: A method for treating or preventing infections from yeast of the Candida species is provided wherein an immunoglobulin composition containing high titers of antibodies to staphylococcal adhesins ClfA and SdrG is administered in an amount effective to inhibit the growth and progression of Candidial infections. The compositions and methods of the present invention are advantageous in that they can be used to treat both staphylococcal and Candidial infections at the same time, and they are particularly effective in treating or preventing late-onset sepsis in neonates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Joseph Patti, John Vernachio, Yule Liu, Magnus Hook, Maria Bowden, Jenny Singvall
  • Patent number: 6953839
    Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant triple helical proteins or collagen-like proteins comprising a prokaryotic protein or one or more domains of a prokaryotic protein comprising a collagen-like peptide sequence of repeated Gly-Xaa-Yaa triplets and, optionally, one or more domains from a mammalian collagen. Also provided are expression vectors and host cells containing the expression vectors to produce these recombinant proteins and methods of production for the same. Additionally, antibodies are provided that are directed against a recombinant collagen-like protein that, preferably, binds an integrin. Furthermore, a method of screening for potential therapeutic compounds that inhibit the integrin-binding or -interacting activities of recombinant collagen-like proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Magnus Höök, Slawomir Lukomski, Yi Xu
  • Publication number: 20050180986
    Abstract: A collagen-binding MSCRAMM entitled Ace from enterococcal bacteria is provided which was homologous to the ligand-binding region of Cna, the collagen-binding MSCRAMM from Staphylococcus aureus, and which can be utilized to inhibit adhesion of enterococcal bacteria to extracellular matrix proteins. The N-terminal region of Ace contained a region (residues 174-319), or A domain, contains several 47-residue tandem repeat units between the collagen-binding site and cell wall-associated regions. The Ace protein can be utilized in methods of preventing and/or treating enterococcal infection, and in addition, antibodies raised against Ace, or its A domain, can be used to effectively inhibit the adhesion of enterococcal cells to a collagen substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Inventors: Rebecca Rich, Bernd Kriekemeyer, Rick Owens, Magnus Hook, Barbara Murray, Sreedhar Nallapareddy, George Weinstock
  • Patent number: 6908994
    Abstract: A collagen-binding MSCRAMM entitled Ace from enterococcal bacteria is provided which was homologous to the ligand-binding region of Cna, the collagen-binding MSCRAMM from Staphylococcus aureus, and which can be utilized in a similar manner as other collagen-binding MSCRAMMs to inhibit adhesion of enterococcal bacteria to extracellular matrix proteins. The N-terminal region of Ace contained a region (residues 174-319), or A domain, which appears to be equivalent to the minimal ligand-binding region of the collagen-binding protein Cna (Cna 151-318), and contains several 47-residue tandem repeat units, called B domain repeat units, between the collagen-binding site and cell wall-associated regions. The Ace protein of the invention can thus be utilized in methods of preventing and/or treating enterococcal infection, and in addition, antibodies raised against Ace, or its A domain, can be used to effectively inhibit the adhesion of enterococcal cells to a collagen substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignees: The Texas A&M University System, Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
    Inventors: Rebecca L. Rich, Bernd Kriekemeyer, Rick T. Owens, Magnus Hook, Barbara E. Murray, Sreedhar R. Nallapareddy, George M. Weinstock
  • Publication number: 20050123552
    Abstract: Disclosed are antibodies that block the binding of fibronectin protein to fibronectin. Also disclosed are site specifically-mutated and truncated peptide epitopes derived from the fnbA and fnbB genes of Staphylococcus aureus, the fnbA and fnbB genes of Streptococcus dysgalactiae, and the sfb gene of Streptococcus pyogenes, and nucleic acid segments encoding these peptides and epitopes. The anti-(fibronectin binding site) antibodies, peptides and epitopes that give rise to antibodies that block the binding of fibronectin binding proteins to fibronectin, and DNA segments encoding these proteins and are of use in various screening, diagnostic and therapeutic applications including active and passive immunization and methods for the prevention of streptococcal and staphylococcal colonization in animals or humans. These DNA segments and the peptides derived therefrom are proposed to be of use directly in the preparation of vaccines and also for use as carrier proteins in vaccine formulations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventors: Magnus Hook, Joseph Patti, Karen House-Pompeo, Pietro Speziale, Danny Joh, Martin McGavin
