Patents by Inventor Pamela R. Contag

Pamela R. Contag 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).

  • Patent number: 8986962
    Abstract: This invention provides co-cultures of photosynthetic microorganisms and biofuel producing microorganisms. In certain embodiments, polysaccharide-producing, photosynthetic microorganisms are microalgae having frustules provide a substrate on which biofuel-producing microorganisms can grow. In other embodiments, the photosynthetic microorganisms produce a lipid and the non-photosynthetic microorganisms produce a solvent in which the lipid is soluble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Pamela R. Contag
  • Patent number: 8545814
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for detecting and localizing light originating from a mammal are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for targeting light emission to selected regions, as well as for tracking entities within the mammal. In addition, animal models for disease states are disclosed, as are methods for localizing and tracking the progression of disease or a pathogen within the animal, and for screening putative therapeutic compounds effective to inhibit the disease or pathogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Pamela R. Contag, Christopher H. Contag, David A. Benaron
  • Patent number: 8349602
    Abstract: The present invention relates to biodetectors for detecting and quantifying molecules in liquid, gas, or matrices. More specifically, the present invention relates to biodetectors comprising a molecular switching mechanism to express a reporter gene upon interaction with target substances. The invention further relates to methods using such biodetectors for detecting and quantifying selected substances with high specificity and high sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Xenogen Corporation
    Inventors: Pamela R. Contag, David A. Benaron, Christopher H. Contag
  • Publication number: 20120124898
    Abstract: This invention provides co-cultures of photosynthetic microorganisms and biofuel producing microorganisms. In certain embodiments, polysaccharide-producing, photosynthetic microorganisms are microalgae having frustules provide a substrate on which biofuel-producing microorganisms can grow. In other embodiments, the photosynthetic microorganisms produce a lipid and the non-photosynthetic microorganisms produce a solvent in which the lipid is soluble.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventor: Pamela R. Contag
  • Publication number: 20090041668
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for detecting and localizing light originating from a mammal are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for targeting light emission to selected regions, as well as for tracking entities within the mammal. In addition, animal models for disease states are disclosed, as are methods for localizing and tracking the progression of disease or a pathogen within the animal, and for screening putative therapeutic compounds effective to inhibit the disease or pathogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Pamela R. Contag, Christopher H. Contag, David A. Benaron
  • Patent number: 7449615
    Abstract: The present invention relates to panels of reporter expression cassettes and the generation of transgenic non-human animals, wherein said reporter expression cassettes have selected control elements operable linked to reporter genes. The invention includes methods of use thereof for the identification and characterization of the effects of compounds administered to the live transgenic non-human animals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Xenogen Corporation
    Inventors: Pamela R. Contag, Ning Zhang
  • Publication number: 20080226563
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for detecting and localizing light originating from a mammal are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for targeting light emission to selected regions, as well as for tracking entities within the mammal. In addition, animal models for disease states are disclosed, as are methods for localizing and tracking the progression of disease or a pathogen within the animal, and for screening putative therapeutic compounds effective to inhibit the disease or pathogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Pamela R. Contag, Christopher H. Contag, David A. Benaron
  • Patent number: 7255851
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for detecting and localizing light originating from a mammal are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for targeting light emission to selected regions, as well as for tracking entities within the mammal. In addition, animal models for disease states are disclosed, as are methods for localizing and tracking the progression of disease or a pathogen within the animal, and for screening putative therapeutic compounds effective to inhibit the disease or pathogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Pamela R. Contag, Christopher H. Contag, David A. Benaron
  • Patent number: 7198774
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for detecting and localizing light originating from a mammal are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for targeting light emission to selected regions, as well as for tracking entities within the mammal. In addition, animal models for disease states are disclosed, as are methods for localizing and tracking the progression of disease or a pathogen within the animal, and for screening putative therapeutic compounds effective to inhibit the disease or pathogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Pamela R. Contag, Christopher H. Contag, David A. Benaron
  • Patent number: 6964856
    Abstract: Methods for selecting a candidate drug for treating sepsis are disclosed. The methods involve labeling a sepsis-causing pathogen with a reporter and monitoring the progress of infection by detecting levels of the reporter in animals treated with test compounds or drugs. The comparisons may be made between experimental and control animals, as well as within a single animal or group of animals. Also disclosed is a method for predicting an expected time of death of an experimental animal in a model system of sepsis using data generated in the initial part of the experiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Xenogen Corporation
