Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing, 48286-48288 [E7-16644]
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48286
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 163 / Thursday, August 23, 2007 / Notices
The applications listed below, as well
as other related filings required by the
Board, are available for immediate
inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank
indicated. The application also will be
available for inspection at the offices of
the Board of Governors. Interested
persons may express their views in
writing on the standards enumerated in
the BHC Act (12 U.S.C. 1842(c)). If the
proposal also involves the acquisition of
a nonbanking company, the review also
includes whether the acquisition of the
nonbanking company complies with the
standards in section 4 of the BHC Act
(12 U.S.C. 1843). Unless otherwise
noted, nonbanking activities will be
conducted throughout the United States.
Additional information on all bank
holding companies may be obtained
from the National Information Center
Web site at www.ffiec.gov/nic/.
Unless otherwise noted, comments
regarding each of these applications
must be received at the Reserve Bank
indicated or the offices of the Board of
Governors not later than September 17,
2007.
A. Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
(Burl Thornton, Assistant Vice
President) 230 South LaSalle Street,
Chicago, Illinois 60690-1414.
1. Fox River Financial Corporation,
Burlington, Wisconsin; to become a
bank holding company by acquiring 100
percent of the voting shares of Fox River
State Bank, Burlington, Wisconsin.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, August 20, 2007.
Robert deV. Frierson,
Deputy Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. E7–16680 Filed 8–22–07; 8:45 am]
otherwise noted, these activities will be
conducted throughout the United States.
Each notice is available for inspection
at the Federal Reserve Bank indicated.
The notice also will be available for
inspection at the offices of the Board of
Governors. Interested persons may
express their views in writing on the
question whether the proposal complies
with the standards of section 4 of the
BHC Act. Additional information on all
bank holding companies may be
obtained from the National Information
Center Web site at www.ffiec.gov/nic/.
Unless otherwise noted, comments
regarding the applications must be
received at the Reserve Bank indicated
or the offices of the Board of Governors
not later than September 7, 2007.
A. Federal Reserve Bank of San
Francisco (Tracy Basinger, Director,
Regional and Community Bank Group)
101 Market Street, San Francisco,
California 94105-1579:
1. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group,
Inc., and The Bank of Tokyo–Mitsubishi
UFJ, Ltd., both of Tokyo, Japan; to
acquire up to 12 percent of the voting
shares of Visa, Inc., San Francisco,
California, and thereby indirectly
engage in the operation of electronic
funds transfer systems; the operation of
authorization, clearing, and settlement
systems; and data processing, pursuant
to section 225.28(b)(14) of Regulation Y.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, August 20, 2007.
Robert deV. Frierson,
Deputy Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc.E7–16678 Filed 8–22–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6210–01–S
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
National Institutes of Health
Notice of Proposals to Engage in
Permissible Nonbanking Activities or
to Acquire Companies that are
Engaged in Permissible Nonbanking
Activities
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BILLING CODE 6210–01–S
Government-Owned Inventions;
Availability for Licensing
The companies listed in this notice
have given notice under section 4 of the
Bank Holding Company Act (12 U.S.C.
1843) (BHC Act) and Regulation Y (12
CFR Part 225) to engage de novo, or to
acquire or control voting securities or
assets of a company, including the
companies listed below, that engages
either directly or through a subsidiary or
other company, in a nonbanking activity
that is listed in § 225.28 of Regulation Y
(12 CFR 225.28) or that the Board has
determined by Order to be closely
related to banking and permissible for
bank holding companies. Unless
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Jkt 211001
National Institutes of Health,
Public Health Service, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The inventions listed below
are owned by an agency of the U.S.
Government and are available for
licensing in the U.S. in accordance with
35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious
commercialization of results of
federally-funded research and
development. Foreign patent
applications are filed on selected
inventions to extend market coverage
for companies and may also be available
for licensing.
ADDRESSES: Licensing information and
copies of the U.S. patent applications
PO 00000
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listed below may be obtained by writing
to the indicated licensing contact at the
Office of Technology Transfer, National
Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive
Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville,
Maryland 20852–3804; telephone: 301/
496–7057; fax: 301/402–0220. A signed
Confidential Disclosure Agreement will
be required to receive copies of the
patent applications.
