James F Thacker

US Patent:

6344332, Feb 5, 2002

Filed:

Sep 4, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/148491

Inventors:

James Thacker - Manassas VA

Assignee:

Thaco Research, Ltd. - Chantilly VA

International Classification:

C01N 3353

US Classification:

435 71, 435 72, 435 732, 435 79, 435 792, 435 794, 435 4, 435 25, 435 29, 435 31, 435 34, 435968

Abstract:

A method for the rapid detection of actively respiring microorganisms comprises the steps of detecting the presence of microorganisms utilizing microbial enzymatic conversion of tetrazolium salts to formazan products, detecting the presence of formazan product.

US Patent:

20020132277, Sep 19, 2002

Filed:

Dec 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/020923

Inventors:

James Thacker - Fairfax VA, US

International Classification:

G01N033/554
G01N033/569
C12N001/20

US Classification:

435/007320, 435/252100

Abstract:

The invention relates to methods for the rapid detection, including quantitative detection, of actively respiring microorganisms. One embodiment comprises the steps of amplifying the presence of microorganisms utilizing microbial enzymatic conversion of tetrazolium salts to formazan products, detecting the presence of formazan product utilizing specific antibodies raised to formazans and amplifying the presence of the primary antibody with a secondary antibody conjugated to a detectable marker. Another embodiment of the invention comprises the steps of amplifying the microorganisms utilizing microbial enzymatic conversion of tetrazolium salts to formazan products, capturing digested microbial cell fragments with immobilized primary antibodies specific to the formazans and amplifying the presence of captured cell fragments with reporter antibodies prepared from the primary antibodies conjugated to a detectable marker. Another embodiment of the invention comprises the steps of amplifying microorganisms utilizing microbial enzymatic conversion of tetrazolium salt to formazan products, capturing digested microbial cell fragments on primary antibodies immobilized onto a solid sensor support and detecting the presence of captured cell fragments by the measurement of a change in either the physical, chemical electrical or optical properties of the sensor material.

US Patent:

57802432, Jul 14, 1998

Filed:

Jun 28, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/671754

Inventors:

James D. Thacker - Manassas VA

Assignee:

Thaco Research, Ltd. - Chantilly VA

International Classification:

G01N 33531

US Classification:

435 79

Abstract:

The invention comprises a low temperature method for the in situ derivatization and coupling of thermally and hydrolytically labile organic compounds such as spectinomycin to immunogenic carrier substances. The compound coupled to the immunogenic carrier is utilized to produce antibodies selective for the organic compound. Such methods allow for the quantitative analysis of the target organic compound and may be competitive or non-competitive immunoassays in which the dose response is directly or indirectly proportional to the concentration of spectinomycin-related substances. Such assays may be used to detect the presence of or to quantitate the amount of the organic compound in a complex and varied immunological background such as a sample of a biomass material. Detection of organic compound in the sample occurs through binding to a specific antibody. Amplification of that antibody-antigen response to increase the level of detection can be accomplished with a variety of markers producing either a fluorescent, ultraviolet, visible, chemiluminescent, gravimetric, amperometric, voltametric, or radioactive response.

US Patent:

59685158, Oct 19, 1999

Filed:

Apr 3, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/826502

Inventors:

James D. Thacker - Manassas VA

Assignee:

Thaco Research, Ltd. - Chantilly VA

International Classification:

A61K 39385

US Classification:

4241931

Abstract:

The invention comprises a low temperature method for the in situ derivatization and coupling of thermally and hydrolytically labile organic compounds such as spectinomycin to immunogenic carrier substances. The compound coupled to the immunogenic carrier is utilized to produce antibodies selective for the organic compound. Such methods allow for the quantitative analysis of the target organic compound and may be competitive or non-competitive immunoassays in which the dose response is directly or indirectly proportional to the concentration of spectinomycin-related substances. Such assays may be used to detect the presence of or to quantitate the amount of the organic compound in a complex and varied immunological background such as a sample of a biomass material. Detection of organic compound in the sample occurs through binding to a specific antibody. Amplification of that antibody-antigen response to increase the level of detection can be accomplished with a variety of markers producing either a fluorescent, ultraviolet, visible, chemiluminescent, gravimetric, amperometric, voltametric, or radioactive response.