    Inventors: Carole Bellinger-Kawahara, Pamela R. Contag, Alan Hubbard
  • Patent number: 6939533
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for detecting and localizing light originating from a mammal are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for targeting light emission to selected regions, as well as for tracking entities within the mammal. In addition, animal models for disease states are disclosed, as are methods for localizing and tracking the progression of disease or a pathogen within the animal, and for screening putative therapeutic compounds effective to inhibit the disease or pathogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Pamela R. Contag, Christopher H. Contag, David A. Benaron
  • Patent number: 6923951
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for detecting and localizing light originating from a mammal are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for targeting light emission to selected regions, as well as for tracking entities within the mammal. In addition, animal models for disease states are disclosed, as are methods for localizing and tracking the progression of disease or a pathogen within the animal, and for screening putative therapeutic compounds effective to inhibit the disease or pathogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford University
    Inventors: Pamela R. Contag, Christopher H. Contag, David A. Benaron
  • Patent number: 6916462
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for detecting and localizing light originating from a mammal are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for targeting light emission to selected regions, as well as for tracking entities within the mammal. In addition, animal models for disease states are disclosed, as are methods for localizing and tracking the progression of disease or a pathogen within the animal, and for screening putative therapeutic compounds effective to inhibit the disease or pathogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Pamela R. Contag, Christopher H. Contag, David A. Benaron
  • Patent number: 6908605
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for detecting and localizing light originating from a mammal are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for targeting light emission to selected regions, as well as for tracking entities within the mammal. In addition, animal models for disease states are disclosed, as are methods for localizing and tracking the progression of disease or a pathogen within the animal, and for screening putative therapeutic compounds effective to inhibit the disease or pathogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Pamela R. Contag, Christopher H. Contag, David A. Benaron
  • Patent number: 6890515
    Abstract: Methods an compositions for detecting and localizing light originating from a mammal are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for targeting light emission to selected regions, as well as for tracking entities within the mammal. In addition, animal models for disease state are disclosed, as are methods for localizing and tracking the progression of disease or a pathogen within the animal, and for screening putative therapeutic compounds effective to inhibit the disease or pathogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Pamela R. Contag, Christopher H. Contag, David A. Benaron
  • Publication number: 20040235003
    Abstract: The present invention relates to biodetectors for detecting and quantifying molecules in liquid, gas, or matrices. More specifically, the present invention relates to biodetectors comprising a molecular switching mechanism to express a reporter gene upon interaction with target substances. The invention further relates to methods using such biodetectors for detecting and quantifying selected substances with high specificity and high sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: Xenogen Corporation
    Inventors: Pamela R. Contag, Christopher H. Contag, David A. Benaron
  • Patent number: 6737245
    Abstract: The present invention relates to bacterial luciferase expression cassettes suitable for conferring bioluminescence properties on Gram-positive bacteria, cells transformed with such cassettes, and methods of making and using such cassettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Xenogen Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin P. Francis, Pamela R. Contag, Danny J. Joh
  • Patent number: 6649143
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for detecting and localizing light originating from a mammal are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for targeting light emission to selected regions, as well as for tracking entities within the mammal. In addition, animal models for disease states are disclosed, as are methods for localizing and tracking the progression of disease or a pathogen within the animal, and for screening putative therapeutic compounds effective to inhibit the disease or pathogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Pamela R. Contag, Christopher H. Contag, David A. Benaron
  • Publication number: 20030203418
    Abstract: Methods for selecting a candidate drug for treating sepsis are disclosed. The methods involve labeling a sepsis-causing pathogen with a reporter and monitoring the progress of infection by detecting levels of the reporter in animals treated with test compounds or drugs. The comparisons may be made between experimental and control animals, as well as within a single animal or group of animals. Also disclosed is a method for predicting an expected time of death of an experimental animal in a model system of sepsis using data generated in the initial part of the experiment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Carole Bellinger-Kawahara, Pamela R. Contag, Alan Hubbard
  • Patent number: 6638752
    Abstract: The present invention relates to biodetectors for detecting and quantifying molecules in liquid, gas, or matrices. More specifically, the present invention relates to biodetectors comprising a molecular switching mechanism to express a reporter gene upon interaction with target substances. The invention further relates to methods using such biodetectors for detecting and quantifying selected substances with high specificity and high sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Xenogen Corporation
    Inventors: Pamela R. Contag, Christopher H. Contag, David A. Benaron