Thermo Fisher Scientific NEXT Magazine
Issue 61 - March 2022
Science, Products and Information from Thermo Fisher Scientific
NEXT Interview: Discovery of Antibodies Enhancing SARS-CoV-2 Infection
An interview with Dr. Hisashi Arase, Professor at the Immunology Frontier Research Center and the Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, discussing the analysis of molecular mechanisms behind the interaction and evolution of the immune system and pathogens, focusing on antibodies that enhance SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Dr. Arase's research identified antibodies that bind to a specific region on the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. This binding alters the receptor-binding domain (RBD) structure, increasing its affinity for ACE2 and thus enhancing infectivity. This differs from previously reported antibody-dependent enhancement mechanisms, which involved Fc receptors and immune cells. Dr. Arase's findings suggest a novel mechanism where these antibodies enhance infection independently of Fc receptors.
User Voices & Product Spotlights
Bigfoot Spectral Cell Sorter
High Speed, High Precision, High Safety, High Flexibility
The Invitrogen™™ Bigfoot Spectral Cell Sorter is a new, innovative, high-speed cell sorter designed to meet diverse lab needs. It features up to 9 lasers, 60 PMTs, and high-speed sorting of up to 70,000 events/sec. It includes an integrated biosafety cabinet (BSC) and aerosol management system (AMS) for enhanced safety. The system offers real-time spectral unmixing for both analysis and sorting, with a user-friendly interface.
Available configurations include models with 5 to 9 lasers and 53 to 60 parameters.
AAV-MAX Helper-Free AAV Production System
High-Efficiency AAV Production System for Scalable Suspended Culture
This system provides high-titer, cost-effective production of Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) vectors. It enables efficient transition from research to clinical scale using a scalable suspended culture system. Key features include high AAV yield, reduced manufacturing costs, scalability from shaker flasks to bioreactors, a simple helper-free triple transfection protocol, and animal-origin-free (AOF) components for enhanced safety.
TrueCut Cas9 Protein Series
Next-Generation Cas9 Proteins for Maximizing CRISPR Editing Efficiency
The series offers three versions: Invitrogen™™ TrueCut™™ Cas9 Protein v2 for general research, Invitrogen™™ TrueCut™™ HiFi Cas9 Protein for experiments sensitive to off-target effects, and Gibco™™ TrueCut™™ Cas9 Protein (Prototype) for large-scale applications and pre-clinical research. These proteins are designed for consistent, high editing efficiency across various cell types and targets, manufactured under strict ISO 13485 quality standards.
KingFisher Purification System Series
Automated Purification of DNA, RNA, Proteins, and Cells Using Magnetic Beads
Thermo Scientific™™ KingFisher™™ Purification System series automates the isolation of nucleic acids, proteins, and cells, minimizing manual operation time. It is compatible with magnetic bead-based purification kits like Applied Biosystems™™ MagMAX™™ series. Models include KingFisher Apex, KingFisher Flex, and KingFisher Duo Prime, offering different throughputs and features for various laboratory needs.
Ion GeneStudio S5 System Series
Flexible Next-Generation Sequencing Analysis
The Ion GeneStudio™™ S5 System series provides flexible, scalable sequencing analysis for a wide range of applications. It supports various chip formats for different throughputs and utilizes Ion AmpliSeq™™ technology for efficient target enrichment. This system is suitable for applications in cancer research, genetic disease analysis, and microbiome studies.
Platinum Direct PCR Universal Master Mix
Direct PCR Amplification Without DNA Purification
Invitrogen™™ Platinum™™ Direct PCR Universal Master Mix is a master mix designed for direct amplification from various samples without DNA purification. It features Invitrogen™™ Platinum™™ II Taq Hot-Start DNA Polymerase, dNTPs, and a universal annealing primer (60°C) for simplified workflow and reliable results.
SuperScript IV Single Cell/Low-Input cDNA PreAmp Kit
High Sensitivity and Fast cDNA Amplification
This kit enables efficient cDNA synthesis and amplification from single cells (1-1,000) or low amounts of total RNA (2pg-10ng). It streamlines the workflow into a single-tube protocol, reducing hands-on time. The kit provides high yield, sensitivity, and accuracy for NGS or qPCR analysis.
PowerTrack SYBR Green Master Mix
Visual Color Change to Prevent Addition Errors
Applied Biosystems™™ PowerTrack™™ SYBR Green Master Mix is a user-friendly real-time PCR master mix for gene expression analysis. The mix changes from blue to green upon mixing with the sample buffer, allowing visual confirmation of addition steps and preventing errors.
Attune CytPix Flow Cytometer
High-Precision, High-Speed Imaging Flow Cytometer
The Invitrogen™™ Attune™™ CytPix Flow Cytometer builds upon the performance of the Attune™™ NxT Flow Cytometer, adding a high-speed camera for simultaneous image acquisition. It offers high sample processing capacity (up to 1,000 µL/min) and data accuracy at high event rates (up to 35,000 events/sec), with the ability to capture brightfield images at up to 5,000 events/sec.
Gibco 60th Anniversary
Celebrating 60 years of innovation in cell culture, Gibco™™ has been a gold standard in cell culture media and serum. The brand has consistently pursued uncompromising quality and technological advancement. The magazine features a special interview with Dr. Hideyuki Okuno, Professor at Keio University School of Medicine, discussing future cell research and Gibco's contributions.
The timeline highlights key milestones in Gibco's history, from its founding in 1962 to advancements in cell culture media, reagents, and manufacturing processes.
Summary of Content
This issue of NEXT magazine provides insights into critical research areas and showcases Thermo Fisher Scientific's comprehensive portfolio of products and solutions. Key topics include the latest findings in SARS-CoV-2 research, advancements in cell analysis and gene editing technologies, efficient nucleic acid purification, and innovative cell culture systems. The magazine emphasizes the company's commitment to supporting scientific discovery and progress across various life science disciplines.
