[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 66 (Thursday, April 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18099-18100]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8376]


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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 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 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 and Compositions for Inhibiting HIV-Coreceptor Interactions

Oleg Chertov (NCI), Joost J. Oppenheim (NCI), Xin Chen (NCI), Connor 
McGrath (NCI), Raymond C. Sowder II (NCI), Jacek Lubkowski (NCI), 
Michele Wetzel (EM), and Thomas J. Rogers (EM)
DHHS Reference No. E-190-00/0 filed 15 Feb 2001
Licensing Contact: Sally Hu; 301/496-7056 ext. 265; e-mail: 
[email protected]

    This invention provides peptides that might be potent inhibitors of 
HIV replication, in both macrophages and T lymphocytes. Specifically, 
the inventors have identified peptides, from the HIV-1 gp120 envelope 
protein, that share structural similarities with chemokines and are 
shown to block ``docking'' interactions between the HIV-1 envelope 
protein gp120 and chemokine receptors that function as ``coreceptors'' 
for HIV entry on the surface of target cells (macrophages and T 
lymphocytes). The inventors synthesized two peptides (designated 15K 
and 15D) based on this information and showed that both were effective 
in competing with chemokines for binding to CCR5- and CXCR4-expressing 
cells. These peptides efficiently inhibited infection of human monocyte 
derived macrophages and peripheral blood mononuclear cells by different 
strains of HIV. The synthesized peptides also inhibited chemotaxis of 
CCR5 expressing transfected cells stimulated by the chemokine RANTES. 
Thus, these peptides and other molecules based on their structure can 
be potentially used as inhibitors of HIV. Moreover, these peptides 
could also have anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activity. Further, it 
has been determined that these peptides are multi-tropic in their 
effects (blocking HIV interactions with multiple co-receptors) for 
blocking both T cell tropic (lymphotropic) and macrophage tropic (m-
tropic) HIV strains.

Identification of New Small RNAs and ORFs

Susan Gottesman (NCI), Gisela Storz (NICHD), Karen Wassarman (NICHD), 
Francis Repoila (NCI), Carsten Rosenow (EM)
DHHS Reference No. E-072-01/0 filed 01 Feb 2001
Licensing Contact: Peter Soukas; 301/496-7056 ext. 268; e-mail: 
[email protected]

    The inventors have isolated a number of previously unknown sRNAs 
found in E. coli. Previous scientific publications by the inventors and 
others regarding sRNAs have shown these sRNAs to serve important 
regulatory roles in the cell, such as regulators of virulence and 
survival in host cells. Prediction of the presence of genes encoding 
sRNAs was accomplished by combining sequence information from highly 
conserved intergenic regions with information about the expected 
transcription of neighboring genes. Microarray analysis also was used 
to identify likely candidates. Northern blot analyses were then carried 
out to demonstrate the presence of the sRNAs. Three of the sRNAs 
claimed in the invention regulate (candidates 12 and 14, negatively and 
candidate 31, positively) expression of RpoS, a major transcription 
factor in bacteria that is important in many pathogens because it 
regulates (amongst other things) virulence. The inventors' data show 
that these sRNAs are highly conserved among closely related bacterial 
species, including Salmonella and Klebsiella presenting a unique 
opportunity to develop both specific and broad-based antibiotic 
therapeutics. The invention contemplates a number of uses for the 
sRNAs, including, but not limited to, inhibition by antisense, 
manipulation of gene expression, and possible vaccine candidates.

Decoding Algorithm for Neuronal Responses

Barry J. Richmond, Matthew C. Wiener (NIMH)
DHHS Reference No. E-038-01/0 filed 12 Jan 2001
Licensing Contact: Dale Berkley; 301/496-7735 ext. 223; e-mail: 
[email protected]

    The invention is a new algorithm for decoding neuronal responses 
based on

[[Page 18100]]

the discovery that neuronal spike trains can be described using order 
statistics. The device has applications in the direct control of 
prosthetic limbs by neuronal signals originating from electrodes placed 
in the brain. The method allows for decoding neuronal responses by 
monitoring sequences of potentials from neurons while specific motor 
tasks are carried out. The sequences are then characterized using the 
innovative technique of applying order statistics to the spike train, 
such that subsequent action potentials representing unidentified motor 
tasks can be decoded to determine the unknown task. The invention is of 
substantial importance because it appears to have achieved a closed 
form interpretation of neuronal responses upon which a motor prosthetic 
device might be based.

Expression Vectors Able to Elicit Improved Immune Response and 
Methods of Using Same

Pavlakis et al. (NCI)
DHHS Reference No. E-308-00/0 filed 01 Nov 2000
Licensing Contact: Carol Salata; 301/496-7735 ext. 232; e-mail: 
[email protected]

    Cellular immune responses against human immunodeficiency virus type 
1 (HIV-1) and the related simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) have been 
shown to play an important role in controlling HIV-1 and SIV infection 
and in delaying disease progression. This invention relates to nucleic 
acids (such as DNA immunization plasmids), encoding fusion proteins 
containing a destabilizing amino acid sequence which increases their 
immunogenicity. In order to make HIV gag or env more immunogenic, 
several signals for proteasomal degradation were selected and linked to 
the proteins. One of these destabilizing amino acid sequences was found 
to be particularly effective. The DNA construct expressing the HIV-1 
gag fusion protein was more immunogenic in mice than the HIV gag 
protein. Compared with gag alone, the DNA expressing the gag fusion 
protein evoked much higher HIV-specific proliferative responses, 
elevated CTL response and a high level of CD8+ IFNg-secreting cells.

    Dated: March 28, 2001.
Jack Spiegel,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 01-8376 Filed 4-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P