Assay kit targeting fungal-driven eosinophil inflammation
This patent covers isolated proteins and genetic sequences from fungi that trigger inflammation and a specific immune response called eosinophil degranulation — a process implicated in allergic diseases like chronic sinusitis and asthma. The technology includes the purified fungal proteins themselves, as well as methods for testing whether a substance can block these inflammatory pathways. Essentially, researchers identified the specific fungal molecules responsible for driving a type of immune overreaction, creating tools to screen for drugs that could stop it.
What you could build
A research reagent kit or drug-screening assay sold to pharmaceutical and biotech companies developing treatments for fungal allergy, chronic rhinosinusitis, or eosinophilic asthma — the direct buyers would be immunology and allergy drug discovery teams.
Who in Virginia should care
Pharma and biotech companies with allergy or respiratory drug pipelines operating in the Virginia-Maryland-DC corridor, or academic medical centers like UVA or VCU with immunology programs, would be natural partners or licensees.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Hirohito Kita, Jens Ponikau, Christopher Lawrence
- Granted
- February 16, 2010
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 7662400
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.