Catherine H Wu

6525242, Feb 25, 2003

Nov 2, 1999

09/431901

George Y. Wu - Avon CT
Catherine H Wu - Avon CT

The University of Connecticut - Farmington CT

A01K 6700

800 8, 800 3, 800 9, 800 13, 800 18

The present invention relates to the preparation of non-human animals having chimeric livers, whereby some or substantially all of the hepatocytes present are human hepatocytes. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that rats, tolerized in utero against human hepatocytes, were found to serve as long-term hosts for human hepatocytes introduced post-natally, and the introduced hepatocytes maintained their differentiated phenotype, as evidenced by continued production of human albumin.

6995299, Feb 7, 2006

Aug 15, 2001

09/930781

George Y. Wu - Avon CT, US
Catherine H. Wu - Avon CT, US

University of Connecticut - Farmington CT

A01K 67/00
A01K 67/033
A01N 63/00
A01N 65/00
C12N 5/08

800 9, 424 931, 424 937, 435325, 435370, 800 8

The present invention relates to the preparation of non-human animals having chimeric livers, whereby some or substantially all of the hepatocytes present are human hepatocytes. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that rats, tolerized in utero against human hepatocytes, were found to serve as long-term hosts for human hepatocytes introduced post-natally, and the introduced hepatocytes maintained their differentiated phenotype, as evidenced by continued production of human albumin. The present invention further relates to the use of such animals as models of various liver diseases, including viral invention. Such embodiments are based on the discovery that transplanted human hepatocytes in chimeric livers were found to be susceptible to Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus infection.

20030126626, Jul 3, 2003

Sep 26, 2002

10/255395

George Wu - Avon CT, US
Catherine Wu - Avon CT, US

A01K067/00
C12N005/08
C12N015/86

800/008000, 435/456000, 435/370000

The present invention relates to the preparation of non-human animals having chimeric livers, whereby some or substantially all of the hepatocytes present are human hepatocytes. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that rats, tolerized in utero against human hepatocytes, were found to serve as long-term hosts for human hepatocytes introduced post-natally, and the introduced hepatocytes maintained their differentiated phenotype, as evidenced by continued production of human albumin.

20040009900, Jan 15, 2004

Mar 28, 2003

10/402267

George Wu - Bloomfield CT, US
James Wilson - Ann Arbor MI, US
Catherine Wu - Bloomfield CT, US

A61K048/00
C07K009/00

514/008000, 530/322000

Molecular complexes for targeting a gene encoding a secretory protein to a specific cell in vivo and obtaining secretion of the protein by the targeted cell are disclosed. An expressible gene encoding a desired secretory protein is complexed to a conjugate of a cell-specific binding agent and a gene-binding agent. The cell-specific binding agent is specific for a cellular surface structure which mediates internalization of ligands by endocytosis. An example is the asialoglycoprotein receptor of hepatocytes. The gene-binding agent is a compound such as a polycation which stably complexes the gene under extracellular conditions and releases the gene under intracellular conditions so that it can function within a cell. The molecular complex is stable and soluble in physiological fluids and can be used in gene therapy to selectively transfect cells in vivo to provide for production and secretion of a desired secretory protein.

20050005312, Jan 6, 2005

Apr 7, 2004

10/819564

George Wu - Avon CT, US
Catherine Wu - Avon CT, US

A01K067/00
C12N009/88

800009000

The present invention relates to the preparation of non-human animals having chimeric livers, whereby some or substantially all of the hepatocytes present are human hepatocytes. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that rats, tolerized in utero against human hepatocytes, were found to serve as long-term hosts for human hepatocytes introduced post-natally, and the introduced hepatocytes maintained their differentiated phenotype, as evidenced by continued production of human albumin. The present invention further relates to the use of such animals as models of various liver diseases, including viral invention. Such embodiments are based on the discovery that transplanted human hepatocytes in chimeric livers were found to be susceptible to Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus infection.

20100260713, Oct 14, 2010

Apr 9, 2010

12/757828

GEORGE Y. WU - AVON CT, US
CATHERINE H. WU - AVON CT, US
ROBERT SMOLIC - NEW BRITAIN CT, US
ROBERT SMITH - BRISTOL CT, US

UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT - FARMINGTON CT

A61K 31/7088
C07H 21/02
C12N 7/00
A61K 38/21
A61P 31/12
G06F 19/00

424 854, 536 231, 514 44 R, 4352351, 702 19

Compositions and methods for the inhibition of viral replication are provided. In some embodiments, the compositions include a nucleic acid sequence that is identical to a region of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome. In other embodiments, the compositions may include a nucleic acid sequence that has at least about 45% to about 95% sequence identity to the native HCV sequence and that has a similar secondary and tertiary structure to the native HCV sequence. In other embodiments, the compositions may include a nucleic acid sequence that does not have significant sequence identity to the native HCV sequence and that has a similar secondary and tertiary structure to the native HCV sequence. Also provided are methods for the treatment of a patient having an HCV infection by administering one of the compositions described herein, and uses of the compositions described herein in the manufacture of a medicament for the inhibition of HCV replication.

51663201, Nov 24, 1992

Apr 2, 1990

7/504064

George Y. Wu - Bloomfield CT
Catherine H. Wu - Bloomfield CT

University of Connecticut - Storrs CT

C07K 300
A01N 4304

530395

A targetable gene delivery system is provided for introducing foreign genes into mammalian cells. The system employs a soluble targetable DNA complex and utilizes receptor-mediated endocytosis to endow cell specificity. The soluble DNA-carrying complex is formed by non-covalently binding a ligand conjugate with the foreign gene. The conjugate, in turn, is formed by bonding receptor-specific ligands such as asialoglycoproteins to polycations such as polylysine through covalent bonds such as disulfide bonds. The system exhibits a high degree of cell specificity and offers potential for the treatment of inherited genetic disorders.

57283990, Mar 17, 1998

Jun 7, 1995

8/484009

George Y. Wu - Avon CT
Catherine H. Wu - Avon CT
Ying Zhang - Farmington CT
George L. Spitalny - Cheshire CT
Ellen Carmichael - West Hartford CT

University of Conn. - Storrs CT
TargeTech, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of The Immune Response
Corporation - Carlsbad CA

A61K 9127

424450

An improved soluble molecular complex for targeting a polynucleotide to a specific cell is disclosed. The molecular complex comprises (a) a polynucleotide (b) a carrier made up of a polynucleotide binding agent and a cell-specific binding agent which binds to a surface molecule of the cell and is internalized into an endosome, and (c) a bacterial component or fragment thereof which lyses the endosome and causes the polynucleotide to be released into the cytoplasm of the cell. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the polynucleotide binding agent is polylysine, the cell-specific binding agent is an asialoglycoprotein, and the bacterial component is listeriolysin O. The disclosed soluble molecular complex and methods of use can be used therapeutically to deliver genes and antisense polynucleotides to specific cells in vivo.