Ling Zhi Chen

US Patent:

6733993, May 11, 2004

Filed:

Sep 14, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/952060

Inventors:

Emilio A. Emini - Wayne PA
Rima Youil - North Wales PA
Andrew J. Bett - Landsdale PA
Ling Chen - Blue Bell PA
David C. Kaslow - Bryn Mawr PA
John W. Shiver - Doylestown PA
Timothy J. Toner - Marlton NJ
Danilo R. Casimiro - Harleysville PA

Assignee:

Merck Co., Inc. - Rahway NJ

International Classification:

C12P 2106

US Classification:

435 691, 435 5, 435 71, 435325, 4353391, 53038835, 536 231, 4241991, 4242081

Abstract:

First generation adenoviral vectors and associated recombinant adenovirus-based HIV vaccines which show enhanced stability and growth properties and greater cellular-mediated immunity are described within this specification. These adenoviral vectors are utilized to generate and produce through cell culture various adenoviral-based HIV-1 vaccines which contain HIV-1 gag, HIV-1 pol and/or HIV-1 nef polynucleotide pharmaceutical products, and biologically relevant modifications thereof. These adenovirus vaccines, when directly introduced into living vertebrate tissue, preferably a mammalian host such as a human or a non-human mammal of commercial or domestic veterinary importance, express the HIV1-Gag, Pol and/or Nef protein or biologically modification thereof, inducing a cellular immune response which specifically recognizes HIV-1. The exemplified polynucleotides of the present invention are synthetic DNA molecules encoding HIV-1 Gag, encoding codon optimized HIV-1 Pol, derivatives of optimized HIV-1 Pol (including constructs wherein protease, reverse transcriptase, RNAse H and integrase activity of HIV-1 Pol is inactivated), HIV-1 Nef and derivatives of optimized HIV-1 Nef, including nef mutants which effect wild type characteristics of Nef, such as myristylation and down regulation of host CD4. The adenoviral vaccines of the present invention, when administered alone or in a combined modality regime, will offer a prophylactic advantage to previously uninfected individuals and/or provide a therapeutic effect by reducing viral load levels within an infected individual, thus prolonging the asymptomatic phase of HIV-1 infection.

US Patent:

6787351, Sep 7, 2004

Filed:

Mar 27, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/818443

Inventors:

Ling Chen - Blue Bell PA
John W. Shiver - Doylestown PA
Andrew J. Bett - Lansdale PA
Danilo R. Casimiro - Harleysville PA
Michael J. Caulfield - Fort Washington PA
Michael A. Chastain - Glenside PA
Emilio A. Emini - Strafford PA

Assignee:

Merck Co., Inc. - Rahway NJ

International Classification:

C12N 1574

US Classification:

4353201, 435 691, 435 692, 424 932

Abstract:

An adenoviral vector is described which carries a codon-optimized gag gene, along with a heterologous promoter and transcription terminator. This viral vaccine can effectively prevent HIV infection when administered to humans either alone or as part of a prime and boost regime also with a vaccine plasmid.

US Patent:

7001995, Feb 21, 2006

Filed:

Aug 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/642405

Inventors:

Michael P Neeper - Collegeville PA, US
William L. McClements - Doylestown PA, US
Kathrin U. Jansen - Doylestown PA, US
Loren D. Schultz - Harleysville PA, US
Ling Chen - Blue Bell PA, US

Assignee:

Merck & Co., Inc. - Rahway NJ

International Classification:

C07H 21/04
C12N 15/74
A61K 48/00
C12P 21/06

US Classification:

536 231, 4353201, 435 691, 424 9321, 514 44

Abstract:

Synthetic DNA molecules encoding papillomavirus proteins are provided. The codons of the synthetic molecules are codons preferred by the projected host cell. The synthetic molecules may be used as a polynucleotide vaccine which provides effective immunoprophylaxis against papillomavirus infection through stimulation of neutralizing antibody and cell-mediated immunity.

US Patent:

7211569, May 1, 2007

Filed:

Dec 4, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/728131

Inventors:

Michael P Neeper - Collegeville PA, US
William L. McClements - Doylestown PA, US
Kathrin U. Jansen - Doylestown PA, US
Loren D. Schultz - Harleysville PA, US
Ling Chen - Blue Bell PA, US

Assignee:

Merck & Co., Inc. - Rahway NJ

International Classification:

A61K 48/00
C07H 21/04

US Classification:

514 44, 435 691, 4353201, 536 231, 424 9321

Abstract:

Synthetic DNA molecules encoding papillomavirus proteins are provided. The codons of the synthetic molecules are codons preferred by the projected host cell. The synthetic molecules may be used as a polynucleotide vaccine which provides effective immunoprophylaxis against papillomavirus infection through stimulation of neutralizing antibody and cell-mediated immunity.

US Patent:

20030228329, Dec 11, 2003

Filed:

Jun 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/461030

Inventors:

Ling Chen - Blue Bell PA, US
John Shiver - Doylestown PA, US
Andrew Bett - Lansdale PA, US
Danilo Casimiro - Harleysville PA, US
Michael Caulfield - Fort Washington PA, US
Michael Chastain - Glenside PA, US
Emilio Emini - Strafford PA, US

Assignee:

Merck & Co., Inc. - Rahway NJ

International Classification:

A61K039/12
C12N007/00
C12N015/867
C12N015/861

US Classification:

424/199100, 435/456000, 435/235100

Abstract:

An adenoviral vector is described which carries a codon-optimized gag gene, along with a heterologous promoter and transcription terminator. This viral vaccine can effectively prevent HIV infection when administered to humans either alone or as part of a prime and boost regime also with a vaccine plasmid.

