Tissue damage through cell fusion in COVID-19 and the role of the spike protein

Promising assays of how to measure these membrane functions

19-Feb-2021 - The Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 enters human cells by membrane fusion after contact of its spike protein with the ACE2 receptor. New studies provide proof for a second role of the protein in COVID-19: Fusion of body cells. A research team of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut has developed promising assays of ...

Chemicals in the environment: A focus on mixtures

Combined chemical and bioanalytical methods are able to efficiently characterise chemical mixtures

27-Jan-2020 - In the past, it was sufficient to identify individual chemicals as the cause of detrimental effects on humans and the environment. But in the meantime, it has become apparent that this approach falls short of the mark. This is because the real world is marked by multiple stressors, among them ...

Sensitive new assay detects hepatitis B infection in single liver cells and serum

13-Apr-2018 - Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A study describes a new HBV assay that offers advantages over currently used methods because it has the capability to detect closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in serum, single cells, and preserved tissue ...

Self-powered paper-based 'SPEDs' may lead to new medical-diagnostic tools

25-Aug-2017 - A new medical-diagnostic device made out of paper detects biomarkers and identifies diseases by performing electrochemical analyses - powered only by the user's touch - and reads out the color-coded test results, making it easy for non-experts to understand. "You could consider this a portable ...

'Mysterious' non-protein-coding RNAs play important roles in gene expression

16-Jan-2017 - In cells, DNA is transcribed into RNAs that provide the molecular recipe for cells to make proteins. Most of the genome is transcribed into RNA, but only a small proportion of RNAs are actually from the protein-coding regions of the genome. "Why are the non-coding regions transcribed at all? ...

Merck Acquires BioControl to Strengthen Position in Food Safety Testing

05-Jan-2017 - Merck announced it has acquired BioControl Systems Inc., a global leader in food safety testing. The acquisition opens growth opportunities for Merck in the food and beverage space; particularly in the U.S. Confidentiality has been agreed on the financial details of the transaction. BioControl’s ...

Agilent Technologies to acquire Multiplicom

22-Dec-2016 - Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) and Multiplicom N.V. today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement under which Agilent will acquire Multiplicom, a European diagnostics company with state-of-the-art genetic testing technology and products. Multiplicom, headquartered in Niel, ...

Stay out, stray stem cells

18-Aug-2016 - Despite the hubbub about pluripotent stem cells’ potential applications, when it comes time to introduce products into patients, the stem cells are actually impurities that need to be removed. That’s because this type of stem cell is capable of becoming teratomas – tumors — when transplanted. For ...

Abcam Acquires Firefly BioWorks

23-Jan-2015 - Abcam plc announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the entire issued share capital of Firefly BioWorks Inc on a cash-free/debt-free basis for £18.5m ($28.0m). The consideration, which is payable in cash on completion, will be funded from Abcam's existing resources. ...

Thermo Fisher Scientific and Immundiagnostik Collaborate To Develop Mass Spectrometry-Based Clinical and Research Tools

18-Oct-2012 - Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. and Immundiagnostik AG announced a collaboration to develop novel mass spectrometry-based assays for qualitative and quantitative analysis of proteins and peptides. The goal is development of commercial assays to be widely applicable in research and routine clinical ...