  • Publication number: 20050026170
    Abstract: Isolated extracellular matrix-binding proteins, designated ClfB, SdrC, SdrD and SdrE, and their corresponding amino acid and nucleic acid sequences and motifs are described. The proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection and as scientific research tools. Further, antibodies or antibody fragments to the proteins, peptides, fragments thereof or antigenic portions thereof are also useful for the prevention, inhibition, treatment and diagnosis of S. aureus infection. In particular, the proteins or antibodies thereof may be administered to wounds or used to coat biomaterials to act as blocking agents to prevent or inhibit the binding of S. aureus to wounds or biomaterials. ClfB is a cell-wall associated protein having a predicted molecular weight of approximately 88 kDa and an apparent molecular weight of approximately 124 kDa, which binds both soluble and immobilized fibrinogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Joseph Patti, Timothy Foster, Elisabet Josefsson, Deidre Eidhin, Magnus Hook, Samuel Perkins
  • Publication number: 20050020491
    Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods of inhibiting fibrin(ogen) clot formation by utilizing decorin proteoglycan as an anticoagulating and antithrombotic agent. The decorin proteoglycan comprises a decorin core protein or a fragment thereof covalently linked to a galactosaminoglycan polysaccharide. The decorin core protein acts as an anticoagulant and as a carrier for the delivery of an antithrombotic galactosaminoglycan to fibrinogen. Fibrin clotting is inhibited by the decorin proteoglycan in a concentration-dependent fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: Magnus Hook, Tracey Dugan
  • Publication number: 20050002925
    Abstract: Isolated peptide sequences and proteins containing these sequences are provided which are useful in the prevention and treatment of infection caused by Gram-positive bacteria. The peptide sequences have been shown to be highly conserved motifs in the surface proteins of Gram-positive bacteria, and these consensus sequences include amino acid sequences such as LPXTG (SEQ ID NO:13), ALKTGKIDIIISGMTSTPERKK (SEQ ID NO:14), VEGAVVEKPVAEAYLKQN (SEQ ID NO:15), and EYAGVDIDLAKKIAK (SEQ ID NO:16). By virtue of the highly conserved regions, the sequences and the proteins including these sequences can be utilized to generate antibodies which can recognize these highly conserved motifs and the proteins containing them and thus be useful in the treatment or prevention of a wide range of infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Yi Xu, Magnus Hook
  • Publication number: 20040214282
    Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant triple helical proteins or collagen-like proteins comprising a prokaryotic protein or one or more domains of a prokaryotic protein comprising a collagen-like peptide sequence of repeated Gly-Xaa-Yaa triplets and, optionally, one or more domains from a mammalian collagen. Also provided are expression vectors and host cells containing the expression vectors to produce these recombinant proteins and methods of production for the same. Additionally, antibodies are provided that are directed against a recombinant collagen-like protein that, preferably, binds an integrin. Furthermore, a method of screening for potential therapeutic compounds that inhibit the integrin-binding or -interacting activities of recombinant collagen-like proteins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Magnus Hook, Slawomir Lukomski, Yi Xu
  • Publication number: 20040101919
    Abstract: A bioinformatic method is provided for identifying and isolating proteins with MSCRAMM®-like characteristics from Gram positive bacteria, such as Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Bacillus bacteria, which can then be utilized in methods to prevent and treat infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria. The method involves identifying from sequence information those proteins with a putative C-terminal LPXTG (SEQ ID NO:1) cell wall sorting signal and other structural similarities to MSCRAMM® proteins having the LPXTG-anchored cell wall proteins. The MSCRAMM® proteins and immunogenic regions therein that are identified and isolated using the present invention may be used to generate antibodies useful in the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of Gram positive bacterial infections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Magnus Hook, Yi Xu, Jouko V. Sillanpaa, Narayana Sthanam, Karthe Ponnuraj, Joseph M. Patti, Jeff T. Hutchins, Andrea Hall, Maria G. Bowden