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Issue 4 2009
Issue 4 2009 / 30 July 2009 /
The field of oligonucleotide-based therapy experienced a revival with the discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) in 19981. RNAi is a conserved endogenous mechanism, which is triggered by double-stranded (ds) RNAs leading to target-specific inhibition of gene expression by promoting mRNA degradation or translational repression. There are two RNAi pathways that are guided either by small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which are perfectly complementary to the mRNA or by microRNAs (miRNAs), which bind imperfectly to their target mRNA2. SiRNAs can also induce direct transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) in the nucleus, although the mechanisms underlying this are well understood in mammalian systems3,4. (more…)
Tagged with: Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Britta Hoehn, Dr John Rossi, RNAi
Issue 4 2009 / 30 July 2009 /
The deceptive simplicity of a typical qPCR assay is an important reason for the exponential growth in the adoption of qPCR-related technologies for both research and diagnostic applications. The only requirements for obtaining ostensibly quantitative data are a mixing of primers, DNA and a mastermix, their distribution into individual tubes or wells, turning on a qPCR instrument and collection of threshold cycles (Cqs). Indeed, it is remarkably difficult to make a reaction fail completely but alarmingly simple to produce poor quality data1. Furthermore, it is of great concern that many ready-to-run commercially available systems adopt protocols that discourage the user from performing assay optimisation or validation steps, resulting in the publication of vast volumes of potentially meaningless data. Inevitably this has lead to inaccurate conclusions and publication retractions2,3. Consequently, assay optimisation, validation and critical data evaluation are essential practice if the integrity of the scientific study is to be preserved4. (more…)
Tagged with: qPCR, Sigma-Aldrich, Stephen Bustin, Tania Nolan
Issue 4 2009 / 30 July 2009 /
We are currently on the cusp of a technology-driven revolution in the field of genomics. The rapid evolution of DNA sequencing technology is already providing researchers with the ability to generate data about genetic variation and patterns of gene expression on an unprecedented scale; within just a few years it is likely that these technologies will allow accurate sequencing of complete human genomes to become a routine tool for researchers and clinicians. This review covers the emerging field of new DNA sequencing technologies, and outlines the potential benefits – and the challenges – of these technologies for pharmacogenomics. (more…)
Tagged with: Daniel G. MacArthur, Next Generation Sequencing
Issue 4 2009 / 30 July 2009 /
The understanding of properties of any biological system requires a detailed and quantitative analysis of its parts and their interactions. As different processes within a system occur at defined space and time, each process holds its own optimal observation and investigation technique. One of the most powerful tools to analyse biological samples quantitatively is based on fluorescence microscopy. Comprehensive studies of diverse biological processes were lately performed by fluorescence screening microscopy, which came up extensively during the last decade1,2,3. (more…)
Tagged with: BioQuant, HCS (High Content Screening), Holger Erfle, Jurgen Reymann, Tautvydas Lisauskas, University of Heidelberg, Vytaute Starkuviene
Issue 4 2009 / 30 July 2009 /
Mark Collins from Thermo Fisher Scientific, who provide analytical instruments, laboratory equipment, software, services, consumables and reagents, talks to us about current developments and future changes. (more…)
Tagged with: Industry Insight, Mark Collins, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Issue 4 2009 / 30 July 2009 /
Going from strength to strength ELRIG are pleased to announce the 3rd Drug Discovery Symposium. This year ELRIG will be joined by the BPS (British Pharmacological Society) for the event. (more…)
Tagged with: ELRIG, Show Preview
Issue 4 2009 / 30 July 2009 /
In these economic times the pharmaceutical industry has expressed a renewed interest to explore ways in which to enhance the efficiency and agility of existing and future manufacturing processes. This is also true for laboratory-based operations that support forward processing and product release decisions. One function that can greatly benefit from implementing more efficient testing platforms and realise a significant return on investment (ROI) is the QC microbiology lab. This is especially apparent when the laboratory replaces conventional growth-based microbiology procedures with more efficient rapid microbiological methods (RMMs). (more…)
Tagged with: Michael J. Miller, Microbiology, Microbiology Consultants LLC
Issue 4 2009 / 30 July 2009 /
Drug transporters are membrane proteins involved in the uptake or efflux of drugs by several tissues such as the intestine, liver, kidney and brain. They can have a significant impact on the pharmacokinetics of endogenous and exogenous compounds. Also, co-administered drugs or nutrients can influence the transporter activity which may lead to changes in the pharmacokinetics of drugs and, as a result, possibly to reduced efficacy or increased toxicity (so called drug-drug or drug-nutrient interactions). For this reason the regulatory authorities US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMEA) request data on the effects of novel drugs on transporter protein activity. (more…)
Tagged with: DMPK, Heleen Wortelboer, Jeroen DeGroot, Maria Vlaming, Miriam Verwei, TNO Quality of Life
Issue 4 2009 / 30 July 2009 /
Boards of health like the Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency and ICH guidelines Q8, Q9 and Q10, provide a framework for Quality by Design (QbD) that fully integrates drug substance and drug product development with the principles of Quality Risk Management (QRM), Process Analytical Technology (PAT) and Quality Systems (QS). QbD may begin as early as drug substance engineering and could extend to formulation and process development. (more…)
Tagged with: Jun Huang, PAT, Pedro E. Hernandez-Abad, Wyeth
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