Methods for Prevention and Treatment
of Polyomavirus Infection or
Reactivation
Description of Technology: Available
for licensing and commercial
development are methods of using
Tranilast [N-(3’,4’dimethoxycinnamoyl)anthranilic acid]
in the prevention and treatment of
human polyomavirus infection.
Treatment with Tranilast decreases viral
protein expression for two human
polyomavirus species, JC virus (JCV)
and BK virus (BKV). Furthermore, the
increase in JCV/BKV protein production
observed upon the addition of TGF-b
could also be effectively abolished by
Tranilast co-treatment. This is of
relevance because TGF-b has previously
been demonstrated to increase during
immunosuppressive conditions,
including HIV infection and kidney
transplantation.
JCV is responsible for demyelization
of the central nervous system, which is
observed in cases of progressive
multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).
PML is most frequently seen in patients
with HIV/AIDS, but is also a
contributing factor in fatalities in
patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and
connective tissue diseases, in addition
to individuals receiving
immunosuppressive therapy for
autoimmune disorders or prevention of
transplant rejection. BKV is associated
with serious clinical syndromes such as
viruria and viremia, ureteral ulceration
and stenosis, and hemorrhagic cystitis
and has a causative role in
polyomavirus-associated nephrophathy
in as many as 10% of all renal
transplant recipients. Currently, there
are no effective antiviral agents
available to treat these opportunistic
infections. In all observed cases,
activation of either JCV or BKV in
immunosuppressed patients has
resulted in fatalities.
Applications: Use in treatment and
prevention of polyomavirus infection in
immunocompromised patients. Specific
target is the prevention of PML in
treatment therapies for MS patients.
Development Status: In vitro data is
currently available and inventors are
actively developing the technology.
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 163 / Thursday, August 23, 2007 / Notices
Inventors: Veersamy Ravichandran
(NINDS), Jeffrey B. Kopp (NIDDK), and
Eugene O. Major (NINDS)
Patent Status: U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/948,426 filed 06 Jul
2007, entitled ‘‘Compositions and
Methods for Preventing or Treating
Disease Caused by Polyomavirus
Infection or Reactivation in a
Mammalian Subject’’ (HHS Reference
No. E–179–2007/0–US–01).
Licensing Status: Available for nonexclusive or exclusive licensing.
Licensing Contact: Cristina
Thalhammer-Reyero, Ph.D., M.B.A.;
301/435–4507; thalhamc@mail.nih.gov.
Collaborative Research Opportunity:
The National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke is seeking
statements of capability or interest from
parties interested in collaborative
research to further develop, evaluate, or
commercialize treatment and prevention
of polyomavirus infections in
immunocompromised patients, with
particular interest in JCV and
demyelination. Please contact Melissa
Maderia, Ph.D., at
maderiam@mail.nih.gov for more
information.
ebenthall on PRODPC61 with NOTICES
Measles Virus Strain for Diagnostic
Applications
Description of Technology: This
technology describes a low passage
Edmonston strain of measles virus that
is more sensitive to neutralization by
serum antibodies than the same virus
that has been passaged more. This strain
can be used to detect lower levels of
measles neutralizing antibody than
other measles virus strains. This
material could also be used to assess
effectiveness of anti-measles
therapeutics or vaccines.
Application: Measles diagnostic.
Inventors: Paul Albrecht, Judy Beeler,
Susette Audet, Dorothy Farrell, G.
Richard Burns (CBER/FDA).
Publication: P Albrect et al. Role of
virus strain in conventional and
enhanced measles plaque neutralization
test. J Virol Methods. 1981
Dec;3(5):251–260.
Patent Status: HHS Reference No. E–
125–2007/0—Research Tool. Patent
protection is not being sought for this
technology.
Licensing Status: Available for nonexclusive licensing.
Licensing Contact: Susan Ano, Ph.D.;
301/435–5515; anos@mail.nih.gov.
