Evaluation of the Illumina ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Kit - MPS forensic application for the MiSeq FGx benchtop sequencer

 Published in 2017

Xavier,C.; Parson,W.; Massively Parallel (Next Generation) Sequencing (MPS) technologies have recently been proven useful and successful in typing various markers relevant in forensic genetics, such as STRs, SNPs and mitochondrial genomes. Early studies investigated self-developed DNA libraries, commercially supplied kits are currently being made available to allow a smoother and gradual implementation of such technologies in forensic laboratories. The ForenSeq DNA Signature Prep Kit (Illumina, CA) is the first commercially available STR kit that can be used on the MiSeq FGx (Illumina, CA) benchtop high-throughput sequencer. [Read More]

Implementing liquid biopsies into clinical decision making for cancer immunotherapy

 Published in 2017

Quandt,D.; DieterZucht,H.; Amann,A.; Wulf-Goldenberg,A.; Borrebaeck,C.; Cannarile,M.; Lambrechts,D.; Oberacher,H.; Garrett,J.; Nayak,T.; Kazinski,M.; Massie,C.; Schwarzenbach,H.; Maio,M.; Prins,R.; Wendik,B.; Hockett,R.; Enderle,D.; Noerholm,M.; Hendriks,H.; Zwierzina,H.; Seliger,B.; During the last decade, novel immunotherapeutic strategies, in particular antibodies directed against immune checkpoint inhibitors, have revolutionized the treatment of different malignancies leading to an improved survival of patients. Identification of immune-related biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring of immune responses and selection of patients for specific cancer immunotherapies is urgently required and therefore areas of intensive research. [Read More]

Lack of gene-language correlation due to reciprocal female but directional male admixture in Austronesians and non-Austronesians of East Timor

 Published in 2017

Gomes,S.M.; vanOven,M.; Souto,L.; Morreira,H.; Brauer,S.; Bodner,M.; Zimmermann,B.; Huber,G.; Strobl,C.; Rock,A.W.; Corte-Real,F.; Parson,W.; Kayser,M.; Nusa Tenggara, including East Timor, located at the crossroad between Island Southeast Asia, Near Oceania, and Australia, are characterized by a complex cultural structure harbouring speakers from two different major linguistic groups of different geographic origins (Austronesian (AN) and non-Austronesian (NAN)). This provides suitable possibilities to study gene-language relationship; however, previous studies from other parts of Nusa Tenggara reported conflicting evidence about gene-language correlation in this region. [Read More]

Lower Affinity of Isradipine for L-Type Ca(2+) Channels during Substantia Nigra Dopamine Neuron-Like Activity: Implications for Neuroprotection in Parkinson's Disease

 Published in 2017

Ortner,N.J.; Bock,G.; Dougalis,A.; Kharitonova,M.; Duda,J.; Hess,S.; Tuluc,P.; Pomberger,T.; Stefanova,N.; Pitterl,F.; Ciossek,T.; Oberacher,H.; Draheim,H.J.; Kloppenburg,P.; Liss,B.; Striessnig,J.; Ca(2+)-influx through L-type Ca(2+)-channels (LTCCs) is associated with activity-related stressful oscillations of Ca(2+) levels within dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra (SN), which may contribute to their selective degeneration in Parkinson’s disease (PD). LTCC blockers were neuroprotective in mouse neurotoxin models of PD, and isradipine is currently undergoing testing in a phase III clinical trial in early PD. [Read More]