Antibodies For In Vivo Research

The use of antibodies for in vivo research and the development of functional studies considerably expand the scope of immunoglobulins beyond in vitro immunoassays .

In in vivo studies , the antibodies can be used on living cells or in whole animals by injection, with the aim of depleting a certain cell type, blocking receptors or inducing cellular activation to carry out functional studies.

Antibodies for in vivo research are generally monoclonal in type, are produced in bulk (bulk) quantities from hybridomas, and are thoroughly purified to remove potential remains of cell culture reagents and other potential contaminants that may interfere with preclinical assays.

Characteristics Of Antibodies For In Vivo Research

As we have said, in vivo research requires the application of antibodies directly to living organisms. For this reason, these reagents must meet certain specifications that are not usually common in antibodies for in vitro immunoassays such as ELISA , Western Blot , Immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry, among others.

The specifications to be met by antibodies for in vivo research include:

  • Very low endotoxin level (<2 EU / mg)
  • High purity (> 95%)
  • Be free of murine pathogens
  • Azide free
  • Free of compounds that can interfere in in vivo tests , such as preservatives, stabilizers, etc.
  • Presented in high concentrations (˃1mg / ml)

In conclusion, antibodies are fundamental reagents for biomedical research, not only in in vitro immunoassays , but also for conducting in vivo studies and functional assays. Their high sensitivity and specificity, their relatively easy production and the flexibility in the applications in which they can be used, make these reagents invaluable tools.

How To Stabilize Oral Microbiome Samples

The study of the human microbiome is having an increasing presence and impact on biomedical research projects. Although one of the best described microbiota to date is the intestinal microbiome , which has captured the attention of the scientific community due, among other things, to its high cell density, we must not lose sight of the interest that the study of other microbiota of clinical interest such as nasal, oral, urogenital and / or cutaneous.

In this post we will focus on analyzing the options to stabilize samples of the oral microbiome , which represents approximately 26% of the total human microbiome, and which is attracting the interest of a growing number of researchers in the field of cell biology, microbiology and immunology due to the increasingly evident contribution of this microbiome to states of health and disease not only at the level of the oral cavity (gingivitis, periodontitis …), but also at the systemic level in brain, liver and lung diseases.

The Importance Of Stabilizing Oral Microbiome Samples

Once the microbiome sample is collected, it is essential to proceed to its immediate stabilization to avoid overgrowth and / or degradation of certain populations, and thus guarantee that the result of the subsequent analysis is a faithful reflection of the state and real composition in vivo at the time of collection, ensuring that the obtained microbiological profile represents the phenotype of interest.

Given that the cell cycle of many microorganisms can be around 40 minutes, unless there is a reliable method to stabilize samples of the oral microbiome at the time of collection, the reproducibility and comparability of the microbial profiles between different collection sites or between different studies, it would be practically impossible.

Traditionally, these samples are usually refrigerated or even frozen in order to avoid bacterial growth and degradation, but the truth is that this practice hinders the logistics of the studies and makes the processes more expensive, having to pay maximum attention to maintaining the cold chain. from the collection, transportation, storage and processing of samples.

In order to avoid the need to be subject to the maintenance of this cold chain, and to optimize the quality of the samples, the Canadian DNA Genotek has developed a new battery of kits that allow the collection and stabilization of oral microbiome samples at room temperature during extended periods of time.

Features And Benefits Of Kits To Stabilize Oral Microbiome Samples

  • By obtaining reliable profiles of the microbiota at the time of collection, they minimize noise in your data analysis.
  • They improve patient / donor adherence through an intuitive and friendly collection method.
  • Immediate stabilization of the sample minimizes microbial growth and DNA degradation.
  • Eliminates the costs associated with the cold chain in shipping and warehousing.
  • Optimize sample handling.
  • Maintains the integrity of nucleic acids despite fluctuations in ambient temperature.

Below we summarize the different formats of the kits to stabilize oral microbiome samples and their respective characteristics:

All of these kits eliminate the need for cold chain shipping and warehousing, are tailored for high-throughput processes, and are suitable for NGS applications.

In short, the study of the oral microbiome requires the correct collection and stabilization of the samples to avoid bacterial overgrowth and DNA degradation, guaranteeing the subsequent obtaining of reliable results. Maintaining a cold chain during sample transport and storage can result in additional costs and difficulties in handling the samples, making kits that allow sample collection and stabilization at room temperature a great alternative. booming among researchers.