Recombinant Baculoviruses Containing
Inserts of the Major Structural Genes
(vp1) of the Human Polyomaviruses
JCV and BKV
Description of Invention: The
development of sensitive and specific
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15:04 Aug 22, 2007
Jkt 211001
tests for JC virus and BK virus activity
may provide tools essential in the steps
required to find a treatment for these
fatal infections. This invention
describes a Recombinant Vp1 protein
(rVp1) that can be used (1) as an antigen
source for ELISA assays (2) for studies
of viral proteins in cells and (3) for the
self assembly of icosahedral particles
encapsidating DNA [gene expression of
choice in range of up to 5.1kb size gene].
rVp1 can be utilized in ELISA assays
to detect both JCV and BKV antibodies.
The JCV and BKV rVp1 proteins may
serve as antigens for the production of
useful anti-sera and monoclonalantibodies for polyomavirus research, as
well as for the detection of existing and/
or changing levels of antibodies in
human sera by way of ELISA assays.
Such ELISA studies allow for tracking of
the spread and/or reactivation of
polyomavirus infections in the human
population, of special importance for
individuals at high risk of polyomavirus
associated pathologies. The rVp1s
eliminate the need to produce
infectious, native polyomavirus virions
as antigens for such work.
The rVp1 proteins may also be
utilized as vector delivery systems. The
rVp1 proteins self-assemble into VirusLike Particles (VLPs) which can be
dissociated, reconstituted in the
presence of exogenous DNA (that is
non-specifically encapsidated), and then
internalized through cell membranes
that native virions normally cross.
Applications: JCV or BKV antigens
useful for polyomavirus research; ELISA
studies for individuals at high risk of
polyomavirus associated pathologies;
Vector Delivery systems.
Developmental Status: ELISA is fully
developed and materials are available
for licensing.
Inventors: Eugene Major and Peter
Jensen (NINDS).
Publications:
1. C Goldmann et al. Molecular
cloning and expression of major
structural protein VP1 of the human
polyomavirus JC virus: Formation of
virus-like particles useful for
immunological and therapeutic studies.
J Virol 1999 May;73(5):4465–4469.
2. RS Hamilton et al. Comparison of
antibody titers determined by
hemagglutination inhibition and
enzyme immunoassay for JC virus and
BK virus. J Clin Microbiol. 2000
Jan;38(1):105–109.
3. P Lenz et al. Papillomavirus-like
particles induce acute activation of
dendritic cells. J Immunol. 2001 May
1;166(9):5346–5355.
4. DL Bohl et al. Donor origin of BK
virus in renal transplantation and role of
HLA C7 in susceptibility to sustained
PO 00000
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Sfmt 4703
48287
BK viremia. Am J Transplant. 2005
Sep;5(9):2213–2221.
5. EO Major and P Matsumura.
Human embryonic kidney cells: stable
transformation with an origin-defective
simian virus 40 DNA and use as hosts
for human papovavirus replication. Mol
Cell Biol. 1984 Feb;4(2):379–382.
6. EO Major et al. Establishment of a
line of human fetal glial cells that
supports JC virus multiplication. Proc
Natl Acad Sci USA. 1985
Feb;82(4):1257–1261.
Patent Status: HHS Reference No. E–
216–2006/0—Research Material. Patent
protection is not being sought for this
technology.
Licensing Status: Available for nonexclusive licensing.
Licensing Contact: Peter A. Soukas,
J.D.; 301/435–4646;
soukasp@mail.nih.gov.
Collaborative Research Opportunity:
The National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke is seeking
statements of capability or interest from
parties interested in collaborative
research to further develop, evaluate, or
commercialize treatment and prevention
of polyomavirus infections in
immunocompromised patients. Please
contact Melissa Maderia, Ph.D., at
maderiam@mail.nih.gov for more
information.
