Conceptual Mindworks, Inc.

United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

USA as Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Jeevalatha Vivekananda

Johnathan Lloyd Kiel

Eric A Holwitt

Mark A Sloan

Ronald M Cook

Nancy Millenbaugh

Kary B Mullis

Aptamers and methods of use thereof are presented for the treatment or diagnosis ofinfection. The aptamers binds to and capable of neutralization ofalpha-toxin.

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Methods and compositions for immediately immunizing an individual against any molecule or compound are provided. The present invention is directed to an immunity linker with at least two sites; (1) at least one first binding site that binds to an immune response component in an individual, and (2) at least one second binding site that binds specifically to a desired compound or molecule, the target. The second binding sites are preferably thiolated aptamers that have the benefit of increased stability, resistance to degradation and longer circulating half life. Methods of making and using pharmaceutical compositions including immunity linker molecules having a thiolated aptamer are also provided.

Chemically programmable immunity

The present invention concerns methods, compositions and apparatus for neutralizing bioagents, wherein bioagents comprise biowarfare agents, biohazardous agents, biological agents and/or infectious agents. The methods comprise exposing the bioagent to an organic semiconductor and exposing the bioagent and organic semiconductor to a source of energy. Although any source of energy is contemplated, in some embodiments the energy comprises visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, radiofrequency, microwave, laser radiation, pulsed corona discharge or electron beam radiation. Exemplary organic semiconductors include DAT and DALM. In certain embodiments, the organic semiconductor may be attached to one or more binding moieties, such as an antibody, antibody fragment, or nucleic acid ligand. Preferably, the binding moiety has a binding affinity for one or more bioagents to be neutralized. Other embodiments concern an apparatus comprising an organic semiconductor and an energy source. In preferred embodiments, the methods, compositions and apparatus are used for neutralizing anthrax spores.

Methods for neutralizing anthrax or anthrax spores

We describe examples using aptamers for capturing and reporting the presence of a target, such as a pathogen. Examples described here include a set of aptamers that are specific to. Other examples described here include an Aptamer-Linked Immobilized Sorbent Assay (ALISA) and dot blot assay. An example of a method provided here comprises: providing a set of DNA sequences that exhibit high binding affinity to target antigen, placing the DNA sequences in a sandwich aptamer-linked immobilized sorbent assay (ALISA), contacting the DNA sequences with a sample, and detecting whether the target is present in the sample. Some alternative implementations may include dot blots and different reporters. Quantum dot sandwich assays and quantum dot de-quenching reporters can be used.

Aptamer-based assays

Methods and compositions for neutralizing anthrax and other bioagents

The present invention concerns methods of preparing nucleic acid ligands against anthrax spores, compositions comprising anthrax specific nucleic acid ligands and methods of use of such ligands for detection and/or neutralization of anthrax spores.

Growing community of inventors

San Antonio, TX, United States of America

Jeevalatha Vivekananda