[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 12, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 11107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-5905]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Availability for Non-Exclusive, Exclusive, or Partially Exclusive 
Licensing of U.S. Patent Application Concerning Method for Detecting 
Clostridium Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotypes A, B, E and F in a Sample

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with 37 CFR 404.6, announcement is made of the 
availability for licensing of U.S. Patent Application No. 60/232,929 
entitled ``Method for Detecting Clostridium Botulinum Neurotoxin 
Serotypes A, B, E and F in a Sample'' filed September 15, 2000. Foreign 
rights are also available (PCT/US01/28641). The United States 
Government as represented by the Secretary of the Army has rights in 
this invention.

ADDRESSES: Commander, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, 
ATTN: Command Judge Advocate, MCMR-JA, 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, 
Frederick, Maryland 21702-5012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For patent issues, Ms. Elizabeth 
Arwine, Patent Attorney, (301) 619-7808. For licensing issues, Dr. Paul 
Mele, Office of Research & Technology Assessment, (301) 619-6664, both 
at telefax (301) 619-5034.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The present invention relates to a simple, 
sensitive colorimetric capture ELISA for BoNTs with detection limits at 
or below 1 mouse unit. The assay is reproducible and accurate with 
negligible cross-reactivity between serotypes. The strength of the 
assay relies on its novel format and the unique preparation of the 
antibodies used in the assay. The antibodies are affinity-purified to 
the heavy chain C-fragment of the toxin. Others have used antibodies, 
which are not affinity purified or which are purified to the whole 
toxin molecule. We reasoned that since the C-terminal region of the 
heavy chain is where the binding domain is located, this portion of the 
molecule should not be covered by associated proteins, if the binding 
domain is located, this portion of the molecule should not be covered 
by associated proteins; if the binding domain was blocked, then the 
molecule would be precluded from binding to the cell surface and would 
not be toxic. Thus, the binding region ``looks'' the same in both the 
purified and complex forms. Antibodies to this region should recognize 
preparation of the antibodies is that they do not cross-react between 
serotypes, they recognize neutralizing epitopes, and they recognize 
purified and complex toxins equally.

Luz D. Ortiz,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-5905 Filed 3-11-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M