Probe Set Global Optimization
Description of Technology: Available
for licensing and commercial
development are methods to optimize
sequence-based assays such as
microarrays, multiplexed PCR or
multiplexed antibody methods. This
computational method uses numerical
optimization to identify an optimal
probe set to be used in an assay for the
measurement of a specified set of
targets. The method incorporates the
sequence information of the target
(protein, DNA, RNA or other polymer),
the assay characteristics, limits on probe
set size and assay probe length in its
optimization. The method selectively
optimizes the total information
provided by the assay within constraints
of individual probe performance and
coverage of all targets in the target set.
For example, the target set of sequences
could represent known viral or bacterial
pathogens, or splice variants of a single
gene. The method selectively identifies
sequences within each target sequence
with the best individual probe
performance and providing the most
information. An individual probe may
be selected because it provides specific
information about a single target
(specificity) or because it increases
(sensitivity) by providing replicate
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48288
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 163 / Thursday, August 23, 2007 / Notices
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measurements of a sequence common to
several targets.
The method’s software design allows
for large (>10,000) target sets and large
probe set sizes (2->1,000,000). While
current selection criteria involve a time
consuming iterative and manual
process, the present invention allows for
the identification of a quantitatively
optimized probe set which balances
probe performance criteria and
simultaneously optimizes the sensitivity
and specificity of the assay for a given
set of targets.
Applications: The invention has
applications in the design of various
important assays, such as those based
on microarrays, multiplexed PCR and
SPR, targeted protein fragment
detection, or any sequence-specific
binding and detection. It has application
where the number of probes to be used
in an assay is too large for manual
design and review.
Inventors: Eric Billings and Kevin E.
Brown (NHLBI).
Patent Status: U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/871,447 filed 21 Dec
2006, entitled ‘‘Probe Set Global
Optimization’’ (HHS Reference E–332–
2005/0–US–01).
Development Status: The technology
is ready to be applied and validated in
many different areas for research and
diagnostic purposes.
Licensing Status: Available for nonexclusive or exclusive licensing.
Licensing Contact: Cristina
Thalhammer-Reyero, Ph.D., M.B.A.;
301/435–4507; thalhamc@mail.nih.gov.
Collaborative Research Opportunity:
The National Heart, Lung and Blood
Institute, Computational Biophysics
Laboratory is seeking statements of
capability or interest from parties
interested in collaborative research to
further develop, evaluate, utilize or
commercialize a method for optimizing
sequence-based assays. Please contact
Dr. Eric Billings, at (301) 496–6520 or
via e-mail at billings@helix.nih.gov for
more information.
Dated: August 16, 2007.
Steven M. Ferguson,
Director, Division of Technology Development
and Transfer, Office of Technology Transfer,
National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. E7–16644 Filed 8–22–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
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Jkt 211001
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
National Eye Institute; Notice of
Meeting
Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice
is hereby given of a meeting of the
National Advisory Eye Council.
The meeting will be open to the
public as indicated below, with
attendance limited to space available.
Individuals who plan to attend and
need special assistance, such as sign
language interpretation or other
reasonable accommodations, should
notify the Contact Person listed below
in advance of the meeting.
The meeting will be closed to the
public in accordance with the
provisions set forth in sections
552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,
as amended. The grant applications
and/or contract proposals and the
discussions could disclose confidential
trade secrets or commercial property
such as patentable material, and
personal information concerning
individuals associated with the grant
applications and/or contract proposals,
the disclosure of which would
constitute a clearly unwarranted
invasion of personal privacy.
Name of Committee: National Advisory
Eye Council.
Date: September 27, 2007.
Closed: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
applications and/or proposals.
Place: National Institutes of Health, 5635
Fishers Lane, Terrace Level Conference
Center, Bethesda, MD 20982.
Open: 10:30 a.m. to Adjournment.
Agenda: Following opening remarks by the
Director, NEI there will be presentations by
the staff of the Institute and discussions
concerning Institute programs.
Place: National Institutes of Health, 5635
Fishers Lane, Terrace Level Conference
Center, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Contact Person: Lore Anne McNicol, PhD,
Director, Division of Extramural Research,
National Eye Institute, National Institutes of
Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, (301) 451–2020.
Any interested person may file written
comments with the committee by forwarding
the statement to the Contact Person listed on
this notice. The statement should include the
name, address, telephone number and when
applicable, the business or professional
affiliation of the interested person.
