This patent covers purified proteins (polypeptides) produced by fungi that trigger inflammation and activate eosinophils — a type of immune cell linked to allergic and inflammatory diseases like asthma. The researchers identified specific fungal protein sequences and developed tools to study how these proteins cause inflammatory responses in the body. The patent also covers methods for screening drug candidates that could block these fungal proteins from triggering inflammation. Essentially, it provides the biological raw materials and testing frameworks for understanding a fungal driver of allergic disease.
What you could build
A research toolkit — purified fungal proteins and associated assay methods — sold to pharmaceutical and biotech companies screening for anti-inflammatory or anti-fungal drug candidates targeting allergic asthma driven by fungal exposure.
Who in Virginia should care
Biotech and pharmaceutical companies in Northern Virginia or the Richmond corridor working on respiratory disease, allergy biologics, or antifungal therapeutics would be the natural audience.
Readiness: Concept
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
- July 5, 2011
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 7972611
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.