Virginia A Espina

US Patent:

8497137, Jul 30, 2013

Filed:

Aug 19, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/194360

Inventors:

Alessandra Luchini - Fairfax VA, US
Lance Liotta - Bethesda MD, US
Emanuel Petricoin - Gainesville VA, US
Barney Bishop - Annandale VA, US
Caterina Longo - Fairfax VA, US
Virginia Espina - Rockville MD, US
Alexis Patanarut - Burke VA, US

International Classification:

G01N 33/545

US Classification:

436531, 42840224, 428407, 435 61, 436534, 436535

Abstract:

Capture particles for harvesting analytes from solution and methods for using them are described. The capture particles are made up of a polymeric matrix having pore size that allows for the analytes to enter the capture particles. The pore size of the capture particles are changeable upon application of a stimulus to the particles, allowing the pore size of the particles to be changed so that analytes of interest remain sequestered inside the particles. The polymeric matrix of the capture particles are made of co-polymeric materials having a structural monomer and an affinity monomer, the affinity monomer having properties that attract the analyte to the capture particle. The capture particles may be used to isolate and identify analytes present in a mixture. They may also be used to protect analytes which are typically subject to degradation upon harvesting and to concentrate low an analyte in low abundance in a fluid.

US Patent:

8628931, Jan 14, 2014

Filed:

Oct 18, 2006

Appl. No.:

12/083866

Inventors:

Lance A. Liotta - Rockville MD, US
Virginia Espina - Rockville MD, US

Assignee:

George Mason Intellectual Properties, Inc. - Fairfax VA

International Classification:

G01N 33/53
G01N 33/50
G01N 33/52

US Classification:

435 723, 435 71, 435 72, 435 721, 435 4051, 435 4052, 435967, 435973, 436501, 436503, 436 63, 436 64

Abstract:

This invention relates, e. g. , to a method for predicting a subject's response to a chemotherapeutic agent and/or the subject's prognosis, comprising measuring the phosphorylation state of at least one member of the mTOR pathway, and/or of at least one member of an interconnected polypeptide pathway (e. g. a member of the Akt pathway or a member of the IRS pathway), compared to a baseline value, in a cancer tissue or cancer cell sample from the subject, wherein an elevated level of the phosphorylation state compared to the baseline value indicates that the subject is a non-responder to the chemotherapeutic agent and/or has a poor prognosis. Also described is a method for treating a cancer in a subject in need thereof, wherein the subject exhibits an elevated level of the phosphorylation state, comprising administering one or more inhibitors of the mTOR and/or an interconnected pathway.

US Patent:

20070224644, Sep 27, 2007

Filed:

Jan 29, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/698998

Inventors:

Lance Liotta - Bethesda MD, US
Weidong Zhou - Manassas VA, US
Virginia Espina - Rockville MD, US
Emanuel Petricoin - Gainesville VA, US

International Classification:

G01N 33/53
C12Q 1/48
G06F 19/00
A61M 31/00

US Classification:

435007100, 435015000, 604500000, 702019000

Abstract:

The present invention relates to the analysis and monitoring of ocular fluids for determining the physiological state of an organism, to monitor drug efficacy and dynamics, for early disease detection, as well as to certain molecular markers and fingerprints of identified molecules or molecule fragments in such analysis.

US Patent:

20090018094, Jan 15, 2009

Filed:

Nov 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/948856

Inventors:

Wolff Kirsch - Redlands CA, US
Lance A. Liotta - Bethesda MD, US
William Van Nostrand - East Setauket NY, US
Harry V. Vinters - Venice CA, US
Virginia A. Espina - Rockville MD, US

Assignee:

LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER - Loma Linda CA
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY - Arlington VA
STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY - Stony Brook CA
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

A61K 31/7105
A61P 25/28

US Classification:

514 44

Abstract:

A method of treating or inhibiting progress of dementia and/or macular degeneration in a mammal involves administering compositions containing siRNA to heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) or heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2), a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, a caspase inhibitor, or a metalloporphyrin in a manner that permits access to brain sites and/or the macula of the patient.

