Patents by Inventor Melvin G. Sunshine

Melvin G. Sunshine 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: 20090285844
    Abstract: A method is provided for identifying, isolating, and producing htrB mutants of gram-negative bacterial pathogens. The method comprises mutating the htrB gene of a gram-negative bacterial pathogen so that there is a lack of a functional htrB protein, resulting in a mutant that lacks one or more secondary acyl chains contained in the wild type gram-negative bacterial pathogen, and displays substantially reduced toxicity as compared to the wild type strain. Also, the present invention provides methods for using a vaccine formulation containing the htrB mutant, the endotoxin isolated therefrom, or the endotoxin isolated therefrom which is then conjugated to a carrier protein, to immunize an individual against infections caused by gram-negative bacterial pathogens by administering a prophylactically effective amount of the vaccine formulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Michael A. Apicella, Melvin G. Sunshine, Na-Gyong Lee, Rasappa Arumugham, Bradford W. Gibson
  • Patent number: 7510717
    Abstract: A method is provided for identifying, isolating, and producing htrB mutants of gram-negative bacterial pathogens. The method comprises mutating the htrB gene of a gram-negative bacterial pathogen so that there is a lack of a functional htrB protein, resulting in a mutant that lacks one or more secondary acyl chains contained in the wild type gram-negative bacterial pathogen, and displays substantially reduced toxicity as compared to the wild type strain. Also, the present invention provides methods for using a vaccine formulation containing the htrB mutant, the endotoxin isolated therefrom, or the endotoxin isolated therefrom which is then conjugated to a carrier protein, to immunize an individual against infections caused by gram-negative bacterial pathogens by administering a prophylactically effective amount of the vaccine formulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
    Inventors: Michael A. Apicella, Melvin G. Sunshine, Na-Gyong Lee, Rasappa Arumugham, Bradford W. Gibson
  • Patent number: 7226588
    Abstract: A method is provided for identifying, isolating, and producing htrB mutants of gram-negative bacterial pathogens. The method comprises mutating the htrB gene of a gram-negative bacterial pathogen so that there is a lack of a functional HtrB protein, resulting in a mutant that lacks one or more secondary acyl chains and displays substantially reduced toxicity as compared to the wild type strain. Also, the present invention provides methods for using a vaccine formulation containing the htrB mutant, or the endotoxin isolated therefrom, to immunize an individual against infections caused by gram-negative bacterial pathogens by administering a prophylactically effective amount of the vaccine formulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignees: University of Iowa Research Foundation, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Michael A. Apicella, Melvin G. Sunshine, Na-Gyong Lee, Bradford W. Gibson
  • Patent number: 7005129
    Abstract: A method is provided for identifying, isolating, and producing htrB mutants of gram-negative bacterial pathogens. The method comprises mutating the htrB gene of a gram-negative bacterial pathogen so that there is a lack of a functional htrB protein, resulting in a mutant that lacks one or more secondary acyl chains contained in the wild type gram-negative bacterial pathogen, and displays substantially reduced toxicity as compared to the wild type strain. Also, the present invention provides methods for using a vaccine formulation containing the htrB mutant, the endotoxin isolated therefrom, or the endotoxin isolated therefrom which is then conjugated to a carrier protein, to immunize an individual against infections caused by gram-negative bacterial pathogens by administering a prophylactically effective amount of the vaccine formulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignees: University of Iowa Research Foundation, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Michael A. Apicella, Melvin G. Sunshine, Na-Gyong Lee, Bradford W. Gibson, Rasappa Arumugham
  • Patent number: 6887483
    Abstract: A method is provided for identifying, isolating, and producing htrB mutants of gram-negative bacterial pathogens. The method comprises mutating the htrB gene of a gram-negative bacterial pathogen so that there is a lack of a functional HtrB protein, resulting in a mutant that lacks one or more secondary acyl chains and displays substantially reduced toxicity as compared to the wild type strain. Also, the present invention provides methods for using a vaccine formulation containing the htrB mutant, or the endotoxin isolated therefrom, to immunize an individual against infections caused by gram-negative bacterial pathogens by administering a prophylactically effective amount of the vaccine formulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignees: University of Iowa Research Foundation, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Michael A. Apicella, Melvin G. Sunshine, Na-Gyong Lee, Bradford W. Gibson
  • Publication number: 20050048076
    Abstract: A method is provided for identifying, isolating, and producing htrB mutants of gram-negative bacterial pathogens. The method comprises mutating the htrB gene of a gram-negative bacterial pathogen so that there is a lack of a functional HtrB protein, resulting in a mutant that lacks one or more secondary acyl chains and displays substantially reduced toxicity as compared to the wild type strain. Also, the present invention provides methods for using a vaccine formulation containing the htrB mutant, or the endotoxin isolated therefrom, to immunize an individual against infections caused by gram-negative bacterial pathogens by administering a prophylactically effective amount of the vaccine formulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 1995
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventors: MICHAEL A. APICELLA, MELVIN G. SUNSHINE, NA-GYONG LEE, BRADFORD W. GIBSON