Acid Bit

By Davis Morris

 In the past decade, enormous advances have taken place in our understanding of the immune system, which has revolutionised immunotherapy treatment. Focus has switched from fighting disease by studying antibody reactions to known pathogens; today, there is far more interest in natural immunity that which has evolved naturally.

Traditionally, research was focussed on the B and T cell response to specific pathogens - in other words, the development of antibodies through acquired immunity. This specific adaptive response to infectious diseases is well understood by most people. Where much current interest lies is in innate immunity.

Innate immunity is generally non-specific. When the body is targeted by a foreign body or other factor a broad-spectrum response is initiated, involving many proteins. Studying these proteins is of great benefit in studying non-infectious diseases such as cancer, and non-pathogen related inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis.

To take one example, research into non-pathogenic versus pathogenic SIV (simian immunodeficiency virus) shows release of interferon type l (IFN-1) in pathogenic cells. Initially, it was thought differences in cell signalling between toll-like receptors (TLR) 7 and TLR-9 was the cause. However, it is now thought IFN-1 release occurs independently of this.

Antibody suppliers, like us at Novus Biologicals, provide a range of immunoglobulins targeted at proteins expressed in the SIV response. This is not restricted to TLR-7 and 9. Other proteins, such as the co-receptor CXCR6, are also involved.

Why are these products important in human research? Well, SIV is closely related to human HIV. Therefore, study of SIV-infected primates contributes tremendously to the development of anti-HIV and AIDS treatments. The TLR family, meanwhile, is used in numerous immunoassays involving the cellular immune response. At least 10 publications have cited TLR targeting as a tool in cancer therapy. Studies using the TLR-7 antibody resulted in the release of Imiquimod, a drug used in the treatment of basal cell carcinomas.

The Article is written by novusbio.com providing antibody catalogue and antibody database Services. Visit http://www.novusbio.com for more information on novusbio.com Products & Services___________________________Copyright information

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Alternatives to embryonic stem-cell lines in antibody research

By Davis Morris

 Many suppliers include a range of stem cell marker proteins on their antibody databases. Marker antibodies, such as the one selective for Podocalycin-like protein (PODXL) are widely used in research into cancers and other diseases.

The PODXL gene has a similar structure to the CD-34 ligand, and encodes to a member of the sialomucin protein group. Originally identified on epithelial podocyte cells, it has been implicated in the development of aggressive tumours, and is used as a diagnostic marker in numerous cancers, including prostate cancer and pancreatic carcinomas.

At Novus Biologicals, our PODXL TRA-1-81antibody is one of a number of cell surface marker immunoglobulins designed for embryonic stem cell research. It recognises a specific carbohydrate epitope on the PODXL protein, the antigen TRA-1-81. Involved in cell differentiation, TRA-1-81 is expressed through PODXL on the surface of embryonic stem and germ cells, and also upon the surface of adult human teratocarcinoma stem cells. Cell surface antigens are known to play an important role in the ex-pression and function of developmentally controlled cells during embryonic and tumour development. For this reason, embryonic stem cells are routinely used in cancer studies involving TRA-1-81 and other PODXL immunoglobulins.

Since no murine (mouse) immunoreactivity is seen with our TRA PODXL antibodies, human cells must be used. The area of human embryonic stem-cell (hES) research is an extremely controversial one. However, in January 2010 Mizrak, Chikhovskaya et al, of the University of Amsterdam, released a paper suggesting an alternative human adult tissue. Studies had already shown that multipotent ES-type cells could be sourced from adult mouse testes. When these experiments were repeated using tissue donated from prostate cancer patients, subcultured cells expressed hES specific carbohydrate antigens as in the mouse studies. These included TRA-1-60 and TRA-1-81 both of which are on our antibody database.

This study means that human stem cell research is no longer restricted to embryonic cell lines an exciting development in an area which is historically extremely controversial.

The Article is written by novusbio.com/ providing antibody catalogue and antibodies Services. Visit http://www.novusbio.com/ for more information on novusbio.com/Products & Services___________________________Copyright information

This article is free for reproduction but must be reproduced in its entirety, including live links & this copyright statement must be included. Visit novusbio.com/ for more services!

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Movie Reviews - Star Trek (2009)

By Mr D Stevens

 Movie Reviews this week looks at the sci-fi blockbuster Star Trek.

Not a lot of information had been released about this movie except that it tells the story when Spock and Captain James T. Kirk first meet.

At first many assumed this movie laid the background story for the Star Trek series, but after a while you realise this is not quite straight forward, as with the Star Trek universe, with worm holes, black holes, and time travel, anything is possible.

We join the movie when the U.S.S (United Star Ship) Kelvin is attacked by a ruthless Romulan, Captain Nero (at first his features look distinctly like that of Eric Bana Troy even with the heavy makeup and surprise surprise, it is him), he demands the captain of the U.S.S Kelvin comes aboard, the Captain Robau played by Faran Tahir (24, the patient with the inoperable brain tumor in Grey’s Anatomy) duly complies in the hope of saving his crew, seeing that whatever weapon Nero has on this Romulan ship is more advanced than anything he has seen before.

When his shuttle arrives, he is asked if he knows Ambassador Spock (with a 3D holographic image of Leonard Nimoy circling), he says he is unfamiliar with that name, despite his protests he doesn’t stop Nero from his attack.

We next see our young protagonist on an amazing joy ride with a vintage car he has stolen, while being chased by a cop, the cop eventually catches up with him and when asked his name, he states boldly “My name is James Tiberius Kirk”.

Several years later the young Kirk is now a young man played by Chris Pine (Smoking Aces) but still a rebel, he comes into a bar containing many Starfleet cadets, and hits on one lovely cadet, Uhura played by the gorgeous Zoe Saldana, a fight ensues, until Captain Pike played by Bruce Greenwood (National Treasure: Book of secrets) puts a stop to it, he encourages Kirk to join Starfleet based on his impressive academic scores, you are not sure if Kirk is in the frame of mind to take his advice, but inevitably he does.

While at Starfleet he makes friends with Dr. McCoy aka Bones played by Karl Urban (The Chronicles of Riddick, with an uncanny mannerism with the original Dr. McCoy played by DeForest Kelly), and Kirk eventually meets a young Spock played by the very talented Zachary Quinto (much better known as Sylar, and who strangely looks eerily like a young Leonard Nimoy), after Kirk breaks Spock’s simulated test which no one had even beaten; a Starship being attacked by a number Klingons’ birds of prey and the Captain must decide on a course of action when facing certain death, Spock cites Kirk in front of the Starfleet command for cheating, and that the purpose of the test Kirk passed was to accept death and learn fear, however Kirk is adamant that he did not cheat but since he saved the crew he states he duly passed the test. This first altercation sets the scene for the relationship between Kirk and Spock for the rest of the movie, while the ruthless Romulan Nero seeks revenge on a young Spock.

Star Trek is a superb science fiction action movie, and fans of the series will be impressed by the depth of character portrayed in the cast re-enacting characteristics of the beloved original series, from Hikaru Sulu played by John Cho (Harold and Kumar escape from Guantanamo Bay), and a very impressive Anton Yelchin (Terminator: Salvation) who plays Chekov complete with his Russian accent, the well loved Scotty is played by Simon Pegg (How to make friends and alienate people, Shaun of the dead) with an equally impressive Scottish accent, not to forget that the legendary Leonard Nimoy himself is also in this movie.

Movie Reviews is constantly updated with carefully selected reviews of great movies that are a must see.

Mr D Stevens is a reviewer at Movie reviews

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