US Patent:

20040101957, May 27, 2004

Filed:

Mar 14, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/380641

Inventors:

Emilio Emini - Wayne PA, US
Rima Youil - North Wales PA, US
Andrew Bett - Lansdale PA, US
Ling Chen - Blue Bell PA, US
David Kaslow - Rancho Santa Fe CA, US
John Shiver - Chalfont PA, US
Timothy Toner - Marlton NJ, US
Danilo Casimiro - Harleysville PA, US

International Classification:

C12Q001/68
C12P021/06
C12N015/00
C12N015/09
C12N015/63
C12N015/70
C12N015/74

US Classification:

435/320100, 435/069100, 435/006000

Abstract:

First generation adenoviral vectors and associated recombinant adenovirus-based HIV vaccines which show enhanced stability and growth properties and greater cellular-mediated immunity are described within this specification. These adenoviral vectors are utilized to generate and produce through cell culture various adenoviral-based HIV-1 vaccines which contain HIV-1 gag, HIV-1 pol and/or HIV-1 nef polynucleotide pharmaceutical products, and biologically relevant modifications thereof. These adenovirus vaccines, when directly introduced into living vertebrate tissue, preferably a mammalian host such as a human or a non-human mammal of commercial or domestic veterinary importance, express the HIV-1 Gag, Pol and/or Nef protein or biologically modification thereof, inducing a cellular immune response which specifically recognizes HIV-1. The exemplified polynucleotides of the present invention are synthetic DNA molecules encoding HIV-1 Gag, encoding codon optimized HIV-1 Pol, derivatives of optimized HIV-1 Pol (including constructs wherein protease, reverse transcriptase, RNAse H and integrase activity of HIV-1 Pol is inactivated), HIV-1 Nef and derivatives of optimized HIV-1 Nef, including nef mutants which effect wild type characteristics of Nef, such as myristylation and down regulation of host CD4. The adenoviral vaccines of the present invention, when administered alone or in a combined modality regime, will offer a prophylactic advantage to previously uninfected individuals and/or provide a therapeutic effect by reducing viral load levels within an infected individual, thus prolonging the asymptomatic phase of HIV-1 infection.

US Patent:

20050070017, Mar 31, 2005

Filed:

Aug 7, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/636730

Inventors:

Emilio Emini - Wayne PA, US
Rima Youil - North Wales PA, US
Andrew Bett - Lansdale PA, US
Ling Chen - Blue Bell PA, US
David Kaslow - Bryn Mawr PA, US
John Shiver - Doylestown PA, US
Timothy Toner - Marlton NJ, US
Danilo Casimiro - Harleysville PA, US

International Classification:

A61K039/12
C12N007/00
C12N015/861

US Classification:

435456000, 435235100

Abstract:

First generation adenoviral vectors and associated recombinant adenovirus-based HIV vaccines which show enhanced stability and growth properties and greater cellular-mediated immunity are described within this specification. These adenoviral vectors are utilized to generate and produce through cell culture various adenoviral-based HIV-1 vaccines which contain HIV-1 gag, HIV-1 pol and/or HIV-1 nef polynucleotide pharmaceutical products, and biologically relevant modifications thereof. These adenovirus vaccines, when directly introduced into living vertebrate tissue, preferably a mammalian host such as a human or a non-human mammal of commercial or domestic veterinary importance, express the HIV1-Gag, Pol and/or Nef protein or biologically modification thereof, inducing a cellular immune response which specifically recognizes HIV-1. The exemplified polynucleotides of the present invention are synthetic DNA molecules encoding HIV-1 Gag, encoding codon optimized HIV-1 Pol, derivatives of optimized HIV-1 Pol (including constructs wherein protease, reverse transcriptase, RNAse H and integrase activity of HIV-1 Pol is inactivated), HIV-1 Nef and derivatives of optimized HIV-1 Nef, including nef mutants which effect wild type characteristics of Nef, such as myristylation and down regulation of host CD4. The adenoviral vaccines of the present invention, when administered alone or in a combined modality regime, will offer a prophylactic advantage to previously uninfected individuals and/or provide a therapeutic effect by reducing viral load levels within an infected individual, thus prolonging the asymptomatic phase of HIV-1 infection.

US Patent:

20050118139, Jun 2, 2005

Filed:

Aug 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/487148

Inventors:

Lingyi Huang - Norristown PA, US
Kathrin Jansen - Doylestown PA, US
William McClements - Doylestown PA, US
Juanita Monteiro - Cheltenham PA, US
Loren Schultz - Harleysville PA, US
Timothy Tobery - Wilmington DE, US
Ling Chen - The Woodlands TX, US

International Classification:

A61K048/00
C12N015/861

US Classification:

424093200, 514044000, 435456000

Abstract:

Cell-mediated immune response to a infection can be induced by vaccination with DNA encoding E genes. E genes can both prevent the occurrence of disease, and treat disease states. Canine (COPV) E genes which are codon-optimized to enhance expression in host cells are also given.