Kent Jay Voorhees

US Patent:

6799119, Sep 28, 2004

Filed:

May 15, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/570676

Inventors:

Kent J. Voorhees - Golden CO
Francisco Basile - Golden CO

Assignee:

Colorado School of Mines - Golden CO

International Classification:

G01N 3348

US Classification:

702 19, 702 20, 702 22, 435 4, 435 6

Abstract:

The present invention relates to a method for the detection of biological agents and, in particular, biological agents that may present a health hazard. In one embodiment, the invention identifies the unidentified biological agent, assesses the reliability of the identification, and if determined to be reliable, outputs the identification. Initially, data that relates to the biological composition of an unidentified biological agent is received. The data is then analyzed with a machine learning procedure to identify the unidentified biological agent in the sample. The reliability of the identification is then assessed with, for example, an analysis of MS/MS data on the unidentified biological agent. If the identification is found to be reliable, the identification is output.

US Patent:

7166425, Jan 23, 2007

Filed:

Apr 10, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/249452

Inventors:

Angelo J. Madonna - Tooele UT, US
Kent J. Voorhees - Golden CO, US
Jon C. Rees - Golden CO, US

Assignee:

Colorado School of Mines - Golden CO

International Classification:

C12Q 1/02
C12Q 1/04
C12Q 1/70
G01N 33/53
A01N 63/00

US Classification:

435 5, 435 4, 435 71, 435 72, 435 732, 435 75, 424 931, 424 936, 424 933

Abstract:

The invention is directed to a method for detecting low concentrations of bacteria in liquid solution that may or may not be complex liquid solutions. In one embodiment, immunomagnetic separation (IMS) is used to separate target bacterium that may be in a liquid mixture from other constituents in the mixture. A low concentration of a bacteriophage for the target bacteria is subsequently used to infect target bacterial cells that have been captured using the IMS technique. If at least a certain concentration of target bacterium are present, the bacteriophage will multiply to a point that is detectable. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI/TOF-MS) is then used to produce a mass spectrum that is analyzed to determine if one or more proteins associated with the bacteriophage are present, thereby indirectly indicating that target bacterium were present in the liquid mixture.

US Patent:

7972773, Jul 5, 2011

Filed:

Jan 23, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/626326

Inventors:

Angelo J. Madonna - Tooele UT, US
Kent J. Voorhees - Golden CO, US
Jon C. Rees - Golden CO, US

Assignee:

Colorado School of Mines - Golden CO

International Classification:

C12Q 1/02
C12Q 1/04
C12Q 1/70
G01N 33/53
A01N 63/00

US Classification:

435 5, 435 4, 435 71, 435 72, 435 732, 435 75, 424 931, 424 933, 424 936

Abstract:

The invention is directed to a method for detecting low concentrations of bacteria in liquid solution that may or may not be complex liquid solutions. In one embodiment, immunomagnetic separation (IMS) is used to separate target bacterium that may be in a liquid mixture from other constituents in the mixture. A low concentration of a bacteriophage for the target bacteria is subsequently used to infect target bacterial cells that have been captured using the IMS technique. If at least a certain concentration of target bacterium are present, the bacteriophage will multiply to a point that is detectable. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI/TOF-MS) is then used to produce a mass spectrum that is analyzed to determine if one or more proteins associated with the bacteriophage are present, thereby indirectly indicating that target bacterium were present in the liquid mixture.

US Patent:

8092990, Jan 10, 2012

Filed:

Mar 31, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/394936

Inventors:

Kent J. Voorhees - Golden CO, US

Assignee:

Colorado School of Mines - Golden CO

International Classification:

C12Q 1/70

US Classification:

435 5

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus are provided for detection of microorganisms in a sample. Methods and apparatus of the invention are based on the specificity that phage, for example bacteriophage, have for target microorganisms, for example bacterium. Typically, phage adsorption to target microorganisms act as signal, or a signal target, for the presence of the target microorganism. Typically, the phage are labeled with a detectable signal. Apparatus of the invention are directed toward concentrating the phage adsorbed microorganisms at a predetermined site for flag dependent observation.

