[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 212 (Monday, November 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 62305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27502]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

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

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The invention listed below is owned by an agency of the U.S. 
Government and is 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 
application 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 application.

Enhanced Sensitivity ELISA for SARS Diagnostic

Gary Nabel et al. (NIAID)
U.S. Provisional Application filed 15 Sep 2003 (DHHS Reference No. E-
334-2003/0-US-01)
Licensing Contact: Susan Ano; 301/435-5515; [email protected].

    Reagents and protocols for extremely sensitive ELISA for use as a 
SARS diagnostic are described. The ELISA uses recombinantly-expressed 
nucleoprotein (N) or spike (S) glycoprotein from the SARS coronavirus 
as capture antigens. As little as five (5) days after onset, detection 
of antibody response is possible. The ELISA described herein is more 
sensitive than existing technology because of the N and S proteins; 
existing ELISAs use formalin-inactivated whole virus or peptides.

Inhibition of Retrovirus Gene Expression by PSF

Andrei Zolotukhin et al. (NCI)
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/484,156 filed 30 Jun 2003 (DHHS 
Reference No. E-224-2003/0-US-01)
    Licensing Contact: Susan Ano; 301/435-5515; [email protected].

    This technology describes methods of identifying inhibitors of 
retrovirus (e.g. HIV) gene expression, where such inhibitors are small 
molecules or nucleic acids. The compounds thus identified could be used 
as potential anti-retroviral therapeutics. The candidate agents are 
those that affect the interaction of human polypyrimidine tract binding 
protein associated splicing factor (PSF) with inhibitory sequences 
(INS) present in the HIV-1 genome. PSF has been shown to bind to INS 
present in the HIV genome, thus decreasing the levels of retrovirus 
gene expression like gag and env. Therefore, compounds that modulate or 
enhance binding of PSF to INS are potential inhibitors of retrovirus 
expression. The methods involve analyzing the interaction of PSF with 
INS and evaluating the level of retrovirus gene expression in the 
presence of a candidate agent. The technology provides for PSF to be 
introduced into the cell using an expression vector that encodes PSF.

Peptide Mimotopes of Lipooligosaccharide from Nontypeable Haemophilus 
influenzae as Vaccines

Xin-Xing Gu (NIDCD)
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/441,928 filed 22 Jan 2003 (DHHS 
Reference No. E-344-2002/0-US-01)
Licensing Contact: Susan Ano; 301/435-5515; [email protected].

    The invention relates to peptide mimotopes of lipooligosaccharide 
(LOS) from nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) that are suitable 
for developing a novel vaccine against the pathogen, for which there is 
currently no licensed vaccine. The mimotopes not only immunologically 
mimic LOS from NTHi but will also bind to antibodies specific for NTHi 
LOS. NTHi is a common pathogen that causes otitis media in children and 
lower respiratory tract infections in adults. The effectiveness of a 
vaccine could be increased by substitution of a LOS epitope with a 
peptide mimic. Preliminary experiments showed that the mimic peptides 
conjugated to a carrier were as effective as the LOS-based vaccine in 
stimulating a humoral immune response in rabbits. Thus, the identified 
peptides are promising candidates for developing a novel vaccine for 
NTHi.

    Dated: October 24, 2003.
Steven M. Ferguson,
Director, Division of Technology Development and Transfer, Office of 
Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 03-27502 Filed 10-31-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P