Agilent has introduced a new high-density microarray format that allows eight arrays to be printed on a standard 1 in. x 3 in. glass slide reduces the cost-per-experiment. The new microarrays can be used in a wide range of applications, including gene expression, array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), microarray-based chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP-on-chip), splice variants and DNA methylation measurements.
Agilent has also released a Small RNA Kit for its 2100 Bioanalyzer microfluidics product line that enables the routine quantification and characterization of miRNA down to the picogram/microliter level. The company believes that this new assay removes the barriers to conducting routine miRNA sample analysis while delivering the speed and convenience of an automated system.
Alligator Bioscience has released a new method for the affinity maturation of antibodies, FINDbind, that the company claims can efficiently evolve properties of monoclonal antibodies. The new method has allowed the creation of functional libraries from which antibodies with improved or new desirable properties can be selected.
"As the interest in therapeutic monoclonal antibodies has increased tremendously over the past years, we have noticed a need for a fast tool to tailor-make the properties of antibodies that do not add royalty." said Gun-Britt Fransson, CEO of Alligator Bioscience.
Applied Biosystems (ABI) and MDS Sciex have released an updated version of the 4800 Plus MALDI TOF/TOF (matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation tandem time of flight) mass spectrometer and enhancements to its ProteinPilot software to provide an improved platform to aid in the ever growing number of sample studies that proteomics researchers are undertaking, especially in biomarker discovery.
"We set out to better diagnose Alzheimer's disease, and the Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX joint venture provided powerful proteomics tools to help identify the biomarker candidates from cerebrospinal fluid," said Kelvin Lee, a Cornell professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering.
Beckman Coulter has introduced the first automated assay, the Access Inhibin A, for the quantitative determination of dimeric inhibin A levels in human serum and plasma to allow the diagnosis and monitoring of various reproductive hormonal disorders.
Eksigent has released a NanoLC MALDI spotting system, the Ekspot spotter, to its nanoflow chromatography product line to enable the analysis of complex protein and peptide samples using MALDI mass spectrometers.
'"This new capability enables customers to use our powerful NanoLC systems in Maldi applications," said Remco van Soest, product manager for Eksigent.
Illumina has added a custom-content methylation product to its DNA analysis portfolio to allow researchers to perform genome-wide methylation profiling specific to the individual study goals. The new tool will give researchers the option to survey up to 1,536 sites in selected genes or gene families simultaneously across 96 samples.
"Custom methylation adds another degree of integration to analysis with genetic and epigenetic data. Researchers who are interested in expediting the speed and scope of their methylation studies in areas such as cancer, developmental disorders, stem cell, aging, and neurological diseases now have the ability to select specific CpG sites from chosen genes" said Dr Marina Bibikova, a staff scientist at Illumina.
Oxoid, part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, has released Tryptone X, a new vitamin rich pancreatic digest of casein designed to improve growth rates for a variety of micro-organisms. It can be used as a constituent in the fermentation to produce antibiotics, extra -cellular protein, vaccines, interferon and diphtheria toxoid as well as fort the production of recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies.
Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched a new range of reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) kits. According to the company the RT-PCR Verso cDNA range combines a new reverse transcription enzyme, improved priming options and optimised buffers to generate high yields of full length cDNA in less time and in the minimum number of steps.
Thermo Fisher Scientific has also launched four enhancements to its high content screening (HCS) platform that include the introduction of its HCSExplorer informatics software, and updated versions of its BioApplications image analysis software and HCS Analysis Platform. The company believe the addition of a new Brightfield hardware module will provide scientists with increased assay flexibility by adding white light imaging to the platform's fluorescent imaging capabilities.
