SLCO1B3 Genotyping to Predict a Survival Prognosis of Prostate Cancer

Steroid hormones have been implicated to play a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer. Polymorphisms in the genes that code for enzymes, or hormones involved in androgen regulatory pathway, reportedly influence risk for developing prostate cancer. Since many membrane transporters are modulators of steroid hormones absorption and tissue distribution, genetic polymorphisms in genes encoding these transporters may account for the risk of prostate cancer and the predicting of survival.

Treatment of GPR101-Related, Growth Hormone-Related Disorders Such as Gigantism, Dwarfism or Acromegaly

Microduplications of the GPR101 gene (located on chromosome Xq26.3 and encodes a G-protein coupled receptor) can result in an excess of growth hormone causing gigantism, that has an onset in early childhood. It is also associated with the growth of sporadic growth hormone producing adenomas in some patients with acromegaly.

Fluorescent Primer(s) Creation for Nucleic Acid Detection and Amplification

CDC researchers have developed technology that consists of a simple and inexpensive technique for creating fluorescent labeled primers for nucleic acid amplification. Fluorescent chemical-labeled probes and primers are extensively used in clinical and research laboratories for rapid, real-time detection and identification of microbes and genetic sequences. During nucleic acid amplification, the "UniFluor" primer is incorporated into newly synthesized double stranded DNA.

Photoinduced Electron Transfer Fluorescent Primer for Nucleic Acid Amplification

CDC scientists have developed a rapid and cost-efficient method for generating fluorescently labeled primers for PCR and real-time PCR. At present, fluorescent primers are useful for detecting and identifying microbes and specific nucleic acid sequences, amplifying nucleic acids for pyro-sequencing, determining the levels of gene expression, and many other uses. However, problems exist with current techniques used to create fluorescent primers. For one, labeling is not one hundred percent efficient, leading to inaccurate results.

Methods of Retaining Methylation Pattern Information in Globally Amplified DNA

CDC researchers have developed a novel method that generates globally amplified DNA copies retaining parental methylation information; making accurate DNA-archiving for methylation studies much more feasible and cost-effective than undertaking such an endeavor with alternate technologies. This unique approach eliminates a significant bottleneck in the collection of methylation information in the genome(s) of an individual organism, hosts and pathogens.

Virus Replicon Particles as Rift Valley Fever Vaccines

Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus primarily infects animals but also has the capacity to infect humans. The disease causes abortion and death among RVF-infected livestock, resulting in substantial economic loss to people living in many parts of Africa and Arabian Peninsula. Currently, there is no commercial vaccine for RVF. CDC scientists have developed a RVF virus replicon particle (VRP) vaccine candidate.

A Bias-free Sampling and Collection Trap for Resting Mosquitoes

This CDC developed collection device is a small (approximately 1 cubic foot) open-sided container that attracts mosquitoes seeking a daytime resting location. The container is dark-colored and constructed of molded wood-fiber or recycled, high-density plastic. Mosquitoes that enter the dark space of the container are aspirated through a battery-powered fan into a collection receptacle. The receptacle is especially attractive to Culex and Anopheles mosquitos' vectors of West Nile Virus and malaria parasites, respectively.

Use of Detector Response Curves to Optimize Settings for Mass Spectrometry

This CDC developed optimization technology allows one to characterize the behavior of the coefficient of variation (CV) for a range of mass spectrometer machine settings. Surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization (SELDI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) are used for the early detection of numerous diseases, for example cervical cancer . A critical step in the analytical process is the optimization of experiment and machine settings to ensure the best possible reproducibility of results, as measured by the CV.

Multiplexed Immunoassay for Rapid Serological Diagnosis of a Specific Viral Infection in Clinical Samples

CDC researchers have developed a multiplexed diagnostic assay for sensitive detection and distinction between viral group members based on the presence/absence of infection-generated antibodies within a clinical serum sample. For example, this assay can be used for rapid discrimination of a clinical unknown as specifically a West Nile or St. Louis encephalitis viral infection. This is particularly beneficial as these two viruses are typically difficult to distinguish by standard serological assays.

This new technique uses microsphere/microbead-based flow-analysis as a platform.

Species-specific Nucleic Acid Detection Assay for Fungi

This invention pertains to nucleic acid-based assays for the detection of Aspergillus and other filamentous fungi. Assays cover the species-specific detection and diagnosis of infection by Aspergillus, Fusarium, Mucor, Penecillium, Rhizomucor, Absidia, Cunninghamella, Pseudallescheria or Sporthrix in a subject. This can reduce identification time from several days by conventional culture methods to a matter of hours.
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