[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30006-30007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14496]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing: DNA 
Vaccines for Chlamydia Trachomatis

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: 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 companies and may also be available for licensing.

ADDRESSES: Licensing information and copies of the U.S. patent 
applications and issued patent listed below may be obtained by 
contacting Robert Benson, Ph.D., Technology Licensing Specialist, 
Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health, 6011 
Executive Boulevard, Suite 325, Rockville, Maryland 20852-3804; 
telephone: (301) 496-7056 ext. 267; fax: (301) 402-0220; e-mail: 
[email protected]. A signed Confidential Disclosure Agreement will be 
required to receive copies of the patent applications.

Nucleotide, Deduced Amino Acid Sequence, Isolation and Purification 
of Heat-Shock Chlamydial Proteins

RB Morrison, HD Caldwell (NIAID)

Serial No. 07/531,317 Filed 31 May 90 (U.S. Patent 5,071,962 Issued 10 
Dec. 91); Serial No. 07/841,323 Filed 25 Feb. 92 (Divisional of 07/
531,317); Serial No. 09/071,506 Filed 01 May 98 (Divisional of 07/
841,323)
    This invention concerns the discovery of a novel gene that encodes 
the HSP60 protein from Chlamydia trachomatis, referred to as HypB in 
the application. This immunodominant protein is a major target for 
Chlamydia trachomatis vaccine development and diagnostics. This gene 
and protein, or fragments thereof, are useful in the development of 
both recombinant protein and DNA based vaccines. The recombinant 
protein or DNA sequence also have potential for the development of 
diagnostic tests for C. trachomatis. The three patent properties claim 
different aspects of the invention. The issued patent claims monoclonal 
antibodies reactive against C. trachomatis HSP60 protein. Serial No. 
07/841,323 claims the HSP60 protein and its use as a vaccine. Serial 
No. 09/071,506 claims DNA sequences, and protein fragments thereof, 
encoding HSP60. This DNA sequence would be useful in a DNA vaccine, 
alone or with the MOMP DNA sequences claimed in Serial No. 07/853,359. 
No foreign patent rights exist.

Nucleotide and Amino Acid Sequences of the Four Variable Domains of 
the Major Outer Membrane Proteins of Chlamydia Trachomatis

H Caldwell et al. (NIAID)

Serial No. 07/853,359 Filed 16 Mar. 92 (With Priority to 17 Mar. 89)
    Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading sexually transmitted 
infectious agent in the United States, causing about 10 million new 
cases per year. It is a major cause of involuntary infertility in 
women. This invention claims the DNA sequences, and their encoded amino 
acid sequences, of the four variable domains from the major outer 
membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis, from the serovars Ba, 
D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, and L3. Serovars D, E, F, G, H, I, J, and K are 
the most common serovars associated with Chlamydia trachomatis caused 
sexually transmitted diseases. The claimed variable domains of MOMP 
contain the major antigen targets of protective immunity including 
neutralizing antibodies capable of preventing chlamydial infection. 
Thus, these sequences are useful for the development of recombinant 
protein, peptide, and DNA based vaccines

[[Page 30007]]

against C. trachomatis caused sexually transmitted diseases. The 
variable domains also represent the primary serotyping antigenic 
determinants of C. trachomatis organisms making these variable domain 
sequences potential useful targets for the development of DNA or 
antibody based diagnostic assays for C. trachomatis. The invention is 
described further in Ying et al., Infection & Immunity 57, 1040-1049, 
1989. Zhang et al., J. Infect. Dis. 176, 1035-1040, 1997 describes DNA 
vaccines utilizing MOMP DNA.

    Dated: May 21, 1998.
Jack Spiegel,
Director, Division of Technology, Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer.
[FR Doc. 98-14496 Filed 6-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M