Jennifer Weeks Sekowski

US Patent:

7625708, Dec 1, 2009

Filed:

Jun 7, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/449180

Inventors:

Jennifer W. Sekowski - Forest Hill MD, US
Amanda E. Chambers - Baltimore MD, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01N 33/53

US Classification:

435 71, 435 791, 435792, 436518

Abstract:

The various embodiments provide method of using hair follicle bulbs as biodosimeters for the detection of chemical exposure. The methods described herein utilize intact, plucked hair follicle bulbs and can be used to monitor real-time or near real-time changes in the levels of specific follicular bulb biomarkers to determine exposure to toxicants. By utilizing the living, responsive cells in the plucked hair follicle bulb in an immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis, the various embodiments mitigate the risks of false positives associated with segmental hair analysis and avoid the more invasive collection required for serum and urinalysis.

US Patent:

7629129, Dec 8, 2009

Filed:

Apr 26, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/416509

Inventors:

Jennifer W. Sekowski - Forest Hill MD, US
Amanda E. Chambers - Baltimore MD, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01N 33/53

US Classification:

435 71, 435 72, 436518

Abstract:

The various embodiments provide method of using hair follicle bulbs as biodosimeters for the detection of chemical exposure. The methods described herein utilize intact, plucked hair follicle bulbs and can be used to monitor real-time or near real-time changes in the levels of specific follicular bulb biomarkers to determine exposure to toxicants. By utilizing the living, responsive cells in the plucked hair follicle bulb in an immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis, the various embodiments mitigate the risks of false positives associated with segmental hair analysis and avoid the more invasive collection required for serum and urinalysis.

US Patent:

60635754, May 16, 2000

Filed:

Mar 20, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/045624

Inventors:

Jennifer W. Sekowski - Bel Air MD
Linda H. Malkas - Abingdon MD
Robert J. Hickey - Abingdon MD

Assignee:

University of Maryland, At Baltimore - Baltimore MD

International Classification:

C12Q 168
C12P 1934

US Classification:

435 6

Abstract:

Mercuric ion is cytotoxic and mutagenic to cells. However, the mechanisms of mercuric ion-induced cytotoxicity are not well understood. Studies have suggested that these effects may be due in part to the alteration and inhibition of a variety of cellular processes including DNA replication, DNA repair, RNA transcription, and protein synthesis. However, prior art studies utilizing whole cells, cell extracts, or purified DNA polymerases to examine these activities are not able to specifically identify the precise mechanism or site of the effect or adequately represent the highly ordered environment in which DNA replication occurs in the intact cell. We disclose a novel method for measuring the activity and fidelity of DNA replication using the complex of proteins called the DNA synthesome, an isolated multiprotein form of DNA polymerase. The DNA synthesome is a highly organized complex of proteins capable of supporting all phases of SV 40 origin-specific DNA replication in vitro. The assay and kit described herein can be used both to examine the mechanism of cytotoxicity and mutagenicity and to identify compounds that alter the activity and fidelity of the DNA synthetic apparatus such as heavy metal ion, particularly mercuric ion.

US Patent:

20160018337, Jan 21, 2016

Filed:

Jul 21, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/804755

Inventors:

- College Park MD, US
- Washington DC, US
Jennifer W. Sekowski - Forest Hill MD, US
Ta-I Yang - North Potomac MD, US

Assignee:

University of Maryland, College Park - College Park MD
The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01N 21/78

Abstract:

A sensor system, and a method of detecting a target analyte, comprises a chemically functionalized block copolymer, and a target analyte. The block copolymer exhibits a color change in the visible spectrum upon exposure to the target analyte.