Appeal No. 1997-3322
Application No. 08/353,940
Publications submitted by appellant include:
Soo Hoo et al. (Soo Hoo), “Characterization of a single-chain T-cell receptor expressed in
Escherichia coli,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Vol 89, pp. 4759-763 (1992).
Kurucz et al. (Kurucz), “A bacterially expressed single-chain Fv construct from the 2B4 T-
cell receptor,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Vol. 90, pp. 3830-834 (1993).
OPINION
In reaching our decision in this appeal, we have given careful consideration to the
appellant’s specification and claims, to the applied prior art references, and to the
respective positions articulated by the appellant and the examiner.
Rather than reiterate the conflicting viewpoints advanced by the examiner and the
appellant regarding the above-noted rejection, we make reference to the examiner's
answer (Paper No. 40, mailed January 8, 1997) for the examiner's complete reasoning in
support of the rejection, and to the appellant’s brief (Paper No. 37, filed July 22, 1996) for
the appellant’s arguments thereagainst. As a consequence of our review, we make the
determinations which follow.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
The two major classes of lymphocytes are B cells and T cells. The majority of T-
cells recognize antigenic peptide bound to class I or II proteins of the major
histocompatibility complex (MHC). The recognition of peptide MHC complexes is
mediated by surface-bound T-cell receptors. These receptors are comprised of
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