Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 125 / Wednesday, June 28, 2000 / Notices 39917

Dated: June 15, 2000.

Jack Spiegel,

Director, Division of Technology Development

and Transfer, Office of Technology Transfer,

National Institutes of Health.

[FR Doc. 00–16326 Filed 6–27–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4140–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health

Government-Owned Inventions;

Availability for Licensing: Novel

Multiple Peptide Conjugate System

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health,

Public Health Service, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The inventions listed below

are owned by agencies of the U.S.

Government and are available for

licensing in the U.S. in accordance with

35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious

commercialization of results of

federally-funded research and

development. Foreign patent

applications are filed on selected

inventions to extend market coverage

for companies and may also be available

for licensing.

This novel multiple peptide conjugate

system is described in DHHS Reference

Nos. E–208–99/0, E–280–99/0, and E–

114–00/0—all now incorporated under a

PCT application, DHHS Reference No.

E–208–99/1.

ADDRESSES: Licensing information and

copies of the U.S. patent applications

listed below may be obtained by Carol

Salata, Ph.D., at the Office of

Technology Transfer, National Institutes

of Health, 6011 Executive Boulevard,

Suite 325, Rockville, Maryland 20852–

3804; telephone: 301/496–7735 ext. 232;

fax: 301/402–0220; e-mail:

SalataC@od.nih.gov. A signed

Confidential Disclosure Agreement will

be required to receive copies of the

patent applications.

Novel Multiple Peptide Conjugate

System

I. Pathogenic TAT Peptides

Subhash Dhawan, Robert A. Boykins,

Kenneth M. Yamada (FDA)

Infection with HIV, the causative

agent of Acquired Immune Deficiency

Syndrome (AIDS), is responsible for a

large number of deaths annually and

represents a significant threat to human

health. Accordingly, an extensive effort

has been mounted to characterize the

HIV virus and to identify potential

targets for therapeutics. The present

invention relates to the identification of

functional domains within the HIV Tat

protein which are capable of mediating

many of the effects of the full length Tat

protein. In particular, this invention

describes the use of peptides comprising

functional domains to induce an

immune response against the HIV Tat

protein and the identification of

dominant-negative mutants and

chimeras of these functional domains

which may be used as therapeutics.

Another aspect of the present invention

relates to the use of these functional

domains as reagents for elucidating the

biochemical mechanisms of HIV gene

expression. This invention is described

further in Boykins et al. July 1999, J.

Immunol. 163:15–20.

II. Multiple Peptide Conjugates

Robert A. Boykins, Manju B. Joshi,

Chiang Syin, Subhash Dhawan, Hira

Nakhasi (FDA)

This invention describes the design

and synthesis of a multi-peptide

conjugate (MPC) system containing

antigens from the human malaria

parasite (Plasmodium falciparium) and

the Tat protein of HIV type-1 (HIV–1–

Tat) for use as a subunit vaccine. Prior

multiple antigen peptides (MAPs)

prepared by the classical solid phase

synthesis led to heterogeneity, due in

part to the aggregation and steric

hindrance of the growing peptide chains

during synthesis. Aggregation of the

peptide chain may be a factor in the

formation of intra-chain hydrogen

bonding by the peptide backbone,

causing the formation of beta sheets or

other secondary structures. The current

multiple peptide conjugates (MPCs)

have distinct advantages over prior

MAPs because only two adjacent

peptide branches are elongated on the

solid phase at either the alpha or

epsilon amino groups thereby allowing

maximum spacing between the resin

bound peptide chains. Cysteine is

inserted at the respective position in the

sequence thus permitting the thiol

groups to be used in the formation of

stable thioether bonds with haloacetyl

peptides coupled through solution

chemistry. A modification to the

coupling solvent and key amino acid

derivatives are used in the sequence to

minimize peptide chain aggregation.

Furthermore, the elongation of only two

peptide chains at the alpha or epilson

groups of opposite lysine residues

yields a dimeric or base peptide. These

modifications of the solid phase

methodology for the traditional MAP

plus a coupling solvent modification,

and the addition of key amino acid

derivatives for amide bond protection

allow the synthesis of base peptides on

the solid phase greater than 7500kDa.

These peptides are then reacted with

high performance liquid

chromatography purified haloacetyl

peptides to generate multiple peptide

conjugates with molecular masses of 10

to 13 kDa. This invention is described

further in Boykins et al., Peptides Jan

2000;21(1):9–17.

