Detection of Hepatitis C Virus for point of care kit

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major global health problem with an estimated 58 million infections in 2019.  However, most HCV infections go undiagnosed due to the lack of clinical symptoms or for lack of access to simple and affordable diagnostic testing. It is estimated that only 21% and 61% of people with a chronic HCV infection have been diagnosed, worldwide and in the United States, respectively.

Improved Protein Quantification Process and Vaccine Quality Control Production

This CDC invention is a method for identifying and quantifying a group of proteins in a complex mixture by a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay. The technology was developed for influenza although it can be used for a wide variety of protein quantification applications. As specifically developed, conserved peptides from the proteins of influenza (hemagglutinin, neuramidase, matrix 1 and 2, and nucleoprotein) have been synthesized and labeled to be used as internal standards for the quantification of those proteins in a complex (biological or manufactured) matrix.

Sensitive Method for Detection and Quantification of Anthrax, Bordetella pertussis, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium botulinum and Other Pathogen-Derived Toxins in Human and Animal Plasma

CDC research scientists have developed a method to identify and quantify the activity of pathogenic bacterial adenylate cyclase toxins by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Bacterial protein toxins are among the most potent natural poisons known, causing paralysis, immune system collapse, hemorrhaging and death in some cases.

Exposure and Activity Detection Assays for Anthrax Lethal Factor and Lethal Toxin

This CDC developed invention identifies an assay for extremely fast and sensitive detection of Bacillus anthracis lethal toxin (LTx), the toxin responsible for the lethal effects of anthrax infection. This assay has already been successfully tested in animals and will allow for early detection of anthrax exposure and screening of lethal factors to monitor anthrax toxicity, for example for vaccine trial candidates.

Improved Botulism, Botulinum Neurotoxin Type-E Diagnostics

CDC researchers have improved upon a prior, HHS patented mass spectrometry-based Endopep-MS assay that is able to rapidly detect and differentiate all seven botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) types A to G. This current improvement comprises the addition of two optimized substrate peptides that increases the assay's sensitivity,relative to prior substrates, for botulinum neurotoxin type-E (BoNT/E) by greater than 100 fold.

Multiplexing Homocysteine in Primary Newborn Screening Assays Using Maleimides as Select Derivatization Agents

Homocystinuria (HCU), a group of inherited disorders, causes symptoms ranging from failure to thrive and developmental delays in infants or young children to abnormal blood clots with onset in adults.1 Approximately 1 in 200,000 to 335,000 people have HCU globally.2

A Rapid Method for Producing Antibodies

Antibodies are specialized proteins produced by the immune system which target and neutralize foreign materials, such as viruses or bacteria. Antibodies have a variety of useful applications in diagnostics, therapeutics, and as research reagents. Despite their widespread use there is no standard method to produce antibodies, and currently available methods are labor and time intensive.

Inhibition of HIV Infection through Chemoprophylaxis Using Emtricitabine and Tenofovir

The invention is directed to prophylactic administration of emtricitabine (FTC) in combination with tenofovir or its prodrug, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), to protect against transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Also disclosed are other nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NtRTIs) that, when administered in combination, protect against HIV infection.

Real-Time RT-PCR Assay for Detection of Noroviruses

A specific and sensitive TaqMan-based real-time (rt) RT-PCR assay has been developed by CDC scientists for detection of noroviruses in clinical and environmental specimens. This assay can be implemented to rapidly detect and distinguish norovirus strains from genogroups I and II, which are responsible for the majority of human infections. Additionally, the assay is multiplexed with an internal extraction control virus (coliphage MS2) to validate the results of the assay.

Linear Epitopes of Anthrax Toxin Protective Antigen for Development of a Peptide Vaccine

Bacillus anthracis is a gram-positive, spore-forming bacteria that causes anthrax infection in humans. CDC inventors have identified epitope sequences of B. anthracis protective antigen (PA) that may be useful for development of peptide-based anthrax vaccines. This invention also relates to methods for determining whether post-vaccination protection is achieved. Specifically, this invention relates to a screening method for determining protection against B.