Patents by Inventor Rhea Sumpter

Rhea Sumpter 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).

  • Prenylation inhibitors reduce host cell permissiveness to viral replication
    Patent number: 7223787
    Abstract: Permissiveness of human cells to replication of susceptible pathogenic human viruses is reduced by treating the cells with a selective inhibitor of prenylation of a host cell protein. Target viruses, especially Flaviviridae, are predetermined to lack a CXXX box and prenylated viral protein, and to be replication-dependent on host protein prenylation. The general method comprises (a) contacting human cells subject to infection by the virus with an effective amount of a selective inhibitor of a prenylation enzyme of the cells; and (b) confirming a resultant reduction in permissiveness of the cells to replication of the virus. Targeted enzymes include prenyl biosynthetic enzyme like HMG CoA reductase farnesyl and/or geranylgeranyl transferase enzymes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Michael S. Brown, Jin Ye, Chunfu Wang, Rhea Sumpter, Jr., Joseph L. Goldstein, Michael Gale, Jr.
  • Prenylation inhibitors reduce host cell permissiveness to viral replication
    Publication number: 20050085529
    Abstract: Permissiveness of human cells to replication of susceptible pathogenic human viruses is reduced by treating the cells with a selective inhibitor of prenylation of a host cell protein. Target viruses, especially Flaviviridae, are predetermined to lack a CXXX box and prenylated viral protein, and to be replication-dependent on host protein prenylation. The general method comprises (a) contacting human cells subject to infection by the virus with an effective amount of a selective inhibitor of a prenylation enzyme of the cells; and (b) confirming a resultant reduction in permissiveness of the cells to replication of the virus. Targeted enzymes include prenyl biosynthetic enzyme like HMG CoA reductase farnesyl and/or geranylgeranyl transferase enzymes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Brown, Jin Ye, Chunfu Wang, Rhea Sumpter, Joseph Goldstein, Michael Gale