A*STAR Scientists Discover Key Component in the Mother's Egg Critical for Survival of Newly Formed Embryo
An international team led by scientists at A*STAR's Institute of Medical Biology (IMB) discovered that a protein, normally present in the mother's egg, is essential right after fertilisation to preserve epigenetic marks on a specific set of genes.

---

Use of DNA Microarray Analysis in Diagnosis of Bacterial and Fungal Endophthalmitis
Microarray analysis is complementary to routine cultures for identifying causative microorganisms and is likely to be a useful tool in patients with suspected endophthalmitis who require rapid diagnosis and early antibiotic treatment.

---

Unlocking the Secrets of Complex Genetic Data
A new approach to data analysis is helping researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center to unravel the mysteries of human disease, says Carl-Johan Ivarsson, President of Qlucore.

---

NanoInk Announces Launch of Contract Services Program for Live Single Cell Assay Work
Service offering expected to advance research programs involved with toxicity assessment, high content screening, and cell-cell communication.

---

Ambry Genetics Reports Results from Clinical Diagnostic Exome™ Testing of Three Patients
Three individuals suffering from symptoms for which the cause could not be identified were successfully diagnosed. The findings are believed to mark the first of their kind in industry, with additional information to be released in the coming weeks.

---

Epitomics, Inc. and University of California, Davis, Complete Star Program
The completed program has resulted in the application of a new, advanced antibody assay technique, a label-free optical microarray detection platform, for high-throughput measurements of antibody-antigen interactions.

---

Veterinarians Hope New Gene Chip will Help Detect, Treat West Nile Virus
A new “gene chip” developed at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine sheds light on brain response in horses infected with West Nile virus and could lead to better ways to diagnose and treat both equines and humans, researchers said.

---

Global Gene Expression Profiling in Mouse Plasma Cell Tumor Precursor and Bystander Cells Reveals Potential Intervention Targets for Plasma-Cell Neoplasia
In this article, the authors explain how they extracted nascent plasma cell tumor (PCT) cells from within inflammatory granulomas (OG) isolated from intraperitoneal pristane-injected BALB/c.iMycEµ mice at five different time points during tumor progression.

---

New Microarray-on-a-Chip Test for Cystic Fibrosis
Astra Biotech GmbH is in the pre-launch phase of its newly developed test, based on microarray technology, for rapid simultaneous detection of 25 of the most common mutations causing cystic fibrosis in pan-European populations.

---

Risk-Free Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity Test Announced
International DNA testing company easyDNA Limited launched the new, 100% risk-free prenatal paternity test to supercede current invasive methodologies.

---

Affymetrix and ScreenCell Announce Worldwide Distribution Agreement for CTC Technology
Combination of ScreenCell’s isolation devices and Affymetrix’ QuantiGene® ViewRNA ISH technology enables easy, accessible, sensitive, multiplex, low-cost system to enumerate and characterize CTCs and other rare cells.

---

Luminex Corporation Expands Life Science and Biodefense Groups
Two dedicated groups advance Luminex leadership in scientific research and public safety.

---

Pittcon 2012 Releases Conference Summary
The Pittcon 2012 Organizing Committee announced that this year's conference and exposition for laboratory science attracted 15,754 attendees (conferees and exhibitor personnel) to the annual event.

---

Nanoink Announces Launch of Contract Services Program for Live Single Cell Assay Work
Service offering expected to advance research programs involved with toxicity assessment, high content screening, and cell-cell communication.

---

OGT to Exhibit and Present at Molecular Medicine Tri-Con 2012
The conference will include an OGT presentation entitled “Integrated Biomarker Discovery: Multi-Method Approach to Enable Early Biomarker Success”, taking place on Tuesday 21st February at 15.50 in the Moscone North Convention Centre.

---

OGT Founder Professor Sir Ed Southern Awarded the 2011 MRC Millennium Medal
Pioneer of DNA microarray technology recognised for outstanding impact in the field of genetic analysis.

