Cytokines are a broad class of soluble proteins, glycoproteins, and peptides that act as chemical messengers of the immune system. These small proteins are essential intercellular communicators that carry messages from one cell to another and contribute to cell growth and immune response. Cytokines include chemokines, interferons, interleukins, lymphokines and cannot cross the lipid bilayer of the cell wall to enter the cytoplasm. They have been shown to be key players in endocrine, autocrine and paracrine signaling as immunomodulating agents. Since cytokines help to regulate important functions in the human…
According to research compiled by Reports and Data, in 2018 the global biologics market was valued at over $250 million, but is projected to reach an estimated $625 million by the end of 2026 with an 11.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Biologics are medications made up of proteins, sugars, or DNA, and oftentimes are a complex combination of these materials and by-products. Biologics can also be composed of living cells and tissues and come in a wide variety of products such as allergy medicines, vaccines, oncology treatments, therapeutics, amongst…
At the commencement of her national campaign in July 2016, the former UK Prime Minister Theresa May stated, “It is hard to think of an industry of greater strategic importance to Britain than its pharmaceutical industry.” This still holds true today. Despite this, according to the Freedom of Information Act, as of 2017, the number of EU academics and staff departing the United Kingdom was up by over 35% compared to years prior. In fact, many companies, Biotech included, have been leaving the UK for the Netherlands only adding to…
It’s that time of the year again. October 26th marks the beginning of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) PharmSci 360 event. This yearly assembly of pharmaceutical scientists from across the globe is designed to share research and exchange ideas in the pursuit of global health and the betterment of humanity. PharmSci 360 draws thousands of the scientific community’s brightest minds in what is one the largest scientific conversations of the year in this segment of the pharmaceutical industry. It provides an excellent opportunity for us to network with…
If your goal is to attain swift and simple protein quantification, the Bradford assay is the way to go. Let’s find out more about what makes the Bradford assay so effective and relevant over 40 years after its inception. What is Bradford Assay? The Bradford protein assay, named after its developer Marion M. Bradford, is specifically used to calculate the concentration of total protein in a sample or solution. There are three standard methods to calculate and measure protein concentration and those are the bicinchoninic acid assay (BCA assay), absorbance…
Luciferase is an enzyme used by a variety of organisms for bioluminescence. One of the most common examples of bioluminescence exists in the biology of the firefly. Scientists have been able to wield this naturally occurring phenomena to study gene expression at the transcriptional level. Luciferase reporter assays offer rapid quantitative measurements and have a wide range of applications across various fields of cellular and molecular biology. Understanding the basic techniques and applications of luciferase assays is key to troubleshooting any issues that may arise during its execution. Luciferase reporter…
In the United States, the safety and efficacy of prescription and over-the-counter drugs are a top priority for our government, medical professionals, and pharmaceutical companies. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for protecting public health by ensuring that any and all available medications are safe for human consumption, especially with regard to approving new medications or deciding whether or not a drug should be taken off the market. That even includes veterinary drugs and biological products as well. The cost of creating and testing a single drug can…
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are currently over 6.2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States, and that number continues to rise for the time being. From wearing masks to sheltering-in-place, social distancing, and incessant hand-washing, every American has the ability to help our nation ebb the continued spread of the novel coronavirus. In addition to encouraging Americans to adopt strict sterilization habits and apply them to their daily routine, more aggressive and ambitious methods need to be implemented like increased COVID-19…
ELISpot is a method commonly used to detect cellular immune responses to viral vector-based gene therapies. We take a closer look at how the industry is working to harmonize best practices for developing & validating ELISpot assays for gene therapy development.
The best science demands the best people—and at BioAgilytix’s Boston lab, there’s no shortage of skilled and dedicated scientists. Get to know one of our expert flow cytometry scientists and longtime Boston team member, Benjamin Lamothe.
