Toyo Ink Manufacturing and Toyo B-Net have been awarded US Patent No. 6,852,499, “Luciferase detection reagent kits and luciferase detection method using the kit.”
Inventors listed on the patent are Masayuki Ryufuku, Hozumi Tanaka, and Chie Suzuki.
According to its abstract, the patent protects a detection method and a method of manufacturing a detection kit, both characterized by use of an organic sulfur reagent, and which are effective at low concentration of the reagent, are inexpensive, and have reduced unpleasant odor. The patent also protects a reagent kit for detecting a Coleoptera luciferase, comprising an organic sulfur reagent having the atomic sequence of sulfur-carbon-sulfur in its chemical structure, a luciferin, adenosine triphosphate, and a magnesium ion, the abstract states. Also protected is a method for detecting a Coleoptera luciferase, comprising a first step of mixing an aqueous solution containing an organic sulfur reagent having the atomic sequence of sulfur-carbon-sulfur in its chemical structure, a luciferin, adenosine triphosphate, and a magnesium ion with a sample containing a Coleoptera luciferase, to give a mixed solution; and a second step of measuring the light emitted in the mixed solution, the abstract states.
Molecular Devices has been awarded US Patent No. 6,852,504, “Method for measuring cellular transmembrane potential changes.”
Inventors listed on the patent are Dieter Klaubert, Zhenjun Diwu, Guoliang Yi, and Martin Kirk.
According to its abstract, the patent protects an improved method for measuring membrane potential using compounds of a given formula as potentiometric probes. These probes may be used in combination with other fluorescent indicators such as Indo-1, Fura-2, and Fluo-3, and such probes may be used in microplate reading devices such as FLIPR fluorescent imaging plate readers, flow cytometers, and fluorometers. Such probes are used to measure membrane potential in live cells, the abstract states.
Gala Design has been awarded US Patent No. 6,852,510, “Host cells containing multiple integrating vectors.”
Inventors listed on the patent are Robert Bremel, Linda Miller, and Gregory Bleck.
According to its abstract, the patent protects methods for the production of proteins in host cells, and, more particularly, host cells containing multiple integrated copies of an integrating vector. Suitable integrating vectors for use in the present invention include retrovirus vectors, lentivirus vectors, transposon vectors, and adeno-associated virus vectors, the abstract states. Methods are provided in which the host cells are prepared by using the integrating vectors at a high multiplicity of infection. The host cells are useful for producing pharmaceutical proteins, variants of proteins for use in screening assays, and for direct use in high-throughput screening, the abstract states.
Inovyx has been awarded US Patent No. 6,852,527, “Apparatus and method for the measurement of cells in biological sample.”
Inventors listed on the patent are Anthony Chan and Richard Rocco.
According to its abstract, the patent protects an apparatus and method for concentrating and measuring low levels of cells in biological samples. The apparatus, or concentration device, consists of two chambers with an optically level collection membrane intermediating between the chambers. The collection membrane filters the biological sample, trapping cellular elements of interest. A vacuum may be attached to the device to assist in filtration. The surface area of the collection membrane matches the view field of a standard imaging system and the device can be mounted on a standard microscope stage. All the cells in the sample volume are collected onto the membrane. The view field provides a fixed volumetric area for cell counting. Since the volume of sample tested is known, the total number of cells in the original sample may be calculated. The sample reservoir of the concentration device may also be used for sample preparation. The concentration device is fully-contained; therefore, the investigator does not have to handle the sample once it is placed in the sample reservoir, the abstract states.
The University of California has been awarded US Patent No. 6,852,849, “Non-oligomerizing tandem fluorescent proteins.”
Inventors listed on the patent are Roger Tsien and Robert Campbell.
According to its abstract, the patent protects non-oligomerizing fluorescent proteins, which are formed by operatively linking two or more monomers of a fluorescent protein, or which are derived from a fluorescent protein having at least one mutation that reduces or eliminates the ability of the fluorescent protein to oligomerize. The non-oligomerizing fluorescent proteins can be derived from a naturally occurring green fluorescent protein, a red fluorescent protein, or other fluorescent protein related thereto. The patent also protects a fusion protein, which includes a non-oligomerizing fluorescent protein linked to at least one polypeptide of interest; a polynucleotide encoding a non-oligomerizing fluorescent protein; and a recombinant nucleic acid molecule, which includes a polynucleotide encoding a non-oligomerizing fluorescent protein operatively linked to at least a second polynucleotide. Vectors and host cells containing such polynucleotides also are provided, as are kits containing one or more non-oligomerizing fluorescent proteins or encoding polynucleotides or constructs derived therefrom. The patent also protects methods of making and using the proteins and polynucleotides, the abstract states.
Alpha Innotech has been awarded US Patent No. 6,853,454, “Optical analysis systems.”
David Heffelfinger is the inventor listed on the patent.
According to its abstract, the patent protects a system for optical detection of kinetic samples. The system includes a dual set of detectors linked to a single processor. The time of signal integration is different for each detector, allowing one detector to have a higher sensitivity by integrating over a longer time period while the second detector, using shorter integration periods, is able to measure kinetic events, the abstract states.