Monday, January 5, 2015

Recent Customer Citations for Magic Red Cathepsin B Assay Kits

Li, K, Yang, L, Zhang, C, Niu, Y, Wei, L, Liu, J. (2014). HPS6 interacts with dynactin p150Glued to mediate retrograde trafficking and maturation of lysosomes. J. Cell Sci. 127, 4574-4588. [Abstract]

"we incubated cells with Magic Red cathepsin B (MR catB), a membrane permeable probe that fluoresces..."
Bain, JM, Louw, J, Lewis, LE, Okai, B, Walls, CA, Ballou, ER, Walker, LA, Reid, D, Munro, CA, Brown, AJP, Brown, GD, Gow, NAR, Erwig, LP. (2014). Candida albicans Hypha Formation and Mannan Masking of β-Glucan Inhibit Macrophage Phagosome Maturation. mBio. vol. 5 no. 6 e01874-14. [Full Text]

Abstract:
Candida albicans is a major life-threatening human fungal pathogen in the immunocompromised host. Host defense against systemic Candida infection relies heavily on the capacity of professional phagocytes of the innate immune system to ingest and destroy fungal cells. A number of pathogens, including C. albicans, have evolved mechanisms that attenuate the efficiency of phagosome-mediated inactivation, promoting their survival and replication within the host. Here we visualize host-pathogen interactions using live-cell imaging and show that viable, but not heat- or UV-killed C. albicans cells profoundly delay phagosome maturation in macrophage cell lines and primary macrophages. The ability of C. albicans to delay phagosome maturation is dependent on cell wall composition and fungal morphology. Loss of cell wall O-mannan is associated with enhanced acquisition of phagosome maturation markers, distinct changes in Rab GTPase acquisition by the maturing phagosome, impaired hyphal growth within macrophage phagosomes, profound changes in macrophage actin dynamics, and ultimately a reduced ability of fungal cells to escape from macrophage phagosomes. The loss of cell wall O-mannan leads to exposure of β-glucan in the inner cell wall, facilitating recognition by Dectin-1, which is associated with enhanced phagosome maturation.

Products Used:


Thursday, November 13, 2014

September Publications Citing FLICA® 660 Caspase Assays for Apoptosis Detection

Saunders, AE, Shim, YA, Johnson, P. (2014). Innate Immune Cell CD45 Regulates Lymphopenia-Induced T Cell Proliferation. J. Immunol. 193(6). 2831-2842. [Abstract]
"...The presence of active caspase-3 and -7 was assessed using FLICA 660 assay kit (Immunochemistry Technologies) in accordance with the manufacturers {sic} instructions..."

Samejima, K, Ogawa, H, Ageichik, AV, Peterson, KL, Kaufmann, SH, Kanemaki, MT, Earnshaw, WC. (2014). Auxin-induced Rapid Degradation of Inhibitor of Caspase-activated DNase (ICAD) Induces Apoptotic DNA Fragmentation, Caspase Activation, and Cell Death. J. Biol. Chem. 289, 31617-31623. [Abstract]
“…Caspase activation was analyzed using the FLICA 660 in vitro poly caspase detection kit (ImmunoChemistry Technologies LLC) following the manufacturer’s instructions…”

Products Cited:
FLICA 660 Caspase 3/7 Kit (ICT# 9125)
FLICA 660 Poly Caspase Assay Kit (ICT# 9120)

Monday, October 27, 2014

Recent Customer Citations Using FLICA® Caspase-1 Assay Kits

Recently, our customers have published two research articles using our FLICA® Kits to detect caspase-1 activity.

The first article, authored by researchers at the Utrecht University Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, studied the pathogen that causes foodborne disease.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Recent Customer Publication Using FLICA Assays

Researchers at Harvard Medical School and  Schepens Eye Research Institute recently published a study using several of our FLICA apoptosis assays to detect caspase activity in retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Kim LA., Amarnani D, Gnanaguru G, Tsen WA, Vavvas DG, and D'Amore PA. (2014.) Tamoxifen Toxicity in Cultured Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Is Mediated by Concurrent Regulated Cell Death Mechanisms. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., 55(8), 4747-4758. [Abstract]
"Caspase activity was evaluated by caspase-1, -3, -8, and -9 specific inhibition... Caspase activity was verified with the fluorochrome-labeled inhibitor of caspases (FLICA) probe specific for each caspase."

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

ICT Owners Complete ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Lee and Hed douse themselves in ice water to bring awareness to ALS and medical research, challenge industry colleagues

August 27, 2014 - BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Challenge accepted! Dr. Brian Lee and Ms. Sally Hed, co-owners of ImmunoChemistry Technologies, were nominated to complete the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. They accepted the challenge on this sunny day in August and made a donation to the ALS Association.



Monday, August 25, 2014

Screening Imidazolium-based Compounds for Cancer-Fighting Effects

Congratulations to our customers at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research and the Universidad Metropolitana School of Environmental Affairs for publishing their recent study of the effects of imidazolium-based compounds on 60 human cancer cell lines in the September 2014 issue of MedChemComm.

To assess potential toxicity of the compounds, they measured apoptosis via caspase activation using our FLICA® (Fluorescent Labeled Inhibitors of Caspases) probes that bind covalently with active caspase effector enzymes.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Animal-Free Recombinant Proteins Now Available

ICT has introduced over 200 animal-free recombinant proteins for use as ELISA standards and in other research and development applications.

  • Produced in yeast
  • Naturally endotoxin-free
  • Convenient 5 microgram size

  • Species:
    BovineCatfishDolphinFelineHumanOvineSwine
    CanineChickenEquineGuinea PigMouseRabbitTurkey
  • Available proteins:

    APRIL CCL5 IFN beta IL-2 IL-13 IL-22 TNFSF15
    CCL11 CXCL9 IFN gamma IL-4 IL-15 IL-23A VEGF-A
    CCL2 CXCL10 IGF-1 IL-5 IL-16 IL-24
    CCL20 CXCL11 IGF-2 IL-6 IL-17A MIF
    CCL3 GM-CSF IL-1 alpha IL-8 IL-17F SCF
    CCL3L1 IFN alpha IL-1 beta IL-10 IL-18 TNF alpha
    CCL4 IFN alpha 1 IL-1F5 IL-12 p40 IL-21 TNFSF13

See all Recombinant Proteins


The immunology-related recombinant proteins are natural complements to ICT's suite of ELISA Solutions™ protein-stabilizing reagents for immunoassay development. ICT offers a large portfolio of tools to improve and enhance an ELISA, including Blocking Buffers, Wash Buffers, Plate Coating Buffers, Conjugate Stabilizers, Sample Diluents, Substrates, Stop Solutions, ELISA Plates and Accessories, and ELISA/assay development services. View the complete portfolio at http://www.immunochemistry.com/products/elisa-solutions.html.

Contact us with any questions: 1-800-829-3194; sales{at} immunochemistry.com.

Bright Minds, Bright Solutions. ImmunoChemistry Technologies’ mission is to advance scientific discovery by developing innovative products for apoptosis detection, cellular analysis, and immunoassay development.