Plasmid News and Research

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Role of CRISPR-Cas12a visual biosensor in detection of SARS-CoV-2

A new study aimed to develop a novel CRISPR-Cas12a powered visual biosensor for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.

13 Oct 2021

Plasmid DNA vaccines induce effective antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 in mice

Researchers in the United States and China have developed plasmid DNA immunogens that induce effective antibody responses in mice against the spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

5 Oct 2021

Researchers create an integrated pipeline for performing genetic screening studies

Today's genetic engineers have a plethora of resources at their disposal: an ever-increasing number of massive datasets available online, highly precise gene editing tools like CRISPR, and cheap gene sequencing methods. But the proliferation of new technologies has not come with a clear roadmap to help researchers figure out which genes to target, which tools to use, and how to interpret their results. So, a team of scientists and engineers at Harvard's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard Medical School (HMS), and the MIT Media Lab decided to make one.

28 Sep 2021

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences debuts the future of simplified PCR cleanup and plasmid prep with the EMnetik system

Creating the industry’s first powerful workflow innovation in more than 30 years for plasmid prep and polymerase chain reaction cleanup, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences launches the EMnetik System to semi-automate workflows while drastically reducing the amount of time required to achieve a PCR cleanup.

From Beckman Coulter Life Sciences - Flow Cytometry 16 Sep 2021

New technology offers a faster, easier and more efficient way to study gene function

Studying the role genes play on basic biology and disease is now easier, faster and more efficient, say researchers at Baylor College of Medicine.

15 Sep 2021

An oral COVID-19 vaccine induces mucosal and protective immunity

Researchers have collaborated to resolve the aforementioned problems associated with injection vaccines to create a thermostable vaccine that can be taken orally.

13 Sep 2021

Researchers find a way to turn SARS-CoV-2’s virulence mechanism against itself

A recent study, currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server, reveals that a specific region of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can be targeted by antisense oligonucleotides to potently inhibit viral replication, and consequently the development of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

12 Sep 2021

Study sheds light on neurologic symptoms caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection

Researchers in Australia and Finland have provided important insights into how infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – might affect nervous system circuitries and cause neurologic symptoms.

6 Sep 2021

Expansion of seasonal betacoronavirus antibodies post-vaccination is associated with reduction in neutralization of the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern

A new study determined the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal viruses induced by BNT162b2-Comirnaty vaccination in healthcare workers.

23 Aug 2021

Virus-like particles reveal unexpected mechanism for increased fitness and spread of SARS-CoV-2

Researchers in the United States have developed a new model for testing mutations in the four structural proteins of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

9 Aug 2021

Hormone-resistant prostate, breast cancers added to clinical trial of experimental DNA therapy

The Republic of Belarus Ministry of Health has approved expanding the ongoing clinical trial of CureLab Oncology's Elenagen, an experimental DNA therapy, to include two new arms: 1) hormone-resistant breast cancer; and 2) hormone-resistant metastatic prostate cancer.

3 Aug 2021

A quantitative assessment of SARS-CoV-2 bioaerosol production

In an effort to improve the sensitivity and sample recovery of mask sampling, researchers developed a mask sampling tool to assess bioaerosol variation.

28 Jul 2021

Researchers develop a transferrable and integrative type I CRISPR-based platform to edit superbugs

A research team led by Dr Aixin YAN, Associate Professor from the Research Division for Molecular & Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, in collaboration with Honorary Clinical Professor Patrick CY WOO from the Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, reported the development of a transferrable and integrative type I CRISPR-based platform.

23 Jul 2021

Evaluation of a synthetic DNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine INO-4800 using a nonhuman primate model

A new study published in Vaccine assesses the safety and efficacy of the synthetic DNA vaccine candidate INO-4800, delivered as a single or double dose regime.

18 Jul 2021

Curia to Acquire US-based LakePharma, Expanding End-to-End R&D Capabilities and Scale for Biologics

Curia today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire LakePharma Inc.

From Curia 14 Jul 2021

Use of nanotherapeutics in treating coronavirus diseases

Despite advancements in medicine, viral infections still pose a huge threat to human health and are a significant concern for global public health systems.

22 Jun 2021

COVID-e-Vax DNA vaccine candidate elicits robust immune responses in preclinical trials

A new study, released as a preprint on the bioRxiv* server, describes the late-stage clinical trial efficacy of a new vaccine candidate based on a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) plasmid platform expressing the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Among different constructs of the vaccine plasmid, the RBD was found to produce the most potent and broad immune response.

16 Jun 2021

International travelers often return home with new bacterial strains, confirms study

Carried like stowaways in the guts of international travelers, new and potentially deadly strains of antimicrobial resistant superbugs may be coming to a community near you, suggests new research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

7 Jun 2021

Researchers identify kite-shaped molecules that block SARS-CoV-2 cell entry after attachment

They have identified a group of kite-shaped compounds that are highly specific to SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. These compounds demonstrate high potency in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection at early entry steps. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

2 Jun 2021

Harnessing DNA’s properties to craft “‘topologically tunable” DNA-based materials

While DNA is often idealized as the "molecule of life", it is also a highly sophisticated polymer that can be used for next-generation materials. Beyond the fact that it can store information, further fascinating aspects of DNA are its geometric and topological properties, such as knotting and super-coiling.

31 May 2021