Company Filing History:
Years Active: 1990-2001
Title: Richard L Witter: Innovator in Marek's Disease Vaccines
Introduction
Richard L Witter is a prominent inventor based in Okemos, MI (US), known for his significant contributions to the field of veterinary medicine, particularly in the development of vaccines for Marek's disease. With a total of 7 patents, Witter has made substantial advancements in immunization techniques for poultry.
Latest Patents
Witter's latest patents focus on innovative vaccines for Marek's disease. One notable patent discloses a nucleotide sequence encoding the gp82 polypeptide of Marek's disease virus. This invention includes recombinant viruses that serve as vaccines, designed to protect against Marek's disease. These vaccines preferably contain multiple genes encoding Marek's Disease Virus antigens, such as glycoprotein B and gp82, regulated by a poxvirus promoter within a non-essential region of the fowlpox virus DNA. Additionally, Witter has developed a vaccine that exhibits a synergistic immunoprotective effect, combining a recombinant fowlpox virus expressing Marek's Disease Virus gB protein with turkey herpesvirus. He also introduced a method for immunizing poultry using these vaccines. Another significant patent involves an attenuated revertant serotype 1 Marek's disease vaccine, characterized by a markedly reduced pathogenicity compared to the parent virus, while maintaining immunogenicity.
Career Highlights
Throughout his career, Richard L Witter has worked with notable organizations, including the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture and Nippon Zeon Company, Ltd. His work has been instrumental in advancing the understanding and prevention of Marek's disease in poultry.
Collaborations
Witter has collaborated with esteemed colleagues, including Keyvan Nazerian and Noboru Yanagida, contributing to the development of effective vaccines and research in the field.
Conclusion
Richard L Witter's innovative work in the development of Marek's disease vaccines has significantly impacted poultry health and veterinary medicine. His contributions continue to influence the industry and improve the welfare of poultry worldwide.