Issue 1 2010

Applying statistical inference in genomics with evidence-based pathways: Towards elucidating new functional correlations of biomarkers

Issue 1 2010 / 22 February 2010 /

In conventional pharmacogenomic studies, genetic polymorphisms (including single nucleotide and copy number variations) are elucidated from case-control distribution of individuals usually representing ethnicity, severity of disease, and positive or negative response to treatment. However, the interpretation of a single genetic marker in this context is complicated, as the same marker may lead to multiple different phenotypes. Likewise, similar phenotypes can arise under different genetic backgrounds (models). This problem has led to the emergence of integrative approaches for combining statistical inference methods with bioinformatics-based text-mining, sequencing and expression analyses. An increasingly popular approach based on network analysis is challenged by the fact that a certain amount of the interpretation of the data is left to the subjective choices of the user. More rigorous statistical methods can be applied. However, these methods are also challenged by the fact that the developed measures of significance are provided outside the context of biology. In this perspective, we outline statistical methods and the development of evidence-based pathway analysis for identifying new biomarker correlations. (more…)

Tagged with: Al Ivens, Biomarkers, Centre for Systems Biology Edinburgh, Fios Genomics Ltd, Peter Ghazal, Thorsten Forster, University of Edinburgh

SBS: 16th Annual conference and Exhibition

Issue 1 2010 / 22 February 2010 /

Date: 11-15 April 2010
Venue: Phoenix Convention Centre, Phoenix, Arizona
Website: www.sbsonline.org

Advancing the Science of Drug Discovery

During this five day event, more than 2,000 scientists, innovators, researchers and industry analysts from around the world will converge in Phoenix to learn about the latest trends and basic and applied research that are transforming the way new pharmaceuticals are developed.

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Tagged with: ABS Inc, Beckman Coulter Inc, CCS Cell Culture Service, DiscoveRx Corp., Euroscreen, ForteBio, Genedata AG, Hamilton Robotics, IDBS, Kinaxo, Lonza, MDS Analytical Devices, Nanoxis AB, PerkinElmer Inc., Promega, SBS, Show Preview, Sigma Life Science, TTP LabTech

Protein PEGylation: An overview of chemistry and process considerations

Issue 1 2010 / 22 February 2010 /

Innovative drug delivery technologies are key components of drug development, with commercial and intellectual values. PEGylation is an excellent example of a delivery system that has scientific and multi- billion dollar commercial importance due to the remarkable improvement in the circulatory half lives of therapeutics, especially for proteins and peptides (more…)

Tagged with: Professor Conan Fee, Proteomics, University of Canterbury, Vinod Babu Damodaran

qPCR 2010 Symposium and Exhibition

Issue 1 2010 / 22 February 2010 /

Date 7 – 9 April 2010
Venue Juridicum, University Vienna
Website http://www.qpcr2010-vienna.net

The ongoing evolution of qPCR

The focus of this years qPCR 2010 event will be ‘The ongoing evolution of qPCR’ representing all new and emerging techniques, applications and data analysis methods. HRM, microRNA, CNV, single-cell qPCR, digital PCR, and analysis of circulating nucleic acids will be in the focus of the conference.

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Tagged with: qPCR, Show Preview

Ex-vivo LPS stimulation model coupled with quantitative PCR and its multispecies application in immunonutrition

Issue 1 2010 / 22 February 2010 /

Disorders of the immune systems leading to chronic inflammation and allergies are increasing in modern societies. While the possible causative factors are both environmental and nutritional, prevention and even curative options may be derived from our diet. Because background levels of cytokine expression in the general population are generally low, this model was developed to mimic an acute pro-inflammatory threat by a bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

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Tagged with: Afif Abdel Nour, Elie Barbour, Flore Depeint, Institut Polytechnique LaSalle Beauvais, Philippe Pouillart, qPCR

Pittcon Conference and Expo 2010

Issue 1 2010 / 22 February 2010 /

Date 28 February – 5 March 2010
Venue Orange County Convention Centre, Orlando, Florida

See you at Pittcon 2010!

Pittcon 2010 will again offer the latest advances in laboratory instrumentation, supplies and services; comprehensive solutions for research problems; new methodologies and techniques for improved productivity; and a wide range of educational opportunities.

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Tagged with: Pittcon, Show Preview

Article 1: The implementation of Rapid Microbiological Methods

Issue 1 2010 / 22 February 2010 /

This is the first in a series of articles on rapid microbiological methods that will appear in European Pharmaceutical Review during 2010.

