US Patent Application 20090010962 - Genetically Engineered Swine Influenza Virus and Uses Thereof

[lovuian]

US Patent Application 20090010962 - Genetically Engineered Swine Influenza Virus and Uses Thereof

http://www.patentstorm.us/applications/20090010962/fulltext.html

Can someone tell me if this is for real????
nventors

* Palese, Peter
* Garcia-Sastre, Adolfo
* Webby, Richard J.
* Richt, Juergen A.
* Webster, Robert G.
* Lager, Kelly M.

Assignees

* THE UNITED STATED OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
* St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
* MOUNT SINAI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OF NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
The present invention relates, in general, to attenuated swine influenza viruses having an impaired ability to antagonize the cellular
interferon (IFN) response, and the use of such attenuated viruses in vaccine and pharmaceutical formulations. In particular, the invention relates to attenuated swine influenza viruses
having modifications to a swine NS1 gene that diminish or eliminate the ability of the NS1 gene product to antagonize the cellular IFN response. These viruses replicate in vivo, but demonstrate decreased replication, virulence and increased attenuation, and therefore are well suited for use in live virus vaccines, and pharmaceutical formulations.

more...

if it is bogus I'll pull it
give me your opinion????
I'm stumped

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. US Patent number 1335829943994893456

Invention disclosure for a miniature nuclear weapon specifically designed to bring down skyscrapers and leave thermite residue.

Serious. Look it up.

[lovuian]

2. seriously!!!

who wrote the patent????

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Some guy named Adolf Monsanto.

It's all in the pdf if you google it.

[Ms. Toad]

5. Why the snark?

It's a real patent application, assigned to reputable medical entities (and the US Government) and being prosecuted by a law firm that charges big bucks for such things. Chances are good (given the art field) that it represents an invention actually practiced (as opposed to an armchair invention).

Yours, on the other hand is total fiction.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. You're just a shill for the OCT.

[Ms. Toad]

9. No idea what you are talking about

If you really care about science, you would have a lot better chance of promoting it by responding seriously.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

3. How else would they attenuate the virus?

[Dogmudgeon]

7. It's a new method for making vaccines

If it proves to be less expensive, which may very well be that case, it is a medical and financial (for the public) improvement.

Not all biotech is being used for nefarious purposes. In fact, nearly none is. The primary evil in this world is greed.

--d!

[lovuian]

8. thanks it looks legit then

but why is the US government part of it

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

11. The government plays a huge role in any vaccine manufacturing.

It's very expensive to manufacture vaccines. Profits are slim and liabilities are very high.

[Dogmudgeon]

12. The government subsidizes nearly ALL pharma research

The universities -- mainly grad students -- do the work. ALL of it.

The tenured professors take the academic credit.

Then the patents are sold off at pennies on the dollar.

Such a deal!

But at least we have excellent medical technology to make the lives of the rich a little healthier.

--d!

[anonymous171]

14. WOOHOO! Another example of socializing the cost and privatizing the profits. nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

16. LOL

[shraby]

10. A couple of years ago when they were worried about

the bird flu mixing with swine flu in Asia, I was watching it close and at the time I read where St. Jude was studying the virus to see what a possible vaccine would be for it and how to make it. That's probably what you've found.

[Ms. Toad]

13. The initial application was filed in 2004.

Here's an article that appears to be about their successful use of the virus to create a vaccine in 2007. (I'd have to read the application more closely than I care to at the moment to be sure.)

[Sinti]

15. This is a patent for either a vaccine or a component part thereof

This is the salient bit:

The present invention relates, in general, to attenuated swine influenza viruses having an impaired ability to antagonize the cellular interferon (IFN) response, and the use of such attenuated viruses in vaccine and pharmaceutical formulations. In particular, the invention relates to attenuated swine influenza viruses having modifications to a swine NS1 gene that diminish or eliminate the ability of the NS1 gene product to antagonize the cellular IFN response. These viruses replicate in vivo, but demonstrate decreased virulence and increased attenuation, and therefore are well suited for use in live virus vaccines, and pharmaceutical formulations.

This virus is attenuated (weakened) and apparently gets weaker as is distributes through the population. Wonderful invention if I'm reading it right. Swine flu is not new, it's an oldie but a killer. If the government was involved in the pure research I'd actually be happy, if surprised at their proactiveness.

If they can modify the virus so that it becomes weaker as it travels through humans, or pigs for that matter, that's awesome stuff IMO. Some portion of the pop always gets the virus form the vaccine. So if it's a weakened virus it basically vaccinates everyone who catches it from the stronger version. Bravo biologists!

Unless I'm really, really misreading what the patent says. I'm not a patent lawyer.

edited for typo