Information is also available on the
Institutes’s/Center’s home page: https://
www.nei.nih.gov, where an agenda and any
additional information for the meeting will
be posted when available.
(Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Nos. 93.867, Vision Research,
National Institutes of Health, HHS)
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Dated: August 14, 2007.
Jennifer Spaeth,
Director, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 07–4100 Filed 8–21–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–M
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
Supplementary Risk Assessments and
Site Suitability Analyses for the
National Emerging Infectious Disease
Laboratory, Boston University Medical
Center
Availability of Supplementary
Risk Assessments and Site Suitability
Analyses for the National Emerging
Infectious Disease Laboratory, Boston
University Medical Center; notice of
hearing.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The National Institutes of
Health (NIH) has placed in the docket
for public review and comment the
Supplementary Risk Assessments and
Site Suitability Analyses for the
National Emerging Infectious Disease
Laboratory, Boston University Medical
Center, which address additional
concerns of the local community
regarding possible impacts of the
National Emerging Infectious Diseases
Laboratory, Boston University Medical
Center. The purpose of the
Supplementary Risk Assessments and
Site Suitability Analyses for the
National Emerging Infectious Disease
Laboratory was alternative site analysis
and risk assessment that investigated
potential infectious disease threats that
may be posed to the public should an
exotic infectious agent be released into
the community through an infected
laboratory worker, laboratory accident,
or other mishap.
DATES: Comments on the
Supplementary Risk Assessments and
Site Suitability Analyses for the
National Emerging Infectious Disease
Laboratory must be received by
Monday, November 12th. A public
hearing will be held on Thursday,
September 20, 2007, from 7–9 p.m. at
Faneuil Hall, Dock Square, Boston, MA
02109.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to
Valerie Nottingham, Division of
Environmental Protection, National
Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville
Pike, Building 13, Room 2S11,
Bethesda, MD 20892, MSC 5746. E-mail
comments should be sent to
nihnepa@mail.nih.gov. Comments sent
by e-mail must be received by 11:59
E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 163 (Thursday, August 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48286-48288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-16644]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing
AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S.
Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance
with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results
of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patent
applications are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage
for companies and may also be available for licensing.
ADDRESSES: Licensing information and copies of the U.S. patent
applications listed below may be obtained by writing to the indicated
licensing contact at the Office of Technology Transfer, National
Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville,
Maryland 20852-3804; telephone: 301/496-7057; fax: 301/402-0220. A
signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be required to receive
copies of the patent applications.
Methods for Prevention and Treatment of Polyomavirus Infection or
Reactivation
Description of Technology: Available for licensing and commercial
development are methods of using Tranilast [N-(3',4'-
dimethoxycinnamoyl)anthranilic acid] in the prevention and treatment of
human polyomavirus infection. Treatment with Tranilast decreases viral
protein expression for two human polyomavirus species, JC virus (JCV)
and BK virus (BKV). Furthermore, the increase in JCV/BKV protein
production observed upon the addition of TGF-[beta] could also be
effectively abolished by Tranilast co-treatment. This is of relevance
because TGF-[beta] has previously been demonstrated to increase during
immunosuppressive conditions, including HIV infection and kidney
transplantation.
JCV is responsible for demyelization of the central nervous system,
which is observed in cases of progressive multifocal
leukoencephalopathy (PML). PML is most frequently seen in patients with
HIV/AIDS, but is also a contributing factor in fatalities in patients
with leukemia, lymphoma, and connective tissue diseases, in addition to
individuals receiving immunosuppressive therapy for autoimmune
disorders or prevention of transplant rejection. BKV is associated with
serious clinical syndromes such as viruria and viremia, ureteral
ulceration and stenosis, and hemorrhagic cystitis and has a causative
role in polyomavirus-associated nephrophathy in as many as 10% of all
renal transplant recipients. Currently, there are no effective
antiviral agents available to treat these opportunistic infections. In
all observed cases, activation of either JCV or BKV in immunosuppressed
patients has resulted in fatalities.