Microbiology trapped in the 19th Century

When the science of microbiology was in its early stages of development, scientists used liquid media for the cultivation of microorganisms. For those who were in need of a method to segregate individual types of organisms, the use of liquid media proved to be a significant disadvantage. This was the case for Dr Robert Koch, who, in 1881, was determined to find an alternative method for his experiments. His laboratory first used aseptically cut slices of potato as a solid culture medium, and later turned to liquid culture supplemented with gelatin, which was subsequently poured into glass plates and allowed to solidify. This technique permitted the scientists to obtain pure cultures of the bacteria that were found to be growing in the form of discreet colonies on the surface of the plates.

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Tagged with: Michael J. Miller, Microbiology, Microbiology Consultants LLC

Society of Toxicology 2010

Issue 1 2010 / 22 February 2010 /

49th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo

Salt Lake City, Utah, is the host-city for the Society of Toxicology’s 49th Annual Meeting. Scientific Sessions will be held at the Salt Palace Convention Centre during the week of 7-11 March 2010.

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Tagged with: Show Preview, The Society of Toxicology (SOT)

Segregation of molecular mechanisms of genotoxicity and carcinogenicity across human, yeast and Salmonella species

Issue 1 2010 / 22 February 2010 /

Screening assays for in vitro toxicity are the way to reduce the attrition rates in the preclinical development of new drugs. Here a test battery is presented for screening of genotoxic and carcinogenic compounds by means of VitotoxTM, RadarScreen, and four human liver HepG2 cell lines with two different promoters as well as responsive element (RE) settings in combination with a luminescent read-out. The VitotoxTM assay in Salmonella is a substitute for the Ames test and the RadarScreen assay for in vitro clastogenicity. Moreover, HepG2 assays with RAD51C and Cystatin A promoters, and p53-RE are more predictive for in vivo clastogenicity. The Nrf2-RE can be used for analysis of reactive oxygen species production. The validity of this battery is checked for 62 compounds of an ECVAM list for genotoxicity and for 190 other references or in house drugs.

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Tagged with: Jean Horbach, MSD, Toxicology, Walter Westerink, Willem Schoonen

Analytica 2010

Issue 1 2010 / 22 February 2010 /

Date: 23-26 March 2010
Venue: New Muncih Trade Fair Centre, Munich
Website: www.analytica.de

22nd International Trade Fair for Laboratory Technology, Analysis and Biotechnology

For the 22nd time, Analytica will bring international experts from the analysis, laboratory-technology and biotechnology sectors together at a single location. It is a key industry event that allows information to be collected about the latest products and trends in science and industry.

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Tagged with: Analytica, Show Preview

Cancer-secreted microRNAs: Travelers, Messengers, and Blood-borne Biomarkers

Issue 1 2010 / 22 February 2010 /

Since the first discovery of microRNA (miRNA) from C. elegans in 19931 studies of this new class of regulatory small RNA have grown rapidly and entered a new era, where they now serve as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in human diseases, such as cancers. Recent studies indicating that miRNAs are aberrantly expressed in cancer, are secreted by cancer cells, and are stably present in blood open a new avenue for studying cancer at the extra/intercellular level, where miRNAs serve as important cancer-released messages.

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Tagged with: Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Dr John Rossi, Emily Wang, microRNA

Cancer biology where do we go next?

Issue 1 2010 / 22 February 2010 /

The World Cancer Report (2008) predicts a 50% worldwide increase in cancer incidence by 2030, predicting 75 million people living within a five year diagnosis of cancer1. This increase is partially fuelled by significant medical advances in developed countries ensuring people live longer. However, it is also attributable to developing countries adopting habits linked to cancer risk such as increased uptake of smoking and the acquisition of western diets. In 2007, cancer caused approximately 7.6 million or 13% of all human deaths2. Cancers associated with the greatest mortalities are lung, stomach, colorectal, liver and breast cancer respectively. There are modifiable risk factors common to many malignancies, including tobacco, overweight or obesity, poor physical activity, dietary factors, alcohol, sunlight exposure and chronic infection. Effective prevention will reduce the risk of cancer, and efficient screening will enable many to be successfully treated for their disease.

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Tagged with: Anthony Davies, Anthony McElligott, Anthony Ryan, Graham Pidgeon, HCS (High Content Screening), Institute of Molecular Medicine, Prostate Cancer Research Group, Ruth Foley, Trinity College Dublin