Main Menu

Tumor-specific mutated proteins can create neoepitopes, mutation-derived antigens that distinguish tumor cells from healthy cells, which are attractive targets for adoptive cell therapies. However, the process of precisely identifying the neoepitopes to target is complex and challenging. One method to identify such neoepitopes is Mass Spectrometry (MS) when used in conjunction with elution of peptides bound to a specific Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) allele.

Human influenza A is one of two influenza virus types that cause seasonal epidemics of disease (known as flu season) almost every winter in the United States. Influenza A viruses are the only influenza viruses known to cause flu pandemics (i.e., global epidemics of flu disease). (Source.)

Influenza A and B viruses can cause seasonal flu epidemics ― commonly known as the “flu season” ― and infect the nose, throat, eyes, and lungs in humans. Typically, flu seasons that are dominated by influenza A (H3N2) virus activity have higher associated hospitalizations and deaths in at-risk groups, such as people ages 65 and older and young children. Influenza A (H3N2) virus can also cause respiratory disease in animals, such as canines and swine.

­Exposures to hazardous airborne particles can pose a significant health risk to those routinely exposed in ambient air and industrial work environments. Measuring chemical composition and concentration of aerosol particles is important to preventing worker exposures and protecting health.

There is growing awareness that a wide variety of synthetic and natural compounds that may be present in water sources, such as streams, wells, and ground water, may lead to adverse health effects, including increased cancer risk. Even low concentrations of these compounds are of concern, as they may have biological effects at concentrations of parts per billion or less.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) LOH (LOH) is a known resistance mechanism by which cancers evade T cell receptor-(TCR-)based immunotherapies. This class of therapies includes immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI, e.g., Pembrolizumab), engineered TCR (T cell receptor)-T cell adoptive transfer, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), T-cell engagers, and other modalities. Dozens of therapies in this category were developed with many in clinical trials. The resistance mechanism noted here, HLA LOH, causes these therapies to fail.

Optical traps (optical tweezers) have a focused laser beam able to trap a small bead at its focus, and are used to measure the microrheology of gels and other materials. They have recently been used to characterize properties of living cells, however issues of image spatial resolution and limited depth of interrogation have prevented application of an optical trap to measure microrheological (flow of matter) properties in complex (non-uniform) materials, such as multi-cellular systems or living organisms. 

Alterations in microRNAs (miRNAs), a type of small non-coding RNAs, have been reported in cells/tumors subjected to radiation exposure, implying that miRNAs play an important role in cellular stress response to radiation. NCI researchers evaluated small non-coding RNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), and mRNA, as potential non-invasive biomarkers for radiation biodosimetry. While the use of miRNAs as radiation biomarkers has been reported, the integrated use of miRNAs, mRNAs and lncRNAs to accurately determine radiation doses is novel and has not been published.

The degradation of archival surgical and biospecimen limits the utility of many biomarkers that may have prognostic or predictive significance in guiding a patient’s therapy. Previous methods at preventing the degradation of RNA and proteins in formalin fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks & slides have no protective benefit. 

249 million people were afflicted with malaria in 2022. There are five Plasmodium parasite species that cause malaria in humans. Of the five, Plasmodium falciparum causes most of the incidence of human disease. Most advanced malaria vaccine candidates can confer only partial, short-term protection in malaria-endemic areas. The pathogenesis of malaria is associated with blood-stage infection and antibodies specific to the parasite blood-stage antigens may be able to control parasitemia.