Applications: Use in treatment and prevention of polyomavirus
infection in immunocompromised patients. Specific target is the
prevention of PML in treatment therapies for MS patients.
Development Status: In vitro data is currently available and
inventors are actively developing the technology.
[[Page 48287]]
Inventors: Veersamy Ravichandran (NINDS), Jeffrey B. Kopp (NIDDK),
and Eugene O. Major (NINDS)
Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/948,426 filed 06
Jul 2007, entitled ``Compositions and Methods for Preventing or
Treating Disease Caused by Polyomavirus Infection or Reactivation in a
Mammalian Subject'' (HHS Reference No. E-179-2007/0-US-01).
Licensing Status: Available for non-exclusive or exclusive
licensing.
Licensing Contact: Cristina Thalhammer-Reyero, Ph.D., M.B.A.; 301/
435-4507; thalhamc@mail.nih.gov.
Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke is seeking statements of capability
or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to
further develop, evaluate, or commercialize treatment and prevention of
polyomavirus infections in immunocompromised patients, with particular
interest in JCV and demyelination. Please contact Melissa Maderia,
Ph.D., at maderiam@mail.nih.gov for more information.
Measles Virus Strain for Diagnostic Applications
Description of Technology: This technology describes a low passage
Edmonston strain of measles virus that is more sensitive to
neutralization by serum antibodies than the same virus that has been
passaged more. This strain can be used to detect lower levels of
measles neutralizing antibody than other measles virus strains. This
material could also be used to assess effectiveness of anti-measles
therapeutics or vaccines.
Application: Measles diagnostic.
Inventors: Paul Albrecht, Judy Beeler, Susette Audet, Dorothy
Farrell, G. Richard Burns (CBER/FDA).
Publication: P Albrect et al. Role of virus strain in conventional
and enhanced measles plaque neutralization test. J Virol Methods. 1981
Dec;3(5):251-260.
Patent Status: HHS Reference No. E-125-2007/0--Research Tool.
Patent protection is not being sought for this technology.
Licensing Status: Available for non-exclusive licensing.
Licensing Contact: Susan Ano, Ph.D.; 301/435-5515;
anos@mail.nih.gov.
Recombinant Baculoviruses Containing Inserts of the Major Structural
Genes (vp1) of the Human Polyomaviruses JCV and BKV
Description of Invention: The development of sensitive and specific
tests for JC virus and BK virus activity may provide tools essential in
the steps required to find a treatment for these fatal infections. This
invention describes a Recombinant Vp1 protein (rVp1) that can be used
(1) as an antigen source for ELISA assays (2) for studies of viral
proteins in cells and (3) for the self assembly of icosahedral
particles encapsidating DNA [gene expression of choice in range of up
to 5.1kb size gene].
rVp1 can be utilized in ELISA assays to detect both JCV and BKV
antibodies. The JCV and BKV rVp1 proteins may serve as antigens for the
production of useful anti-sera and monoclonal-antibodies for
polyomavirus research, as well as for the detection of existing and/or
changing levels of antibodies in human sera by way of ELISA assays.
Such ELISA studies allow for tracking of the spread and/or reactivation
of polyomavirus infections in the human population, of special
importance for individuals at high risk of polyomavirus associated
pathologies. The rVp1s eliminate the need to produce infectious, native
polyomavirus virions as antigens for such work.
The rVp1 proteins may also be utilized as vector delivery systems.
The rVp1 proteins self-assemble into Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) which
can be dissociated, reconstituted in the presence of exogenous DNA
(that is non-specifically encapsidated), and then internalized through
cell membranes that native virions normally cross.
Applications: JCV or BKV antigens useful for polyomavirus research;
ELISA studies for individuals at high risk of polyomavirus associated
pathologies; Vector Delivery systems.
Developmental Status: ELISA is fully developed and materials are
available for licensing.
Inventors: Eugene Major and Peter Jensen (NINDS).
Publications:
1. C Goldmann et al. Molecular cloning and expression of major
structural protein VP1 of the human polyomavirus JC virus: Formation of
virus-like particles useful for immunological and therapeutic studies.
