RECENT NEWS

The next British Society for Microbial Technology (BSMT) Annual Scientific Conference, entitled Respiratory Microbiology – A Day of Inspiration, is just a few weeks away (Thursday 16 May 2019) and will be held at the RAF Museum Hendon.

Syngene has announced that its G:BOX Chemi XRQ multi-application imager is being used at Anglia Ruskin University as both a teaching tool and as part of research to analyse genes and proteins associated with diseases.

Lab Innovations, the UK’s only trade show dedicated to the laboratory industry, has won the prestigious ‘Best Trade Show’ Exhibition News award. One of the key awards of the exhibition industry, recognition by the Exhibition News (EN) Awards underscores the quality and value of attending Lab Innovations for visitors and exhibitors alike. Lab Innovations beat a strong field of 12 shortlisted shows, including the Farnborough International Airshow.

A new research study indicates that the global demand for loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technology reached around US$85 million in 2018. Estimated to observe stable growth in revenue over the coming years, the LAMP market will witness dominance of DNA polymerase among the various product types.

A new computational approach has been developed to reduce variability in common research biomarker tests, a promising step in improving the ability of biomedical researchers and basic scientists to reproduce data and facilitate more consistent results across laboratories and long-term projects. Researchers from Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), developed a new software program, ELISAtools, which provides a stable platform to

CYCLERtest has introduced self-service calibration tools and support. Even small variations in the performance of qualitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) cyclers can damage their operation and reputation; therefore, it is a necessity to calibrate cyclers regularly.

Sysmex continues to move from strength to strength in the fields of haemostasis and haematology, not forgetting urinalysis and histopathology, offering robust service delivery, reliability, advanced clinical and scientific parameters, efficient automation solutions and intelligent data management solutions.

Cherwell Laboratories has appointed Hamish Hogg as Microbiology Product Specialist. This appointment reflects the company’s continued focus on providing high-quality and bespoke cleanroom microbiology products, always supported by excellent customer service.

Researchers at TauRx Therapeutics are using the automation capabilities of the Syrris Atlas HD reactor systems to simplify and accelerate process development for its product pipeline. Based at the company’s primary research facilities at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, the Syrris equipment is an integral part of the quality by design (QBD) process optimisation workflow.

Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) or Shiga-toxigenic E. coli are a group of the bacteria that produce a powerful toxin to cause foodborne illness in humans, particularly the serotype E. coli O157 (pictured). It is transmitted via the faecal-oral route when food becomes contaminated with the faeces of infected animals, predominantly cattle.

Integra’s innovative ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot has scooped the SelectScience Scientists’ Choice Award for Best New General Laboratory Product of 2018. These prestigious awards highlight the best laboratory technologies to emerge over the last year, and are nominated and voted for by laboratory scientists.

Dolomite Bio’s Nadia instrument is helping researchers to gain a deeper understanding of motor neuron disease through the use of single nuclei RNA sequencing (sNuc-Seq). This automated, microfluidic droplet-based platform allows flexible encapsulation of up to eight samples in parallel in under 20 minutes, helping to accelerate studies and generate high quality data.

The diagnostics market has faced many challenges and changes over the last 30 years and as always those involved in running and continuing the growth of such companies respond to need and change as required. As Mark Reed explains, the in vitro diagnostics (IVD) industry not only faces challenges from continuous scientific progress but also economics, demographics and political unrest.

A new cell culture platform allows researchers to observe never-before-seen behaviour of live cancer cells under the microscope, leading to explanations of long-known cancer characteristics.

Testing for specific gene mutations may help to predict the patients with glioblastoma who will respond to immunotherapy, according to new research. The findings, published in the journal Nature Medicine also suggest a therapeutic target that could lead to improved immunotherapy in these patients.

Syngene has introduced a new Epi UV HI-LED lighting option for its popular G:BOX Chemi and G:BOX mini multi-application gel and blot imaging systems. These environmentally friendly lights allow faster workflow and more accurate results when imaging a diverse range of fluorescence-labelled proteins on gels and blots.

Synbiosis has introduced its next-generation Ames software module featuring a time-saving Ames mutagenicity ratio calculation function. The new software designed for integrated use with the ProtoCOL 3 colony counter, facilitates rapid production of accurate, consistent count and ratio data from Ames test plates and is ideal for use in regulated toxicology testing laboratories.

Nucleai, a promising artificial intelligence (AI) start-up company in the pathology arena is making cancer diagnostics more accurate, accessible and efficient through AI-based analysis of biopsies.

The directors of Don Whitley Scientific have announced the death, on 28 February after a short illness, of Don Whitley, founder and chairman of the company. Taking a keen interest in the company’s product development projects up until a few weeks before his death, Don would have celebrated his 90th birthday this coming June.

Distortions to DNA, which occur routinely during gene expression and other cellular processes, could lead to off-target changes to the genome when using CRISPR-Cas9, a new study suggests. The Medical Research Council scientists behind the research say that their findings may help to pave the way to improve the accuracy of gene editing for clinical applications.