Author: Andy

We are delighted that we can make a small contribution to the important work of Dr. Scott Tighe, Technical Director at the Advanced Genomics Lab at the University of Vermont, NASA-ISS uTitan Payload developer and Group leader Extreme Microbiome Project.    In December 2023, two of RNAssist’s molecular stabilisation reagents will be taken to the International Space Station (ISS) on SpaceX Dragon… Continue reading Two of RNAssist’s molecular stabilsation reagents will be taken to the International Space Station

Single-cell RNA sequencing presents an opportunity to deconstruct cellular networks but is limited by the loss of biological information. In this study, a new method of fixation before dissociation using a deep eutectic solvent (DES) is presented.   This method enables multiple domains of in vivo biological data, including morphology, RNA, proteins and posttranslational modifications to… Continue reading Fixation Before Dissociation Using a Deep Eutectic Solvent Preserves In Vivo States and Phospho-Signaling in Single-Cell Sequencing

Studies on cave bacteria have been a valuable research area in both geology and biology, providing insights into the evolution of antibiotic resistance, the role of microbes in cave formation, and the impact of human travel on cave environments. In this study, the authors investigated the microbial communities in Brooks Cave, a perched lake in… Continue reading Profiling the Microbial Communities of Brooks Cave in Pennington County, South Dakota

This research paper used the RNAssist’s vivoPHIX™ system to examine the intricacies of insect innate immunity. Sarah Merkling et al., aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the immune responses in insects at the level of specific organs and cell populations, with the goal of improving our overall knowledge of tissue- or cell-specific immune processes… Continue reading Taking Insect Immunity to the Single-Cell Level

Lanosterol is implicated in cataract formation – it has been proposed to help maintain lens transparency by inhibiting the formation of protein aggregates.  Their data confirms that lanosterol synthase and the sterol pathway are upregulated in cataractous lenses.  In the study, Dr Avila’s laboratory used lenses that were treated with the stabliser and tissue fixative… Continue reading Expression of oxysterols in human lenses: Implications of the sterol pathway in age-related cataracts

Dr Avila’s laboratory has used vivoPHIX™ to prepare human cataract crystallin proteins.  The study aimed to determine the expression of Lanosterol Synthase in human cataractous lenses and their association with α A crystallin protein.  Read the research

Nicholas Barry at the MIT Media Lab used vivoPHIX™ for preparing nematodes for fluorescence studies in work titled “Tools for connectomics in C.elegans“ The simplicity of the 302-node nervous system of the nematode C.elegans, makes this an attractive model organism for neuroscientists, however more work is required to fully understand and characterise the function of… Continue reading Tools for connectomics in C.elegans

Mantke et al., demonstrated the use of virusPHIX-P9™ for stablising SARS-CoV-2 Antigen and use by 258 participants across 27 countries for Lateral flow rapid antigen tests, automated point-of-care-tests and laboratory ELISA / immunoassays.    Antigen testing has become integral in the ongoing monitoring and detection of COVID-19.  Independent and extensive comparative evaluations using data from external… Continue reading Importance of external quality assessment for SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection during the COVID-19

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has played a crucial role in filling global COVID-19 testing need.  ln this study, Moore et al., discuss the use of virusPHIX™ for the stablisation and inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 and eventual detection by LAMP amplification.  Read the research

Kate Rawlinson at the Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK used vivoPHIX™ to preserve RNA of the Schistosome parasite for a ‘circadian clock study’.  Due to the Earth’s natural rotations, 24 hour biological rythms are present in most species on Earth. The team addressed these questions using the human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni that lives in the… Continue reading Daily rhythms in gene expression of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni