Differential cell sorting speeds sample preparation
08 January, 2006Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories in California have developed an enhancement to a dielectrophoresis system that they say could revolutionise the way biological sample preparation is conducted
GeneFlash USB gel documentation system
08 December, 2005Syngene has introduced the GeneFlash USB, claimed to be the first gel documentation system on the market to use USB memory device technology to accurately record gel images that are both PC and Mac compatible.
SpectraMax M5 microplate reader
11 November, 2005 | Supplied by: Millennium Science Pty LtdThe Molecular Devices SpectraMax M5 is a five mode microplate reader with three mode cuvette port. It is a dual-monochromator, multi-detection microplate reader which features a triple-mode cuvette port and single-read command capability for experiments requiring multiple detection parameters. Using two scanning monochromators, the system also provides users with the flexibility to choose any wavelength between 200 and 1000 nm. The instrument uses standard microplates (6 to 384 well) to read endpoint, kinetic, spectrum, multi-wavelength and well area scanning.
PRIDE: an open source database of protein identifications
06 November, 2005The European Bioinformatics Institute and Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology-Ghent University have launched the PRoteomics IDEntifications database (PRIDE; www.ebi.ac.uk/pride). PRIDE allows researchers who work in the field of proteomics - the large-scale study of proteins - to share information much more readily than was previously possible. This will allow them to exploit the growing mass of information on how the body's complement of proteins is altered in many disease states, paving the way towards new predictive and diagnostic methods in medicine.
Predicting protein separation behaviour
03 November, 2005Applying math and computers to the drug-discovery process, researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a method to predict protein separation behaviour directly from protein structure. This multi-scale protein modelling approach may reduce the time it takes to bring pharmaceuticals to market and may have significant implications for an array of biotechnology applications, including bioprocessing, drug discovery and proteomics, the study of protein structure and function.
Screening test for infant iron deficiency
28 October, 2005A new blood test detects iron deficiency in infants earlier and more accurately than the commonly used haemoglobin screening test, according to a study in the August 24/31 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Iron deficiency is estimated to affect nearly 10% of American children one to two years of age. Early detection and treatment are critical because iron deficiency can impair infant mental development, possibly permanently, even before it progresses to anaemia.
Testing methods for monkeypox and smallpox
23 October, 2005Researchers at the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute (VGTI) at Oregon Health & Science University have developed new diagnostic methods to better detect future monkeypox or smallpox outbreaks. The research also sheds new light on the 2003 monkeypox outbreak in the US - monkeypox is closely related to smallpox. This new information suggests that the 2003 outbreak was larger than the 72 cases reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Detecting inflammatory cells in blood vessels
22 October, 2005Atherosclerotic plaque typically builds up without symptoms and the search is on to develop early detection devices that will enable physicians to offer treatment before the disease progresses to advanced stages.
Quicker, less invasive cancer detection
17 October, 2005A Mississippi State research team is developing a cancer screening process that may allow physicians to more quickly diagnose malignancies without performing invasive biopsies. Utilising laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, or LIBS, scientists are seeking to precisely distinguish malignant and normal cells in real time by inserting a single optical fibre microprobe directly into suspicious tissue for a cancer diagnosis, including breast cancer.
Automated tissue arrayer
10 October, 2005 | Supplied by: http://www.diagnostictechnology.com.au/The Beecher Instruments ATA-27 automated tissue arrayer makes construction of high-density tissue microarrays fast, accurate and reliable. The instrument can accommodate nearly all current tissue cassettes and can be easily adapted to array large or odd-shaped specimens.
LabChip System Technology electrophoresis system
14 September, 2005 | Supplied by: Millennium Science Pty LtdThe emergence of genomic and proteomic research has created a need for a more effective way to generate and analyse data.
Nucleic acid extraction from blood
14 September, 2005 | Supplied by: http://www.berthold.com.au/Fuji Photo Film has entered the market for nucleic acid extraction with the QuickGene-810. It consists of a compact, space-saving tabletop device (40 x 45 cm) and matching kits for extraction of DNA and RNA. Using this system, DNA can be obtained from whole blood in just six minutes (for eight samples).
Protein characterisation
14 September, 2005 | Supplied by: http://www.shimadzu.com.au/Wyatt Technology has launched the DynaPro range.
Childhood epilepsy test
10 August, 2005 | Supplied by: http://www.gtg.com.au/Bionomics has presented the results of a 239 patient clinical study of childhood epilepsy. The University of Melbourne's Associate Professor Ingrid Scheffer presented the results to an invited symposium on epilepsy research.
Applicator for automated diagnostic microbiology
10 August, 2005 | Supplied by: http://www.labtechsystems.com/Lab Tech Systems has released an applicator for installation into machines that will automate microbiology testing in global pathology and science laboratories.
