Office of Technology Transfer - Inventions Available for Licensing

The University of Montana’s intellectual property portfolio currently holds over 50 technologies, including nearly 30 issued U.S. Patents. The portfolio primarily consists of biotechnology and physical science related inventions, for which some summaries are provided below. If you have an interest in licensing intellectual property owned by The University of Montana, please contact Joe Fanguy at joe.fanguy@umontana.edu.

Case number: UM-938
Invention: A modeling system has been developed that can be used to indicate means for enhancing the value of industrial fermentation processes

Inventors: Drs. Barbara E. Wright and James E. Gannon, and Angelika M. Longacre, Division of Biological Sciences

Background and Utility: Realistic computer models of metabolism in vivo have been developed and have demonstrated predictive value, for example, by pin-pointing which enzymes are rate-limiting, and which metabolites or inhibitors would stimulate or suppress selected pathways in the system. Models can be used to simulate industrial fermentation processes and to modulate or specifically direct changes that will enhance the yield of desirable products.

Case number: UM-939
Invention: A mutant of Rhizopus oryzae has been generated, which produces higher yields of lactic acid in shorter times than the wild type strains. Use of this mutant will greatly enhance the value of commercial lactate fermentation.

Inventor: Dr. Barbara E. Wright, and Angelika M. Longacre, Division of Biological Sciences

Background and Utility: Industrial fermentations reducing lactic acid using Lactobacillus give good yields, but this organism requires a complex medium and grows at a high pH. Therefore, the procedures for the recovery andpurification of lactic acid are quite expensive. Rhizopus sp, are able to ferment starch directly and grow at a low pH in an inexpensive salts medium. A mutant of R. Oryzae has been isolated which gives high yields of lactic acid (about 85%) and generates only half as much ethanol as the parent strain. Recovery of the lactic acid will be much simpler and less expensive using this organism.

Case number: UM-941
Invention: A method has been developed that can be used to rapidly and specifically identify single locus microsatellite gene markers.

Inventor: Dr. Thomas S. Mitchell-Olds, and Wendy S. Phillips, Division of Biological Sciences

Background and Utility: Microsatellite markers are gene products that can facilitate the mapping of genes. The present invention uses a PCR-based enrichment protocol, which allows rapid and specific identification of single locus microsatellite markers. Use of this invention will greatly facilitate genetic mapping.

Case number: UM-942
Invention: Molecular markers with genetic linkage to a flea beetle resistance gene have been identified in Arabidopsis . These markers should permit cloning of the resistance locus and/or markers assisted selection to increase flea beetle resistance in canola crops.

Inventor: Dr. Thomas Mitchell-Olds, Division of Biological Sciences

Background and Utility: Canola (Brassica) is an oilseed crop of worldwide importance. However, flea beetles cause serious economic problems for canola production. The plant species Arabidopsis thaliana, a close relative of canola, provides an experimentally tractable genetic system that can be used to identify genes causing resistance to flea beetles. Subsequently, information from Arabidopsis can be used to develop flea beetle resistance in canola crops by two approaches: 1) resistance genes can be cloned from Arabidopsis, then used to manipulate resistance in canola. Alternatively, 2) genetic markers that are tightly linked to resistance genes in Arabidopsis are likely to be tightly linked to homologous resistance genes in canola, permitting marker assisted breeding for flea beetle resistance in canola germplasm.

We have identified molecular markers with significant genetic linkages to flea beetle resistance. Employing either of the above strategies, it may be feasible to develop economically important resistance to flea beetles in canola.

Case number: UM-944
Invention: A PCR-based probe diagnostic kit that is sensitive and specific for detecting Bartonella species in clinical specimens has been developed and the results from its use can direct appropriate antibiotic therapy.

Inventor: Dr. Michael F. Minnick, Division of Biological Sciences

Background and Utility: Bacteria within the Bartonella genus are etiologic agents of emerging varieties of infectious diseases in humans. Animal reservoirs include cats, dogs, and rodents. Human diseases caused by Bartonella species include cat scratch disease, endocarditis, sepsis, Oroya fever, peliosis, trench fever and bacillary angiomatosis. Clinical identification of Bartonella species is problematic because the bacteria are difficult to grow. The PCR-based diagnostic kit recognizes all five species of Bartonella known to cause human disease: B. bacilliformis; B. elizabethae; B. henselae; B. quintane; and B. .vinsonii. However, the closest relative, Brucella abortus, is not detected, even under the low stringenfy conditions.

Case number: UM-946
Invention: Preparation of an effective HIV vaccine through incorporation of fusion-dependent HIV epitopes.

Inventor: Dr. Jack Nunberg, Montana Biotechnology Center

Background and Utility: Because of its critical role in HIV binding and entry, the HIV envelope protein has been targeted for vaccine strategies. Recombinant and oligomeric forms as well as pseudovirion particles and live recombinant viruses have been prepared. Although each of these elicit antibodies that potently neutralize infectivity of T cell line-adapted viruses, non has elicited antibodies that neutralize primary isolates (PI). It was felt that the failure of current vaccine strategies to neutralize PI viruses resulted from failure to incorporate fusion-dependent epitopes within the immunogen. The present invention overcomes this problem by incorporating functional and functioning envelope protein along with appropriate codeterminants.

Case number: UM-947
Invention: An immunocytochemical stain has been developed that may be used to predict how fast cells in a glial tumor are dividing and if areas in the tumor that are quiescent have potential to proliferate at a later time.

Inventor: Dr. Diana I. Lurie, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background and Utility: Currently, immunocytochemical markers for glial tumors (such as Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein) are used to help grade tumors and indicate the dominant cell type in the tumor. However, such markers are poor indicators of tumor growth potential and response to therapy. These markers can be used to classify tumors into general sunsets, but they yield little information about outcome and potential growth rates for specific tumors. The immunocytochemical marker in this invention is thought to label the cytoplasm of cells in areas where there is ongoing cell division or cells that have the potential to divide; the number of cells which are immunopositive within a tumor may be used to predict how fast a tumor is growing or will grow. In addition, the pattern of immunoreactivity may eventually be used to determine if a particular tumor will respond to therapy. This method will provide a useful diagnostic and prognostic tool for oncologists.