We need to find biomarkers for prognostic, diagnostic and personalised treatment development. Notably to fight cancers that affect tissues. Since biopsies are invasive, it’s better to look for biomarkers in body fluids. Indeed, a simple blood sample becomes a kind of ‘liquid biopsy’ to reveal tissues affections. For 13 years, increasing interest has been shown for miRNA as biomarkers and it will last for sure. The 2 main reasons are that they are major regulators of cell processes and they are released from tissues into the blood. They are major biomarker candidates in serum and plasma. Thus, these circulating miRNA (cmiRNA) are the best hope for modern medicine. Still, a lot of research has to be done to determine the specific signature for each pathology, and also depending on the patient background. Obviously, cmiRNA profiling is a key step and requires sensitive and reproducible method. Sequencing, qRT-PCR, several kind of microarrays… Let’s explore together what the best approach could be. [Read more…]
Buccal swab DNA Collection with no cold chain required
For years tebu-bio has been selling Epicentre-Illumina’s BuccalAmp™ system for non-invasive DNA sampling from inner cheek buccal cells. For many research studies, we find that researchers need two important things from a swab-based DNA collection system. First, the system must yield high quality DNA suitable for Next Generation Sequencing applications. Secondly, the system must instantly stabilize the sample to allow for at-home or remote location sampling (no cold chain required). In this post, I will introduce you to the iSWAB™-DNA Collection Kits.
New 3D-gene® miRNA and mRNA expression profiling service
Recently, tebu-bio and Toray reached agreement for miRNA and mRNA profiling lab services. Already recognised as a European service provider in genomics, proteomics and cell-based assays, tebu-bio now brings European researchers access to Toray’s 3D-Gene® microRNA and mRNA profiling technology, offered through lab services.
During recent lab collaboration sessions, Toray’s 3D-gene® experts and tebu-bio’s lab staff shared their experiences and skills regarding miR and mRNA profiling technologies. A nice opportunity for me to ask Hideo Akiyama, PhD (Deputy General Manager – New Projects Development Division at Toray Industries, Inc.) 3 questions regarding the power of this “3D-gene® black resin” for microarray analysis.
A new dimension in biomarker profiling: miRNA 3D-arrays by TORAY
Circulating miRNA from blood
miRNA are implicated in a number of diseases and cancers. Despite the fact that their different roles in physiological and pathological cell processes are still under investigation, there is already more and more interest in considering them as future key diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Indeed, they are conveniently present in blood, and furthermore, their small size makes them relatively robust compared to messenger RNAs. They are well conserved into poor quality samples such as FFPE samples allowing the best hopes when exploring biobanks of tissues.
Accurate and convenient technologies aimed at profiling miRNA expression from such biobanks and blood opens up a promising era in biomarker discovery for personalized healthcare.
But still, we need to find an efficient profiling approach to cover the full miRnome that contains about 2000 Human miRNA… [Read more…]