---

Affymetrix and BGI Enter Strategic Collaboration
Partnership to co-develop and commercialize genomic microarrays for the agricultural community.

---

Quanterix Announces Strategic Investment From IQT
Through this strategic partnership, Quanterix aims to expand the development of its Single Molecule Array (SiMoA) technology to enable simultaneous measurement of both nucleic acids and proteins for the detection of pathogens.

---

Exiqon Announces 2012 Grant Program for MicroRNA Research
The company announced the launch of its 2012 global research grant program, open to researchers from academic and non-profit institutions.

---

Microfluidics Evolution
Lab-on-a-chip devices are creating performance advantages across a wide range of applications and basic research.

---

Novel colorimetric detection method for the cost-effective identification of influenza on a low-density microarray
InDevR

The presented work explores the use of ampliPHOX, a rapid, cost-effective, field-amenable colorimetric detection method, combined with the FluChip low-density microarray for screening and surveillance of influenza viruses, particularly in resource-limited settings. Analysis of microarray data from over 100 influenza samples confirmed the ability to easily distinguish influenza A and B and produce unique array patterns for a wide variety of influenza A subtypes.

---

Target length effect on sensitivity and specificity of oligonucleotide microarrays: Advantages of a modified PCR based labelling method over the dendrimer technology.
1 College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK 2 Systems Biology Ireland and the Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Irel

Several methods have been developed for target labelling to enable DNA microarray quantification without taking careful consideration for target length effect. This report highlights the importance of choosing the optimum target length that would ensure specificity without compromising sensitivity of the assay. It also shows the advantages of using the modified PCR method over other methods in generating labelled amplicons of the desired lengths to maximize hybridization efficiency.

---

Identification of novel autoantigensin patients with liver autoimmune diseases by Protein MicroArray
1Fondazione INGM, Istituto Nazionale Genetica Molecolare, Milan; 2Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano; 3Policlinico Sant’Orsola, Bologna; 4Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana,

The characterization of autoimmune disease-specific biomarkers are of primary importance for the development of diagnostic tools and the comprehension of pathogenetic mechanisms leading to autoimmunity. To this aim a protein microarray was employed to analyze serum samples from patients with autoimmune hepatitis (e.g. AIH & PBC) and of healthy as controls. A panel of autoantigens able to discriminate among the groups of patients was identified for potential use as biomarkers.

---

Novel Serological Assay Using HIgh-Throughput Chromogenic Microarray Technology for Screening SPF Non-human Primates
Gentel Biosciences, Harvard Medical School

Routine surveillance programs to detect microbial agents in non-human primate colonies are critical to maintaining colony health and safety, as well as research integrity. Serological testing is a crucial element of maintaining colony health, but current methods rely on slow, expensive, and low-throughput ELISA-based serological assays. Here we describe the development of a sensitive, specific, robust, and easily automated method for colony health screening programs.

---

Designing a microarray sensor platform for multiplexed transcriptional library
1 Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ 2 Systems Biology Ireland and the Conway Institute,

Intracellular signalling is achieved through complex networks of pathways that ultimately control transcription factor (TF) activity. Deconvoluting such complexity requires a systems level approach. To enable this we have constructed a library of plasmids carrying a TF binding site upstream of a unique reporter sequence. We have designed and optimized an array based readout, which is sensitive, robust and reproducible, to quantify TF derived dynamic changes within cells.

---

SuNS microarray as novel biosensor for clinical diagnostics.
Molecular Stamping

We here present an innovative microarray platform which aims to produce an higher standard of clinical microarray technology. The fabrication approach, involving a novel printing technology (Supramolecular Nano-Stamping) to reduce the production costs of the chips, together with a peculiar probe design, aiming to improve the assay sensitivity and workflow, intend to make the SuNS microarrays well poised to become an important element in the clinical diagnostics market.

