[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58074-58075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28912]


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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, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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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.

ADDRESSES: Licensing information and a copy of the U.S. patent 
applications referenced below may be obtained by contacting Cindy K. 
Fuchs, J.D., at the Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes 
of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville, Maryland 
20852-3804 (telephone 301/496-7735 ext 232; fax 301/402-0220). A signed 
Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be required to receive a copy of 
the patent application.

Cells Expressing Both Human CD4 and a Human Fusion Accessory Factor 
Associated With HIV Infection

EA Berger, Y Feng, CC Broder, PE Kennedy (NIAID)
Serial No. 60/010,854 filed 30 Jan 96
    HIV-1 infects target cells by first binding to CD4, a receptor on 
the target cell membrane. The virus and target cell membranes then 
fuse, allowing the virus to enter the target cell. It has previously 
been determined that CD4 alone is not sufficient to allow entry, but 
that another factor specific to human cells is also required. The 
current invention embodies the identification of a cDNA encoding a 
protein, designated ``fusin,'' which demonstrates properties expected 
of a fusion co-factor for T-cell line tropic HIC-1 isolates. Fusin is a 
member of the 7-transmembrane segment (7-TMS) superfamily of G-protein-
coupled receptors. While this cDNA has previously been cloned, its 
potential role as an accessory protein necessary for HIV infection is 
novel to the current invention. The invention, therefore, should 
represent a valuable tool to be used in the production of transgenic 
mice and of cell lines for the study of HIV infection. In addition, the 
invention may itself represent a potential therapeutic agent against 
HIV or target for agents acting to block entry of HIV into target 
cells. This technology was reported in Science 272:809-810 (1996); 
Chemical and Engineerng News, p. 7 (May 13, 1996); BioWorld Today, pp. 
1-2 (May 13, 1996); Biotechnology News, 16(13): 1-2 (1996); and 
BioWorld Today, pp. 1, 3 (June 21, 1996). (portfolios: Infectious 
Diseases--Research Materials; Infectious Diseases--Miscellaneous; 
Infectious Diseases--Therapeutics, anti-virals, AIDS)

CC Chemokine Receptor 5 DNA, New Animal Models and Therapeutic 
Agents for HIV Infection

C Combadiere, Y Feng, EA Berger, G Alkahatib, PM Murphy, CC Broder 
(NIAID)
Serial No. 60/018,508 filed 28 May 1996
    This invention concerns a novel macrophage-selective CC chemokine 
receptor, designated ``CC CKR5,'' which is a necessary cofactor for the 
infection of target cells by macrophage-tropic HIV isolates. 
Macrophage-tropic HIV isolates represent the predominant type of 
isolates from infected persons and appear to be preferentially 
transmitted between individuals. The invention embodies the CC CKR5 
genetic sequence, cell lines and transgenic mice, the cells of which 
coexpress human CD4 and CC CKR5, and which may represent valuable tools 
for the study of HIV infection and for screening anti-HIV agents. The 
invention also embodies anti-CC CKR5 agents that block HIV env-mediated 
membrane fusion associated with HIV entry into human CD4-positive 
target cells or

[[Page 58075]]

between HIV-infected cells and uninfected human CD4-positive target 
cells. This technology was reported in Science 272:1955-1958 (1996); 
BioWorld Today, pp. 1 and 3 (June 21, 1996); and Chemical and 
Engineering News, p. 8 (June 24, 1996) and p. 46 (July 29, 1996). 
(portfolios: Infectious Diseases--Therapeutics, anti-virals, AIDS; 
Infectious Diseases--Research Materials)

    Dated: November 1, 1996.
Barbara M. McGarey,
Deputy Director, Office of Technology Transfer.
[FR Doc. 96-28912 Filed 11-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M