Patents by Inventor T. Blake Ball

T. Blake Ball 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: 20090163409
    Abstract: In sub-Saharan Africa, the vast majority of HIV transmission occurs through heterosexual contact, therefore, the initial site of HIV infection occurs within the genital tract. In a cohort of HIV-highly exposed sex workers we have identified a select group of individuals who epidemiologically and clinically appear to be HIV-resistant. Studies of these women indicate a strong correlation of HIV-specific immune responses within the genital tract to protection from infection. We hypothesized that a characteristic immune phenotype is present within the genital tract of the HIV-resistant women when compared to susceptible controls. To test this we used SELDI-TOF mass spectrometry to profile the proteome of genital tract secretions from the HIV-resistant women and found a number of potential biomarkers (differentially expressed proteins) which correlated to HIV-resistance. Purification and tandem mass spectrometry resulted in the identification of a particular biomarker, namely trappin-2 (elafin).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: T. Blake Ball, Shehzad Iqbal, Francis Plummer