The University of Rochester of Rochester, NY, has received US Patent No. 8,486,619, "Arrayed imaging reflectometry (air) sensor chip comprising influenza hemagglutinin (HA) polypeptides suitable for the detection of antiviral immune responses."The patent describes a sensor chip for detecting an immune response against hemagglutinin polypeptides bound on a substrate. Devices containing the sensor chip and methods of detecting influenza immune responses are also described.
Illumina of San Diego has received US Patent No. 8,486,625, "Detection of nucleic acid reactions on bead arrays." The patent describes the use of microsphere arrays to detect and quantify nucleic acid reactions. It finds use in genotyping, particularly in the detection of mismatches and SNPs. It also finds use in the detection and quantification of a nucleic acid target using a variety of amplification techniques. The methods can also be used in nucleic acid sequencing reactions.
BioArray Solutions of Warren, NJ, now part of Immucor, has received US Patent No. 8,486,629, "Creation of functionalized microparticles libraries by oligonucleotide ligation or elongation." The patent provides methods for constructing a bead-displayed library of oligo probes and sequence-modified capture moieties, such as protein-nucleic acid conjugates. The libraries are constructed by ligation of capture probes, having analyte specific sequences, to an anchor probe that is attached to an encoded carrier, such as a color-coded microparticle.
BioArray Solutions has also received US Patent No. 8,486,720, "Arrays of magnetic particles." A method is provided for the generation of libraries of encoded magnetic particles from sub-libraries of magnetic nanoparticles and encoded particles. According to the patent, the sub-libraries are functionalized on demand, and are useful in the formation of arrays. They can be used in multiplexed assays for the qualitative or quantitative analysis of binding interactions of analyte molecules in a sample.
Ambergen of Waltham, Mass., has received US Patent No. 8,486,634, "Amplifying bisulfite-treated template." Methods of amplifying nucleic acid are described. They rely on primers bound to a solid support, such as a population of beads. Nucleic acid template molecules treated with bisulfate are amplified so as to create loaded beads consisting of amplified nucleic acid.
Check-Points Holding of Wageningen, the Netherlands, has received US Patent No. 8,486,638, "Method for fast detection and identification of micro-organisms." The method relies on the detection of species-specific or strain-specific nucleotide sequences on a microarray using addressable oligonucleotides. Relying on a two-step process, the method enables the screening of samples for the presence or absence of microorganisms, and then the identification and characterization of those microorganisms detected.
Dako Denmark, of Glostrup, Denmark, now part of Agilent Technologies, has received US Patent No. 8,486,714, "Reagent delivery system dispensing device and container for a biological staining apparatus." The claimed reagent delivery system is part of an apparatus for processing biological samples arrays on microscope slides. It includes reagent containers and dispensing probes. According to the patent, as there are no assembled parts within the probe in which fluid can be retained, low carry-over of fluid residues is achieved.