US Patent:

20100047336, Feb 25, 2010

Filed:

Aug 17, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/542635

Inventors:

Wolff Kirsch - Redlands CA, US
Lance A. Liotta - Bethesda MD, US
William Van Nostrand - East Setauket NY, US
Harry V. Vinters - Venice CA, US
Virginia A. Espina - Rockville MD, US

Assignee:

LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER - Loma Linda CA
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY - Arlington VA
STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY - Stony Brook CA
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

A61K 9/127
A61K 31/7052
A61K 31/555
A61P 25/28

US Classification:

424450, 514 44 A, 514185

Abstract:

A method of treating or inhibiting progress of dementia and/or macular degeneration in a mammal involves administering compositions containing siRNA to heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) or heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2), a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, a caspase inhibitor, or a metalloporphyrin in a manner that permits access to brain sites and/or the macula of the patient.

US Patent:

20100068690, Mar 18, 2010

Filed:

Oct 26, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/447773

Inventors:

Lance A. Liotta - Bethesda MD, US
David Geho - Oakton VA, US
Virginia A. Espina - Rockville MD, US

Assignee:

George Mason Intellectual Properties, Inc. - Fairfax VA

International Classification:

A01N 1/02
G01N 33/48
C07K 14/00
C12M 1/00

US Classification:

435 11, 435 405, 530402, 4352841

Abstract:

This invention relates, e.g., to a composition that, at room temperature, when contacted with a sample comprising phosphoproteins, can fix and stabilize cellular phosphoproteins, preserve cellular morphology, and allow the sample to be frozen to generate a cryostat frozen section suitable for molecular analysis. The composition comprises (1) a fixative that is effective to fix the phosphoproteins, and that has a sufficient water content to be soluble for a stabilizer and/or a permeability enhancing agent); (2) a stabilizer, comprising (a) a kinase inhibitor and (b) a phosphatase inhibitor and, optionally, (c) a protease (e.g., proteinase) inhibitor; and (3) a permeability enhancing agent (e.g. PEG). Methods are described for preserving phosphoproteins, using such a composition. Also described are endogenous surrogate markers for monitoring protein degradation, including the loss of posttranslational modifications (such as phosphorylation), e.g. the following removal of a cell or tissue from a subject; and exogenous molecular sentinels (e.g. phosphoproteins attached to magnetic nanoparticles) that allow one to evaluate the processing history of a cellular or tissue population sample.

US Patent:

20100159486, Jun 24, 2010

Filed:

Nov 1, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/513032

Inventors:

Lance A. Liotta - Bethesda MD, US
Wolff Kirsch - Redlands CA, US
Virginia Espina - Rockville MD, US
Emanuel Petricoin, III - Gainesville VA, US
Mark Ross - Charlottesville VA, US
Claudius Mueller - Loma Linda CA, US
Shino Magaki - Redlands CA, US

International Classification:

G01N 33/53
C12Q 1/02
G01N 33/566
G01N 33/00
C07K 16/18

US Classification:

435 792, 435 71, 435 29, 436501, 436 89, 5303873, 5303879

Abstract:

Low molecular weight (LMW) peptides have been discovered that are indicative of neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD), cognitive impairment and brain microhemmorhages. Evaluating patient samples for the presence of such LMW peptides is an effective means of detecting neurological conditions and monitoring the progression of the disease. The LMW peptides are particularly useful in detecting neurological conditions during the early stages without invasive procedures.

US Patent:

20110046039, Feb 24, 2011

Filed:

Mar 6, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/530538

Inventors:

Serguei G. Popov - Bristow VA, US
Taissia Popov - Bristow VA, US
Virginia Espina - Rockville MD, US
Charles Bailey - Cross Junction VA, US
Lance A. Liotta - Bethesda MD, US
Emanuel Petricoin - Gainesville VA, US

Assignee:

George Mason Intellectual Properties Inc. - Fairfax VA

International Classification:

A61K 38/07
A61P 31/04

US Classification:

514 24

Abstract:

The invention provides methods and materials for identifying agents for preventing and/or treating anthrax and similar diseases. Embodiments provide strains and model systems for studying non-lethal and lethal exposure to anthrax and similar disease vectors. Embodiments provide materials and methods for using the strains and model systems for differential profiling, such as proteomic profiling, such as differentiation phosphorylation profiling, to target identification and therapeutics discovery and development. Embodiments provide pharmaceutically acceptable compositions, and methods for using them to prevent and/or treat anthrax and similar diseases comprising an agent that decreases the activity of caspase , such as YVAD, and/or an agent that increases the phosphorylation of AKT, such as IB-MECA or Cl-IB-MECA, together with, in particular embodiments, an antibiotic, such as ciprofloxacin. Kits comprising the same are provided as well, among other things.