16 April 2019
Amyloid fibrils are misfolded proteins which have assembled to form insoluble aggregates in the form of fibers that are resistant to degradation. Amyloid formation is often associated with a disease that is specific to the proteins or localisation of the aggregate. Well known examples of amyloid diseases include Alzheimer’s disease, Diabetes type 2 […]
9th April 2019
Changes in the glycosylation pattern of cell surface and secreted glycoproteins are common in malignant transformations and cancer progression, (1). Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), is a glycoprotein enzyme secreted by the prostate gland that is often used for diagnosing and predicting progression of prostate cancer in men. Recent advances in the field of glycobiology […]
2nd April 2019
Background:
Post Translational Modifications (PTM) are biochemical variations of cetain amino acids made to a protein after biosynthesis. These modifications diversify the proteome and play a fundamental role in regulation and targeting of proteins, their interactions with other molecules, as well as their structure, activity and function. Common types of post-translational modifications include phosphorylation, […]
31st March 2019
This month:
Novel ELISA like assay for small molecules
Moxifloxacin aptamer and intellectual property (IP) availability
Interesting applications in biologic and biosimilar analysis and cell imaging
With lots of exciting new data ongoing for multiple applications in the commercial and academic space, Aptamer Group would like to share with you information that may be […]
26th March 2019
Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remains one of the main causes of human death around the globe. Mortality is high suggesting early detection and treatment would better control outbreaks and fatal outcomes. Point of care (POC) testing for mycobacterium is challenging due to slow growth, minimal clinical symptoms of infection, and low […]
19th March 2019
Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous tumour conventionally classified into four molecular subtypes, i.e., Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-enriched, and triple-negative breast cancer. In clinical practice precise molecular subtyping is a powerful approach for fast and efficient treatment and facilitates the delivery of personalised medicine approach. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is the standard approach but the […]
12th March 2019
Background:
Molecular Aptamer Beacons are novel reagents capable of simple, solution-based detection and reporting of target concentration through a fluorescence-based readout.
This assay format has a number of advantages
Simple solution based assay format – no complicated incubations, wash steps etc. are required
Field-based application using a simple hand-held reader
Readily developed into multiplexed assays […]
5th March 2019
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant cancer. Glypican-3 (GPC3), a cellular membrane proteoglycan, is highly expressed in more than 70% of HCC patients and therefore may be an ideal biomarker for in vivo HCC diagnosis and imaging. Antibody reagents have limitations such as immunogenicity, easy degradation, and high cellular cytotoxicity effect in […]
26th February 2019
Unlike chemically synthesised small molecule pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals are a new generation of protein-based medicines. These biologics are usually protected by patents but as those patents expire the door is opened to biosimilar proteins which perform similarly to the original biologic. Small adjustments can affect the efficacy and stability of the biosimilar, so characterisation […]
The ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) is a plate-based method used to detect and quantify a variety of materials such as proteins, peptides, and small molecules. In general, the assay involves immobilization of the target (either directly or through a ‘capture reagent’), detection with a specific antibody or aptamer molecule, and quantification using a variety of […]
