Robert A Webster

US Patent:

6344354, Feb 5, 2002

Filed:

Jun 16, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/097712

Inventors:

Robert G. Webster - Memphis TN
Nicolai V. Kaverin - Moscow, RU

Assignee:

St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital - Memphis TN

International Classification:

C12N 700

US Classification:

4352351, 424 936, 4242061, 4242091, 435236, 435239

Abstract:

The invention provides replication of high growth influenza virus strains, derived from clinical isolates, in cultured mammalian cells by infecting the mammalian cells with the high growth strains to obtain infected cells, and culturing the cells while maintaining a trypsin concentration range of 0. 05-1. 0 g/ml in the culture medium, where the resulting replicated virus is suitable for use in mammalian influenza vaccines and vaccination methods, which are also provided by the invention.

US Patent:

7037707, May 2, 2006

Filed:

Sep 4, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/654737

Inventors:

Robert Gordon Webster - Memphis TN, US
Richard John Webby - Memphis TN, US
Hiroichi Ozaki - Memphis TN, US

Assignee:

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - Memphis TN

International Classification:

C12N 7/00
C12Q 1/70
A01N 63/00

US Classification:

4352351, 435 5, 4353201, 424 936, 4242061, 930220

Abstract:

The present invention is based on the discovery that a high titer reassortant influenza virus is produced in mammalian cell culture by replacing the NS gene of the A/PuertoRico/3/24 master strain with the NS gene of the A/England/1/53 strain. The invention provides influenza viruses and vaccines generated in mammalian cells as well as methods for producing such. The invention further provides an influenza virus master strain and kits for generating reassortant influenza viruses in mammalian cell culture and methods of making and using the master strain.

US Patent:

7871626, Jan 18, 2011

Filed:

Jul 27, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/460584

Inventors:

Erich Hoffmann - Memphis TN, US
Aleksandr S. Lipatov - Bartlett TN, US
Richard J. Webby - Memphis TN, US
Elena A. Govorkova - Cordova TN, US
Robert G. Webster - Memphis TN, US

Assignee:

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - Memphis TN

International Classification:

A61K 39/145
A61K 39/12
A61K 39/00
A01N 63/00
C12Q 1/70
C12P 21/06
C07K 14/00
A61K 39/245

US Classification:

4242061, 4242051, 4241991, 4241861, 4241851, 4242091, 424 936, 435 5, 435 691, 530350

Abstract:

The immunogenicity of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) molecule may be increased by substitutions of amino acids in the HA sequence. The substitution of specific HA residues, such as asparagine at position 223 of H5 HA, increase the sensitivity of the hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) assay by altering receptor specificity and/or antibody-antigen binding. HA molecules containing such substitutions will be useful in the development of diagnostic reference viruses and improved influenza vaccines.

US Patent:

20040142450, Jul 22, 2004

Filed:

Nov 5, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/477016

Inventors:

Sang Seo - Taejon, KR
Robert Webster - Memphis TN, US

International Classification:

C12N007/00
C12N005/06

US Classification:

435/235100, 435/325000

Abstract:

The present invention relates to a novel lung epithelial cell line, preferably a porcine lung epithelial cell line, supporting efficient high titer replication of viruses, in particular, influenza viruses. In contrast to embryonated chicken eggs and known cell culture systems for influenza replication, propagation of influenza viruses in the lung epithelial cell line of the invention is not accompanied by antigenic changes in the HA1 region of the hemagglutinin molecule and is free of contaminants which are potentially harmful for vaccine production. The cell line of the invention is useful in virus surveillance, in studies of viral pathogenesis, and in the production anti-viral vaccines for humans and animals.

US Patent:

20080118531, May 22, 2008

Filed:

Apr 18, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/737104

Inventors:

Erich Hoffmann - Memphis TN, US
Scott L. Krauss - Millington TN, US
Mahesh Kumar - Fort Dodge IA, US
Richard J. Webby - Memphis TN, US
Robert G. Webster - Memphis TN, US

Assignee:

Wyeth - Madison NJ
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - Memphis TN

International Classification:

A61K 39/145

US Classification:

4242091

Abstract:

A vaccine composition and method which is effective in preventing or ameliorating Avian Influenza Virus infection is set forth herein. The vaccine contains at least two inactivated strains of avian influenza virus, wherein the combined hemagglutinin (HA) total is at least about 200 HA/dose of the vaccine composition, and wherein each of the strains presents at least about 128 HA/dose, and further wherein one of the strains has the same HA subtype as that of a challenge virus, and wherein at least one of the strains has a different NA subtype than the challenge virus.

US Patent:

20110247091, Oct 6, 2011

Filed:

Mar 25, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/072190

Inventors:

Katharine Edens Magor - Edmonton, CA
Megan Rani Winnifred Barber - Edmonton, CA
Robert G. Webster - Memphis TN, US

International Classification:

A01K 67/027
C12N 5/10
C12N 15/873

US Classification:

800 19, 435349, 800 25

Abstract:

The present disclosure provides a transgenic cell or chicken having increased resistance to RNA viral infection, wherein the chicken cell expresses a foreign RIG-I gene. Also provided are methods for reducing RNA virus replication in a chicken cell and methods for producing the transgenic cell or chicken with increased RNA viral resistance.

US Patent:

58245367, Oct 20, 1998

Filed:

Jun 17, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/664783

Inventors:

Robert G. Webster - Memphis TN
Nicolai V. Kaverin - Moscow, RU

Assignee:

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - Memphis TN

International Classification:

C12N 500
C12N 702
C12N 700

US Classification:

4352351

Abstract:

The invention provides replication of high growth influenza virus strains, derived from clinical isolates, in cultured mammalian cells by infecting the mammalian cells with the high growth strains to obtain infected cells, and culturing the cells while maintaining a trypsin concentration range of 0. 05-1. 0. mu. g/ml in the culture medium, where the resulting replicated virus is suitable for use in mammalian influenza vaccines and vaccination methods, which are also provided by the invention.

US Patent:

59168790, Jun 29, 1999

Filed:

Nov 12, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/747286

Inventors:

Robert Webster - Memphis TN

Assignee:

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - Memphis TN

International Classification:

A61K 4800
C12N 1587
C12N 1544

US Classification:

514 44

Abstract:

The present invention describes a reliably protective avian vaccine that contains a DNA transcription unit comprising a nucleic acid that encodes a viral protein. This effective and reliable avian vaccine significantly improves upon that which heretofore has been disclosed. The present invention demonstrates that the reliable efficacy found for DNA influenza vaccines, formerly observed in experimental inbred mice, can now be obtained for outbred avian species as well. Methods of use and specific DNA constructs are disclosed.