[Federal Register: October 11, 1995 (Volume 60, Number 196)]
[Notices]
[Page 52918-52919]


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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, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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The inventions listed below are owned by agencies 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 U.S. 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 Specialist at the Office of Technology Transfer,

[[Page 52919]]
National Institutes of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325,
Rockville, Maryland 20852-3804 (telephone 301/496-7735; fax 301/402-
0220). A signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be required to
receive copies of the patent applications.

Method and Use of Trichohyalin and Transglutaminase-3

Steinert, P.M., Lee, S-C, Kim, I-G (NIAMS)
Filed 30 Apr 93
Serial No. 08/056,200
Licensing Contact: Carol Lavrich, 301/496-7735 ext 287

The invention relates to the discovery of the sequence of a protein
involved in forming a structural component of the hair follicle and
epidermis: human trichohyalin. Human trichohyalin is an ideal substrate
for cross-linking to other proteins, a reaction that is catalyzed by
transglutaminase-3. Trichohyalin used in conjunction with
transglutaminase forms a naturally-occurring proteinaceous gel with
potential application in the areas of food production/stabilization,
cosmetics and coverage for open wounds and burns. We have demonstrated
that, using cloned cDNAs, the combination of human trichohyalin with an
enzyme that is capable of cross-linking proteins can produce a stable,
quickly-formed proteinaceous gel. This technology may be useful for the
treatment of skin diseases and may have benefit as a transglutaminase
replacement therapy.
The goal is to use the resources of a collaborator to further
develop the manufacturing and purification process to increase yield,
to conduct toxicology studies, and to evaluate potential use and
efficacy of the compound. It is expected that the collaborator will
have the resources, facilities, and capabilities to produce the
compound in sufficient quantity and conduct testing of the concepts.
[portfolio: Internal Medicine--Miscellaneous]

A New and Distinctive DNA Sequence of E. Coli 0157:H7 and Its Uses for
Rapid, Sensitive, and Specific Detection of 0157:H7 and Other
Enterohemorrhagic E. Coli

Hall, R.H. and Xu, J-G. (FDA)
Filed 14 Jun 94
Serial No. 08/258,188
Licensing Contact: Girish Barua, 301/496-7735 ext 263

The invention provides isolated nucleic acid sequences
corresponding to the EHEC hlyA gene, the EHEC hlyB gene, and the
intergenic region between the hlyA gene and the hlyB gene which are
unique to enterohemorrhagic E. coli. It also covers the methods for
detecting 0157:H7 and other enterohemorrhagic E. coli by targeting the
EHEC hlyA gene, the hlyB gene, fragments and combinations thereof. Such
methods rely on nucleic acid probes and amplification primers specific
for sequences of hlyA and hlyB genes. As such, the technology covered
in the invention provides nucleic acid probes and amplification primers
useful for the rapid, sensitive, and specific amplification for
detection of enterohemorrhagic E. coli and a detection kit embracing
the above aspects. [portfolio: Infectious Diseases--Diagnostics,
bacterial]

Chimeric Papillomavirus-Like Particles

Lowy, D.R., Schiller, J.T., Greenstone, H. (NCI)
Filed 6 Oct 94
Serial No. 08/319,467
Licensing Contact: Steven Ferguson, 301/496-7735 ext 266

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection causes benign epithelial and
fibro-epithelial tumors (genital warts), and is implicated as a cause
of certain forms of cancer, particularly cervical cancer.
The current invention embodies an improved vaccine against
infection by papillomaviruses. Two viral genes, L1 and L2, encode the
proteins which give rise to papillomavirus particles. The vaccine
embodied herein consists of recombinant papilloma virus-like particles
(VLPs), which are chimeras comprised of the L1 capsid protein and an L2
fusion product. The fusion product consists of the L2 capsid protein
recombinantly fused to other HPV peptides or proteins. The resulting
VLPs exhibit the ability to induce high levels of neutralizing
antibodies against papillomavirus infection. The resulting subunit
vaccine is believed to demonstrate improved efficacy in preventing HPV
infection, compared to VLPs composed of L1 and L2 proteins alone, and
may also prove valuable as a therapeutic agent in eliminating pre-
existing HPV infection.
In addition, the L2 fusion products can incorporate peptides or
proteins of other infectious agents, resulting in VLPs which can
immunize recipients against not only HPV infection, but also other,
unrelated diseases. [portfolio: Infectious Diseases--Diagnostics,
viral, non-AIDS; Infectious Diseases--Vaccines, viral, non-AIDS]

Chiral Separation of Enantiomers by High-Speed Countercurrent
Chromatography

Ma, Y., Ito, Y. (NHLBI)
Filed 16 Dec 94
Serial No. 08/357,845
Licensing Contact: David Sadowski, 301/496-7735 ext 288

The preparation of optically active compounds is very important for
the development of new biologically active substances. The ability to
separate enantiomers is therefore crucial. This invention embodies a
chromatographic technique that allows for gram-quantity separation of
chiral compounds. This method provides unique advantages over
conventional methods in terms of sample size, choice of chiral
selectors, and cost-effectiveness. [portfolio: Devices/
Instrumentation--Research Tools]

Dated: September 29, 1995.
Barbara M. McGarey,
Deputy Director, Office of Technology Transfer.