---

Sequence-independent Selective Amplification of mRNAs over rRNAs


Standard mRNA amplifications for "All-Exon" microarrays and for bacterial RNAs are impossible with small samples and with degraded RNAs, because removal of rRNAs must precede universal, non-selective RNA amplification. This pre-treatment with magnetic beads is cumbersome, requires high amounts of starting material, is not universal for all species and degraded RNAs are not suitable.

---

Novel Concept of Microarray Construction and their Application in Biology
Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences

For microarrays produced using spotting technologies, much attention has to be given to the development of slide surfaces, attachment chemistries, and spotting solutions. Application of the optimal and reliable methods ensuring effective binding of DNA probes with slide surface is one of the key factors warranting high quality results. Developments in the field of microarrays occur at a rapid pace and some novel approaches may offer suggestions of new strategies.

---

Sub-classification of Colorectal Cancer Using Surface Antigen Antibody Microarray and Fluorescence Multiplexing
THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY SCHOOL OF MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most frequent cause of cancer deaths in Australia. Even after resection up to 50% of patients relapse. In an attempt to prevent recurrences chemotherapy is administered to high risk patients. However, as few as 10-20% patients genuinely benefit because the clinical course for individuals with CRC remains difficult to predict, largely due to prognostically heterogeneous groups within same-stage tumour categories.

---

Single Cell Analysis of Voltage-gated Potassium Channels for Electrophysiological Properties of Rat Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus Neurons
Seoul National University

The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), an integrating site in the regulation of neuroendocrine and autonomic nervous systems, is composed of heterogeneous neurons, type I and type II, based on their electrophysiological properties. Single cell real-time RT-PCR analysis was made to investigate the molecular basis underlying the properties. The results suggest that Kv1.3, Kv4.2 and Kv4.3 potassium channels are the potential candidates in determining the electrophysiological properties in

---

A MIQE Case Study — Effect of RNA Sample Quality and Reference Gene Stability on Gene Expression Data
Bio-Rad Laboratories

In this study, the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) protein, MCM7, was selected as a model target gene to investigate the importance of appropriate reference gene selection and RNA sample quality as described by the MIQE guidelines.

---

Dual-Glo Luciferase Reporter-Gene Assay on the SpectraMax M5, LMax II384 and Analyst GT Microplate Readers
Molecular Devices

Reporter-gene assays are used to study eukaryotic gene expression. Dual genetic reporters are commonly used in transient transfections of cultured cells to minimize experimental variability. Recently, Promega introduced a Dual-Glo Lucoferase assay system which replaced the outdated ‘flash’ assays used previously. Ensuring both genetic reporters have different substrate requirements enables them to be detected using a single reaction mixture.

---

Measurement of Proteasome Inhibition in Live Cells in Molecular Devices Microplate Fluorometers
Molecular Devices

The proteasome is a massive protein complex which can recognize and bind targeted proteins, and inject them into the central core where the proteins are successively degraded into short peptides. Whereas protein synthesis is well-understood after decades of study, major advances in our knowledge of protein degradation have occurred only in the last two decades.

---

Complementing Next Generation Sequencing Technologies With Agilent’s SureSelect DNA Capture Array
Agilent Technologies

Massively parallel DNA sequencing technologies are of pivotal importance in genome biology and medicine, as they can potentially enable comprehensive and systematic evaluation of genetic variation. Currently, these sequencing technologies are geared toward sequencing whole genomes.

---

Simultaneous Detection of Copy Number and Copy-Neutral LOH Using a Single Microarray
Agilent Technologies

Application note describing the Agilent SurePrint G3 CGH+SNP microarray platform for the simultaneous detection of copy number and copy-neutral genetic aberrations.

---

microRNA Microarray Service
LC Sciences

Characterization of breast cancer using microRNA expression profiling and epigenomic and proteomic measurements in rat model.

---

Mitos P-Pump Droplet Monodispersity
Dolomite

The formation of droplets of oil-in-water or water-in-oil has a range of uses in science and industry. Monodispersity, or size consistency, is the key to making droplet microfluidics a powerful tool for conducting accurate and repeatable experiments.

---