US Patent:

20020192676, Dec 19, 2002

Filed:

Apr 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/063346

Inventors:

Angelo Madonna - Littleton CO, US
Francisco Basile - Golden CO, US
Kent Voorhees - Golden CO, US

International Classification:

C12Q001/68

US Classification:

435/006000

Abstract:

The invention is directed to a method for determining whether a particular bacteria is present in a liquid mixture of biological material. In one embodiment, the invention comprises the steps of providing a sampling structure comprised of a body to which antibodies for a particular type of bacteria have been bonded and exposing the sampling structure to a liquid medium that may contain whole cell bacteria for the particular type of bacteria. If such bacteria are present, there is a likelihood that the antibodies will capture some of the bacteria. The method further comprises performing a separation operation to remove materials located adjacent to the sampling structure that may corrupt a subsequent MALDI-TOF analysis, preparing the sampling structure surface with any captured bacteria for MALDI-TOF analysis, subjecting any captured bacteria to a MALDI-TOF analysis to produce a mass spectrum, and analyzing the mass spectrum determine if the particular type of bacteria is present in the liquid mixture.

US Patent:

20050003346, Jan 6, 2005

Filed:

Apr 12, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/823294

Inventors:

Kent Voorhees - Golden CO, US
John Rees - Golden CO, US
John Wheeler - Boulder CO, US
Angelo Madonna - Tooale UT, US

Assignee:

Colorado School Of Mines - Golden CO

International Classification:

C12Q001/70

US Classification:

435005000

Abstract:

A method for detecting one or more target bacteria in a raw sample where: 1) bacteriophage(s) specific to each target bacterium are added to the raw sample, 2) the test sample is incubated, and 3) the test sample is tested for the presence of each phage in sufficient numbers to indicate the presence of the associated target bacteria in the raw sample. In one embodiment, each phage is initially added to the raw sample in concentrations below the detection limit of the final phage detection process. In another embodiment, the parent phages are tagged in such a way that they can be separated from the progeny phage prior to the detection process. Preferred phage detection processes are immunoassay methods utilizing antibodies that bind specifically to each phage. Antibodies can be used that bind to the protein capsid of the phage. Alternatively, the phage can by dissociated after the incubation process and the sample tested for the presence of individual capsid proteins or phage nucleic acids. The invention can be used to test target bacteria for antibiotic resistance.

US Patent:

20070148638, Jun 28, 2007

Filed:

Dec 19, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/612587

Inventors:

Angelo Madonna - Tooele UT, US
Kent Voorhees - Golden CO, US
Jon Rees - Golden CO, US

Assignee:

COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES - Golden CO

International Classification:

C12Q 1/70
G01N 33/554

US Classification:

435005000, 435007320

Abstract:

The invention is directed to a method for detecting low concentrations of bacteria in liquid solution that may or may not be complex liquid solutions. In one embodiment, immunomagnetic separation (IMS) is used to separate target bacterium that may be in a liquid mixture from other constituents in the mixture. A low concentration of a bacteriophage for the target bacteria is subsequently used to infect target bacterial cells that have been captured using the IMS technique. If at least a certain concentration of target bacterium are present, the bacteriophage will multiply to a point that is detectable. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI/TOF-MS) is then used to produce a mass spectrum that is analyzed to determine if one or more proteins associated with the bacteriophage are present, thereby indirectly indicating that target bacterium were present in the liquid mixture.

US Patent:

20090246752, Oct 1, 2009

Filed:

Dec 30, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/346656

Inventors:

Kent Voorhees - Golden CO, US
Jon Rees - Longmont CO, US
John H. Wheeler - Boulder CO, US
Angelo Madonna - Tooele UT, US

Assignee:

MicroPhage TM Incorporated - Longmont CO

International Classification:

C12Q 1/70

US Classification:

435 5

Abstract:

A method for detecting one or more target bacteria in a raw sample where: 1) bacteriophage(s) specific to each target bacterium are added to the raw sample, 2) the test sample is incubated, and 3) the test sample is tested for the presence of each phage in sufficient numbers to indicate the presence of the associated target bacteria in the raw sample. In one embodiment, each phage is initially added to the raw sample in concentrations below the detection limit of the final phage detection process. In another embodiment, the parent phages are tagged in such a way that they can be separated from the progeny phage prior to the detection process. Preferred phage detection processes are immunoassay methods utilizing antibodies that bind specifically to each phage. Antibodies can be used that bind to the protein capsid of the phage. Alternatively, the phage can by dissociated after the incubation process and the sample tested for the presence of individual capsid proteins or phage nucleic acids. The invention can be used to test target bacteria for antibiotic resistance.