For The Better

The ability to knockout genes using the CRISPR-Cas9 system has revolutionized the way that researchers study gene function, providing previously unobtainable insights into biological pathways. CRISPR knockout experiments are often performed in animal models or immortalized human cell lines to study gene function and explore the effects of gene edits on the phenotype or behavior …

In the years since hybridoma technology was invented, over 100 mAbs have entered the clinic and this class of drugs represents one of the fastest-growing areas of research and development. However, the production of hybridomas is ridden with potential bottlenecks and involves several steps, including the inoculation of mice with specific antigens, isolation of antibody-secreting …

The need for faster and more efficient analysis of larger and more complex samples has driven the development of advanced instruments in the lab, leading to the creation of improved instruments capable of handling increasing demands for productivity and accuracy. For the identification and quantification of compounds, liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) …

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has become a widely used analytical technique in today’s laboratories – a go-to technology for separation, identification, and quantification of components in the most complex organic samples for a wide range of applications, from food safety to pharma QA/QC. Based on the groundbreaking chromatographic work of J.P. Martin and R.L. Millington …

The antibiotic era began with the 1946 introduction of penicillin, a drug that many saw as a “silver bullet” with which infectious disease could be eradicated. Unfortunately, it quickly became clear that antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) went hand-in-hand, as four penicillin-resistant bacterial strains were isolated from patients within the first year of introduction.1  In …

Monitoring how well a tumor responds to treatment is a critical part of clinical oncology. Response assessment can help diagnose recurrence, determine the efficacy of novel therapeutics in clinical trials, and guide personalized treatment approaches in clinical care. The gold standard clinical assessment of treatment response is to measure changes in tumor volume over time. …

Microscopy images of cells contain vast amounts of phenotypic information, making the phrase “a picture speaks a thousand words” highly relevant to the field of high-content imaging (HCI). HCI allows scientists to extract rich, quantitative information from the images of hundreds or thousands of cells. Conventional high-content screening experiments typically focus on extracting imaging data …

The fact that four of the five cell and gene therapy (CGT) drugs approved by the FDA in 2022 utilize adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors highlights the enormous potential of AAV-based gene therapy for clinical application. The latest additions to the CGT family are Adstiladrin and Hemgenix, which were approved by the FDA in November and …

The human gut harbors a diverse and extremely active population of microorganisms known as the microbiota. These microorganisms are provided with a stable, nutrient-rich habitat in the gut and in return they help stimulate the immune system, aid digestion, and provide otherwise unobtainable metabolites to the human host. A balanced microbiome plays an important role …

Laboratory professionals in all areas of science have experienced significant changes in recent years, and 2022 was no exception. As steady progress continues in returning to normalcy as we’ve learned how to manage COVID-19, the emergence of mpox last year brought a new set of challenges for healthcare professionals, laboratories and diagnostics developers to navigate. …