Patents by Inventor Marcus B. Jones

Marcus B. Jones 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).

  • B. Anthracis Prevention and Treatment: Mutant B. Anthracis Lacking Luxs Activity and Furanone Inhibition of Growth, AI-2 Quorum Sensing, and Toxin Production
    Publication number: 20120157522
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to the discovery that B. anthracis possesses a luxS gene that encodes a functional LuxS polypeptide, and that B. anthracis synthesizes a functional AI-2 quorum-sensing molecule. The invention provides mutant B. anthracis bacteria lacking the function of the luxS gene, which do not produce a functional AI-2 molecule and have growth defects compared to wild-type B. anthracis. The invention also concerns methods for inhibiting the growth of B. anthracis, or for preventing or treating B. anthracis infection, by inhibiting the activity of the B. anthracis LuxS polypeptide, or by exposure of the B. anthracis to furanone. In particular, the invention concerns the use of furanone, a compound that inhibits AI-2-mediated quorum-sensing, to inhibit the growth of B. anthracis, to inhibit B. anthracis toxin production, particularly that of protective antigen, and to prevent or treat B. anthracis infection. The invention also provides methods to prevent B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Marcus B. Jones, Martin J. Blaser, Thomas Wood, Dacheng Ren
  • prevention and treatment: mutant lacking luxs activity and furanone inhibition of growth, AI-2 quorum sensing, and toxin production
    Patent number: 7955596
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to the discovery that B. anthracis possesses a luxS gene that encodes a functional LuxS polypeptide, and that B. anthracis synthesizes a functional AI-2 quorum-sensing molecule. The invention provides mutant B. anthracis bacteria lacking the function of the luxS gene, which do not produce a functional AI-2 molecule and have growth defects compared to wild-type B. anthracis. The invention also concerns methods for inhibiting the growth of B. anthracis, or for preventing or treating B. anthracis infection, by inhibiting the activity of the B. anthracis LuxS polypeptide, or by exposure of the B. anthracis to furanone. In particular, the invention concerns the use of furanone, a compound that inhibits AI-2-mediated quorum-sensing, to inhibit the growth of B. anthracis, to inhibit B. anthracis toxin production, particularly that of protective antigen, and to prevent or treat B. anthracis infection. The invention also provides methods to prevent B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignees: New York University, University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Marcus B. Jones, Martin J. Blaser, Thomas Wood, Dacheng Ren
  • B. ANTHRACIS PREVENTION AND TREATMENT: MUTANT B. ANTHRACIS LACKING LUXS ACTIVITY AND FURANONE INHIBITION OF GROWTH, AI-2 QUORUM SENSING, AND TOXIN PRODUCTION
    Publication number: 20080299153
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to the discovery that B. anthracis possesses a luxS gene that encodes a functional LuxS polypeptide, and that B. anthracis synthesizes a functional AI-2 quorum-sensing molecule. The invention provides mutant B. anthracis bacteria lacking the function of the luxS gene, which do not produce a functional AI-2 molecule and have growth defects compared to wild-type B. anthracis. The invention also concerns methods for inhibiting the growth of B. anthracis, or for preventing or treating B. anthracis infection, by inhibiting the activity of the B. anthracis LuxS polypeptide, or by exposure of the B. anthracis to furanone. In particular, the invention concerns the use of furanone, a compound that inhibits AI-2-mediated quorum-sensing, to inhibit the growth of B. anthracis, to inhibit B. anthracis toxin production, particularly that of protective antigen, and to prevent or treat B. anthracis infection. The invention also provides methods to prevent B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicants: NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
    Inventors: Marcus B. Jones, Martin J. Blaser, Thomas Wood, Dacheng Ren
  • prevention and treatment: mutant lacking luxS activity and furanone inhibition of growth, AI-2 quorum sensing, and toxin production
    Patent number: 7365184
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to the discovery that B. anthracis possesses a luxS gene that encodes a functional LuxS polypeptide, and that B. anthracis synthesizes a functional AI-2 quorum-sensing molecule. The invention provides mutant B. anthracis bacteria lacking the function of the luxS gene, which do not produce a functional AI-2 molecule and have growth defects compared to wild-type B. anthracis. The invention also concerns methods for inhibiting the growth of B. anthracis, or for preventing or treating B. anthracis infection, by inhibiting the activity of the B. anthracis LuxS polypeptide, or by exposure of the B. anthracis to furanone. In particular, the invention concerns the use of furanone, a compound that inhibits AI-2-mediated quorum-sensing, to inhibit the growth of B. anthracis, to inhibit B. anthracis toxin production, particularly that of protective antigen, and to prevent or treat B. anthracis infection. The invention also provides methods to prevent B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Marcus B. Jones, Martin J. Blaser, Thomas Wood, Dacheng Ren