III. HIV–1–Tat-Multiple Peptide

Conjugate: A Potential Synthetic AIDS

Vaccine Candidate

Subhash Dhawan and Robert A. Boykins

(FDA)

The present invention is directed to a

novel highly immunogenic synthetic

multiple peptide conjugate constituting

three Tat functional domains.

Vaccination of mice with this HIV–1–

Tat multiple peptide conjugate induces

an effective immune response to three

Tat functional domains. Anti-HIV–1–Tat

multiple peptide conjugate antibodies

efficiently inhibit Tat-induced viral

activation in monocytes infected with

HIVBa–L as well as with various clinical

HIV–1 isolates, and reduce Tatmediated cytopathicity in infected cells

by greater than 75%. The results

indicate that anti-HIV–1–Tat multiple

peptide conjugate antibodies inhibit

viral pathogenesis, possibly by blocking

functional determinants of Tat and

disrupting autocrine and paracrine

actions of secreted Tat protein. This

epitope-specific synthetic Tat construct

provides a subunit AIDS vaccine for

inducing and effective

immunoprophylaxis response to reduce

progression of HIV infection.

Dated: June 15, 2000.

Jack Spiegel,

Director, Division of Technology Development

and Transfer, Office of Technology Transfer,

National Institutes of Health.

[FR Doc. 00–16327 Filed 6–27–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4140–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Notice of Meetings

Pursuant to Public Law 92–463,

notice is hereby given of the following

meetings of SAMHSA Special Emphasis

Panels I in July, August and September

2000.

A summary of the meetings and a

roster of the members may be obtained

from: Ms. Coral Sweeney, Review

Specialist, SAMHSA, Office of Policy

and Program Coordination, Division of

Extramural Activities, Policy, and

39918 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 125 / Wednesday, June 28, 2000 / Notices

Review, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 17–

89, Rockville, Maryland 20857.

Telephone: 301–443–2998.

Substantive program information may

be obtained from the individual named

as Contact for the meeting listed below.

The meetings will include the review,

discussion and evaluation of individual

grant applications. These discussions

could reveal personal information

concerning individuals associated with

the applications. Accordingly, these

meetings are concerned with matters

exempt from mandatory disclosure in

Title 5 U.S.C. 552b(6) and 5 U.S.C.

App. 2, § 10(d).

Committee Name: SAMHSA Special

Emphasis Panel I (SEP I).

Meeting Date: July 10, 2000.

Place: Bethesda Marriott 5151 Pooks

Hill Road Bethesda, MD 20814.

Closed: July 10, 2000.

Panel: Youth Violence Prevention,

SM 00–005; Co-Occurring Disorders, TI

00–002; Criminal Justice Diversion

Supplement, SM 00–006; Women/CoOccurring Violence, Phase II, TI 00–003;

Children’s Sub-Set Study &

Coordinating Center, TI 00–006.

Contact: Diane McMenamin, Director,

Division of Extramural Activities, Policy

and Review, Parklawn Building, 5600

Fishers Lane, Room 1789, Rockville,

Maryland 20857.

Committee Name: SAMHSA Special

Emphasis Panel I (SEP I).

Meeting Dates: July 24, 2000.

Place: Bethesda Marriott, 5151 Pooks

Hill Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Closed: July 24, 2000.

Panel: Targeted Capacity Expansion,

PA 00–001; Practice Research

Collaboration, TI 00–004.

Contact: Diane McMenamin, Director,

Division of Extramural Activities, Policy

and Review, Parklawn Building, 5600

Fishers Lane, Room 17–89, Rockville,

Maryland 20857.

Committee Name: SAMHSA Special

Emphasis Panel I (SEP I).

Meeting Dates: July 31, 2000.

Place: Bethesda Marriott, 5151 Pooks

Hill Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Closed: July 31, 2000.

Panel: Family Strengthening, SP 00–

002.

Contact: Diane McMenamin, Director,

Division of Extramural Activities, Policy

and Review, Parklawn Building, 5600

Fishers Lane, Room 17–89, Rockville,

Maryland 20857.

Committee Name: SAMHSA, Special

Emphasis Panel I (SEP I).

Meeting Dates: August 7, 2000.

Place: Bethesda Marriott, 5151 Pooks

Hill Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Closed: August 7, 2000.

Panel: Family Strengthening, SP 00–

002; Targeted Capacity Expansion/HIV,

TI 00–005.