J Virol 1999 May;73(5):4465-4469.
2. RS Hamilton et al. Comparison of antibody titers determined by
hemagglutination inhibition and enzyme immunoassay for JC virus and BK
virus. J Clin Microbiol. 2000 Jan;38(1):105-109.
3. P Lenz et al. Papillomavirus-like particles induce acute
activation of dendritic cells. J Immunol. 2001 May 1;166(9):5346-5355.
4. DL Bohl et al. Donor origin of BK virus in renal transplantation
and role of HLA C7 in susceptibility to sustained BK viremia. Am J
Transplant. 2005 Sep;5(9):2213-2221.
5. EO Major and P Matsumura. Human embryonic kidney cells: stable
transformation with an origin-defective simian virus 40 DNA and use as
hosts for human papovavirus replication. Mol Cell Biol. 1984
Feb;4(2):379-382.
6. EO Major et al. Establishment of a line of human fetal glial
cells that supports JC virus multiplication. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA.
1985 Feb;82(4):1257-1261.
Patent Status: HHS Reference No. E-216-2006/0--Research Material.
Patent protection is not being sought for this technology.
Licensing Status: Available for non-exclusive licensing.
Licensing Contact: Peter A. Soukas, J.D.; 301/435-4646;
soukasp@mail.nih.gov.
Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke is seeking statements of capability
or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to
further develop, evaluate, or commercialize treatment and prevention of
polyomavirus infections in immunocompromised patients. Please contact
Melissa Maderia, Ph.D., at maderiam@mail.nih.gov for more information.
Probe Set Global Optimization
Description of Technology: Available for licensing and commercial
development are methods to optimize sequence-based assays such as
microarrays, multiplexed PCR or multiplexed antibody methods. This
computational method uses numerical optimization to identify an optimal
probe set to be used in an assay for the measurement of a specified set
of targets. The method incorporates the sequence information of the
target (protein, DNA, RNA or other polymer), the assay characteristics,
limits on probe set size and assay probe length in its optimization.
The method selectively optimizes the total information provided by the
assay within constraints of individual probe performance and coverage
of all targets in the target set. For example, the target set of
sequences could represent known viral or bacterial pathogens, or splice
variants of a single gene. The method selectively identifies sequences
within each target sequence with the best individual probe performance
and providing the most information. An individual probe may be selected
because it provides specific information about a single target
(specificity) or because it increases (sensitivity) by providing
replicate
[[Page 48288]]
measurements of a sequence common to several targets.
The method's software design allows for large (>10,000) target sets
and large probe set sizes (2->1,000,000). While current selection
criteria involve a time consuming iterative and manual process, the
present invention allows for the identification of a quantitatively
optimized probe set which balances probe performance criteria and
simultaneously optimizes the sensitivity and specificity of the assay
for a given set of targets.
Applications: The invention has applications in the design of
various important assays, such as those based on microarrays,
multiplexed PCR and SPR, targeted protein fragment detection, or any
sequence-specific binding and detection. It has application where the
number of probes to be used in an assay is too large for manual design
and review.
Inventors: Eric Billings and Kevin E. Brown (NHLBI).
Patent Status: U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/871,447 filed 21
Dec 2006, entitled ``Probe Set Global Optimization'' (HHS Reference E-
332-2005/0-US-01).
Development Status: The technology is ready to be applied and
validated in many different areas for research and diagnostic purposes.
Licensing Status: Available for non-exclusive or exclusive
licensing.
Licensing Contact: Cristina Thalhammer-Reyero, Ph.D., M.B.A.; 301/
435-4507; thalhamc@mail.nih.gov.
Collaborative Research Opportunity: The National Heart, Lung and
Blood Institute, Computational Biophysics Laboratory is seeking
statements of capability or interest from parties interested in
collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, utilize or
commercialize a method for optimizing sequence-based assays. Please
contact Dr. Eric Billings, at (301) 496-6520 or via e-mail at
billings@helix.nih.gov for more information.
Dated: August 16, 2007.
Steven M. Ferguson,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. E7-16644 Filed 8-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P
