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Prostanoids originate from PGHS action on the 20-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid: DGLA, AA and EPA. We used cDNA expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and enzyme immunoassays to compare the activities of two mouse PGHS isoforms and cDNAs encoding mouse prostaglandin I synthase and thromboxane A synthase and genomic DNA encoding Trypanosoma brucei prostaglandin F synthase. All genes were active and were put in Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants producing DGLA.

Very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLCPUFAs) are declining in reserves, since they are produced by oily fish. VLCPUFAs are important in human nutrition because they are responsible for the production of inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins, the regulation of cholesterol synthesis and its transport, and the maintenance of cellular membranes. This research aims to produce VLCPUFAs in edible plants.

Activity of RNA-targeting antisense oligonucleotides increases when introducing LNA monomers, implying that an 18 nucleotides long LNA/2OMe mixmer splice-switching oligonucleotide can be shortened to 12mer and have similar activity and specificity as an 18mer 2OMe oligonucleoyide. Positioning of LNA monomers has to be carefully considered when utilizing the potent LNA monomers in RNA-targeting antisense oligonucleotides.

Although considerable progress has been made recently in understanding how gene silencing is mediated by the RNAi pathway, the design of effective sequences is still a challenging task. To tackle the efficacy challenge and further improve accuracy for prediction of siRNA potency, we performed a comparison of advanced regression techniques and new in-house generated descriptors in the generation of siRNA efficiency models.

The study aims to design antigomirs against miRNAs involved in Cardiomyopathy. Potential miRNAs involved in the down regulation of certain important genes during this disorder have been identified. All reported miRNAs were scanned using an algorithm against these genes. At three step protocol was followed to take care of false positives and false negatives. Further, HL-1 cells (cardiomyocytes) are been transfected by anti-miRNAs for confirmation.

Noroviruses (Caliciviridae) are one of the main cause of acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis in humans. Noroviruses can not be propagated in cell cultures. Thus Real Time PCR molecular methods for caliciviral detection have been recently introduced. The aim of the study was to compare two different Real Time PCR assays for detection of norovirus strains (genogroup II) and the comparison between different RT-PCR reagents and Real Time PCR instruments was made.

We report the use of qPCR technique to follow the thermal unfolding of proteins by the binding of the dye SYPRO Orange, and exploit its potential as a robust and high-throughput primary screen for small molecule drug discovery.

Noroviruses (Caliciviridae) are one of the main cause of acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis in humans. Noroviruses can not be propagated in cell cultures. Thus Real Time PCR molecular methods for caliciviral detection have been recently introduced. The aim of the study was to compare two different Real Time PCR assays for detection of norovirus strains (genogroup II) and the comparison between different RT-PCR reagents and Real Time PCR instruments was made.

Constitutive TNF-alpha expression is characteristic of the malignant ovarian surface epithelium. Adenoviral mutants hold great promise as gene therapy vectors but their efficacy is hindered by an inflammatory cascade orchestrated by TNF-alpha. We found that delivering TNF-alpha shRNA to ovarian cancer cells using oncolytic adenoviruses could reduce the inflammatory cascade generated by adenoviruses and also had direct anti-tumour activity on the cancer cells.

We used a double-stranded RNA feeding approach to silence cadherin-like gene: a protein reported as receptor in several lepidopteran insects for the Cry toxins synthesized by Bacillus thuringiensis. We analized the protein expression from dsRNA-fed and untreated laravae on western blott. M. sexta larvae that ingested dsRNA directed against cadherin exhibited a dramatic suppression of the protein and are resistant to the effect of the Cry1Ab toxin.