Contact: Diane McMenamin, Director,

Division of Extramural Activities, Policy

and Review, Parklawn Building, 5600

Fishers Lane, Room 17–89, Rockville,

Maryland 20857.

Committee Name: SAMHSA Special

Emphasis Panel I (SEP I).

Meeting Dates: August 14, 2000.

Place: Bethesda Marriott, 5151 Pooks

Hill Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Closed: August 14, 2000.

Panel: Coalitions for Prevention, SM

00–004.

Contact: Diane McMenamin, Director,

Division of Extramural Activities, Policy

and Review, Parklawn Building, 5600

Fishers Lane, Room 17–89, Rockville,

Maryland 20857.

Committee Name: SAMHSA Special

Emphasis Panel I (SEP I).

Meeting Dates: August 28, 2000.

Place: Bethesda Marriott, 5151 Pooks

Hill Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Closed: August 28, 2000.

Panel: HIV Integration Planning, TI

00–008.

Contact: Diane McMenamin, Director,

Division of Extramural Activities, Policy

and Review, Parklawn Building, 5600

Fishers Lane, Room 17–89, Rockville,

Maryland 20857.

Committee Name: SAMHSA Special

Emphasis Panel I (SEP I).

Meeting Dates: September 18, 2000.

Place: Bethesda Marriott, 5151 Pooks

Hill Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Closed: September 18, 2000.

Panel: Conference Grants, PA 98–090.

Contact: Diane McMenamin, Director,

Division of Extramural Activities, Policy

and Review, Parklawn Building, 5600

Fishers Lane, Room 17–89, Rockville,

Maryland 20857.

Committee Name: SAMHSA Special

Emphasis Panel I (SEP I).

Meeting Dates: July or August, 2000.

Place: Substance Abuse and Mental

Health Administration, Division of

Extramural Activities, Policy and

Review, Parklawn Building, Room 17–

89, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville,

Maryland 20857.

Closed: Entire Meeting.

Panel: Supplement to Aging, Mental

Health/Substance Abuse Primary Care

Coordinating Center, SM 00–009; Coal

Miners, SM 00–008; Minority

Fellowships, SM 00–003.

Contact: Diane McMenamin, Director,

Division of Extramural Activities, Policy

and Review, Parklawn Building, 5600

Fishers Lane, Room 17–89, Rockville,

Maryland 20857.

Committee Name: SAMHSA Special

Emphasis Panel I (SEP I).

Meeting Dates: July or August, 2000.

Place: Substance Abuse and Mental

Health Administration, Division of

Extramural Activities, Policy and

Review, Parklawn Building, Room 17–

89, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville,

Maryland 20857.

Closed: Entire Meeting.

Panel: Chicago Homeless Services

Integration, SM 00–010; Florida

Children Services, SM 00–007.

Contact: Diane McMenamin, Director,

Division of Extramural Activities, Policy

and Review, Parklawn Building, 5600

Fishers Lane, Room 17–89, Rockville,

Maryland 20857.

Committee Name: SAMHSA Special

Emphasis Panel I (SEP I)

Meeting Dates: July or August, 2000.

Place: Substance Abuse and Mental

Health Administration, Division of

Extramural Activities, Policy and

Review, Parklawn Building, Room 17–

89, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville,

Maryland 20857.

Closed: Entire Meeting.

Panel: Connecticut Urban Health

Initiative, SM 00–012, Violence

Prevention Coordinating Center, SM 00–

007.

Contact: Diane McMenamin, Director,

Division of Extramural Activities, Policy

and Review, Parklawn Building, 5600

Fishers Lane, Room 17–89, Rockville,

Maryland 20857.

Committee Name: SAMHSA Special

Emphasis Panel I (SEP I);

Meeting Dates: July or August, 2000.

Place: Substance Abuse and Mental

Health Administration, Division of

Extramural Activities, Policy and

Review, Parklawn Building, Room 17–

89, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville,

Maryland 20857.

Closed: Entire Meeting.

Panel: Four State Consortium

Prevention Studies of Fetal Alcohol

Syndrome, SP 00–003; Co-Occurring

and Justice Center, TI 00–007.

Contact: Diane McMenamin, Director,

Division of Extramural Activities, Policy

and Review, Parklawn Building, 5600

Fishers Lane, Room 17–89, Rockville,

Maryland 20857.

Dated: June 21, 2000.

Coral Sweeney,

Review Specialist, Substance Abuse and

Mental Health Services Administration.

[FR Doc. 00–16256 Filed 6–27–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4162–20–U