Life Technologies Corporation

Other

Qiagen Sciences, LLC

Metrigen, Inc.

Mark S Berninger

James L Hartley

Ayoub Rashtchian

Michael W Schuette

David M Schuster

Robert W Flesher

Thomas M Brennan

Robert W Blakesley

Jingping Yang

Xiang Yu

Timothy Fisher Steppe

Francois Chatelain

Puthupparampil Scaria

Samuel J Rulli, Jr

Polyelectrolyte nanoparticle compositions for biomedical applications are provided comprising at least two carrier domains comprising multivalent ionic domains and an agent exhibiting biological activity when contained within the nanoparticle or on the nanoparticle surface. The multivalent ionic domains may be contained in two separate molecules or in separate but linked domains of a single molecule. The nanoparticle optionally can further comprise an exposed targeting ligand and/or protective surface. The nanoparticle can be contacted to cells or administered directly to an animal for biomedical applications including therapeutics and immune response. The nanoparticle may alternatively be comprised of a carrier material capable of delivering various medically important antigens as vaccine.

Therapeutic and vaccine polyelectrolyte nanoparticle compositions

Provided is a masking system of masks for use with multiwell plates such as microtiter plates to facilitate sample dispensing and assay accuracy, especially when dispensing more than one solution into the wells. One or more masks, adapted in size to fit snugly over a multiwell plate and the mask formed with openings each aligned with a subset of one or more wells of the plate beneath, aids the user in sample and/or reagent administration. Advantageously, the masks contain registration aids so that proper orientation with respect to the plate below is achieved; the registration aid may be a cut corner, registration peg or mark, or visual marking or stamping.

Microtiter plate mask

This invention relates to a method of incorporating an exo-sample nucleotide into the amplified product strands resulting from a nucleic acid amplification process. Once the product strands have been obtained and analyzed (e.g., by hybridization, Southern blot, etc.), the exo-sample strands can be selectively destroyed by acting on the incorporated exo-sample nucleotide. Two embodiments are presented. In a first embodiment, the exo-sample nucleotide is incorporated by carrying out the amplification to reaction in the presence of an excess of exo-sample nucleotide tri-phosphate. In a second embodiment, the exo-sample nucleotide is incorporated by carrying out the amplification reaction in the presence of an oligonucleotide which has, as part of its sequence, one or more exo-sample nucleotides.

Process for controlling contamination of nucleic acid amplification reactions

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing a large number of reactions using array assembly. In particular, the present invention features a method and apparatus for performing a large number of chemical and biological reactions by bringing two arrays into close apposition and allowing reactants on the surfaces of two arrays to come into contact. The present invention is exemplified by performing a large number of polynucleotide amplification reactions using array assembly. In addition, the present invention features a method and apparatus for coupling the amplification of polynucleotides and the detection of sequence variations, expression levels, and functions thereof.

Method and apparatus for performing large numbers of reactions using array assembly with releasable primers

This invention relates to a method of incorporating an exo-sample nucleotide into the amplified product strands resulting from a nucleic acid amplification process. Once the product strands have been obtained and analyzed (e.g., by hybridization, Southern blot, etc.), the exo-sample strands can be selectively destroyed by acting on the incorporated exo-sample nucleotide. Two embodiments are presented. In a first embodiment, the exo-sample nucleotide is incorporated by carrying out the amplification reaction in the presence of an excess of exo-sample nucleotide triphosphate. In a second embodiment, the exo-sample nucleotide is incorporated by carrying out the amplification reaction in the presence of an oligonucleotide which has, as part of its sequence, one or more exo-sample nucleotides.

Process for controlling contamination of nucleic acid amplification

The present invention provides improved methods for manipulating recombinant DNA in gene cloning and expression. More specifically, the invention provides methods capable of altering a nucleic acid sequence present at the termini of a target sequence.

Use of exo-sample nucleotides in gene cloning

This invention discloses a scheme for producing nucleic acid end products that are functionally or exactly identical to the starting products, thereby resulting in exponential amplification of a desired nucleic acid sequence. Specifically, sequences are cycled between RNA and DNA forms using the following basic steps: (1) a T7 RNA polymerase promoter is ligated onto a single-stranded DNA template; (2) T7 RNA polymerase makes many copies of RNA: (3) a complementary DNA is made from the RNA by extension of a primer by reverse transcriptase; and (4) the RNA template is removed by ribonuclease H. This amplification method is useful for purposes such as genetic research and diagnostic assays.

Promoter ligation activated transcription amplification of nucleic acid

A method for amplifying a nucleic acid molecule which employs a proto-promoter-containing nucleic acid molecule having a blocked 3' terminus. The invention also includes kits containing reagents for conducting the method.

Amplification of nucleic acid molecules

According to this invention, a process for substantially amplifying template nucleic acid present in a sample is described, wherein said amplification may be performed without prior knowledge of specific sequences, which process comprises apposition of random oligonucleotide primers to said template nucleic acid under conditions such that extension products of said primers are synthesized which are complementary to said template nucleic acid.

Amplification of nucleic acid sequences using oligonucleotides of random

Horizontal gel electrophoresis unit

An apparatus provides for casting a gel and for presenting the gel for electrophoresis. The apparatus comprises a casting tray and the casting plate which combine to form a mold for the gelable liquid, and an electrophoresis tank in which the electrophoresis process occurs. The floor of the electrophoresis tank rises to form the plate pedestal upon which the casting plate rests during electrophoresis. The floor of the electrophoresis tank forms a cavity at the edges of the plate pedestal in which the casting tray rests during the electrophoresis process. The casting plate is first firmly seated in the bottom of the casting tray forming a mold for the gelable liquid. The gelable liquid is poured into the mold. The comb is placed in the comb slots so as to form wells in the gel. The gelable liquid is allowed to gel, and the comb is removed. The material to undergo electrophoresis is placed in the wells left by the comb. The entire assembly is then placed and aligned on the plate pedestal. The casting tray is then pushed down into the casting tray well. Electrophoresis buffer sufficient to fill the tank to approximately the top of the gel is then poured into the electrophoresis tank. An alternate embodiment is shown.

Pop up electrophoresis apparatus and method

An apparatus for casting an agarose gel and for conducting an electrophoresis process is disclosed. An electrophoresis tank supports a gel casting deck having open ends which are sealed by wedge dams to form a cavity for containing the molten agarose as it gels. The wedge dams are pulled downward by gravity into wedge-shaped slots. The weight of the wedge dams in the wedge slots presses the wedge dams against the open ends of the gel casting deck so as to provide a substantially fluid-tight seal. The gel casting deck has sidewalls which are slanted toward one another so that when the gel is submerged in buffer solution during electrophoresis, the gel's tendency to float is substantially impeded. The combs which form wells in the gel are referenced to the side of the gel casting deck itself so as to ensure uniformity and accuracy of well depth. Safety features prevent the electrophoresis tank from functioning if removed from its protective housing.

Growing community of inventors

Gaithersburg, MD, United States of America

Mark S Berninger