Patents by Inventor Mary E. Ballestas

Mary E. Ballestas 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).

  • Assays for compounds that modulate rhadino virus LANA action in trans on a unit of rhadino virus DNA to mediate efficient episome persistence
    Patent number: 6756203
    Abstract: Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) cells harbor Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) episomes and express a KSHV encoded latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA). In PEL cells, LANA and KSHV DNA co-localized in dots in interphase nuclei and along mitotic chromosomes. In the absence of KSHV DNA, LANA was diffusely distributed in the nucleus or on mitotic chromosomes. In lymphoblasts, LANA was necessary and sufficient for the persistence of episomes containing a specific KSHV DNA fragment. Furthermore, LANA co-localized with the artificial KSHV DNA episomes in nuclei and along mitotic chromosomes. The KSHV DNA segment that provides for efficient persistence in LANA positive cells has been identified as the rhodino virus cis-acting element (RVCAE). These results support a model in which LANA tethers episomes containing the KSHV RVCAE DNA to chromosomes during mitosis to enable efficient segregation to progeny cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventors: Elliott D. Kieff, Mary E. Ballestas, Kenneth M. Kaye
  • ASSAYS FOR COMPOUNDS THAT MODULATE RHADINO VIRUS LANA ACTION IN TRANS ON A UNIT OF RHADINO VIRUS DNA TO MEDIATE EFFICIENT EPISOME PERSISTENCE
    Publication number: 20040037847
    Abstract: Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) cells harbor Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) episomes and express a KSHV encoded latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA). In PEL cells, LANA and KSHV DNA co-localized in dots in interphase nuclei and along mitotic chromosomes. In the absence of KSHV DNA, LANA was diffusely distributed in the nucleus or on mitotic chromosomes. In lymphoblasts, LANA was necessary and sufficient for the persistence of episomes containing a specific KSHV DNA fragment. Furthermore, LANA co-localized with the artificial KSHV DNA episomes in nuclei and along mitotic chromosomes. The KSHV DNA segment that provides for efficient persistence in LANA positive cells has been identified as the rhodino virus cis-acting element (RVCAE). These results support a model in which LANA tethers episomes containing the KSHV RVCAE DNA to chromosomes during mitosis to enable efficient segregation to progeny cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Elliott D. Kieff, Mary E. Ballestas, Kenneth M. Kaye
  • Rhadino virus LANA acts in trans on a unit of rhadino virus DNA to mediate efficient episome persistance
    Patent number: 6322792
    Abstract: Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) cells harbor Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) episomes and express a KSHV encoded latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA). In PEL cells, LANA and KSHV DNA co-localized in dots in interphase nuclei and along mitotic chromosomes. In the absence of KSHV DNA, LANA was diffusely distributed in the nucleus or on mitotic chromosomes. In lymphoblasts, LANA was necessary and sufficient for the persistence of episomes containing a specific KSHV DNA fragment. Furthermore, LANA co-localized with the artificial KSHV DNA episomes in nuclei and along mitotic chromosomes. The KSHV DNA segment that provides for efficient persistence in LANA positive cells has been identified as the rhodino virus cis-acting element (RVCAE). These results support a model in which LANA tethers episomes containing the KSHV RVCAE DNA to chromosomes during mitosis to enable efficient segregation to progeny cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Inventors: Elliott D. Kieff, Mary E. Ballestas, Kenneth M. Kaye