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- Eriksson, Cecilia, 1977-
(författare)
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Affinity based proteomics research tools
- 2009
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Listen to the mantra; the mapping of the genome was finished in 2001, and the sequel research challenge is the thorough survey of the corresponding human proteome. This was stated almost a decade ago, it has been repeated over and over, and is still most certainly a hard nut to crack. The workload is daunting, much because there is no protein amplification method and no binary system for the detection of proteins, and because the complexity of the proteome is larger than that of the genome as it seems. Hence, there is a need for high throughput technologies that, at sufficiently low limits of detection and with satisfying sensitivities, may investigate protein content in human samples. With this aim, the Human Proteome Resource (HPR) project was initiated in 2003. All work presented in this thesis relate to protein interactions; binders are either utilized such as for the depletion of high abundant proteins from serum, or analyzed such as in the validation of monospecific antibody specificity, or the epitope mapping of the same. In Paper I, the Gyrolab system is utilized in a setup for the specificity analysis of monospecific antibodies towards their antigen, and the setup is compared to planar protein arrays. Gyrolab technology is used again, in Paper II, where epitope mapping of monospecific antibodies is performed in order to analyze antibody specificity. Also, mapping serves to compare the immune-responses from parallel immunizations using the same antigen, thereby assessing reproducibility in the regeneration of antibodies. Paper III describes a high throughput approach for the depletion of high abundant proteins, in serum and plasma samples, taking advantage of Affibody molecules as binders. The last two papers, IV and V, utilize monospecific antibodies for protein analysis; in Paper IV pull out experiments show that competitive elution using the PrEST antigen can be a fruitful approach to increase specificity. And finally, in Paper V, a setup for the semi-quantitative protein content analysis in fluid samples is suggested. Again, the Gyrolab technology is used, and the setup is tested on a simplified model system.
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| 2. |
- Hartmann, Michael
(författare)
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Microfluidic Methods for Protein Microarrays
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Protein microarray technology has an enormous potential for in vitro diagnostics (IVD)1. Miniaturized and parallelized immunoassays are powerful tools to measure dozens of parameters from minute amounts of sample, whilst only requiring small amounts of reagent. Protein microarrays have become well-established research tools in basic and applied research and the first diagnostic products are already released on the market. However, in order for protein microarrays to become broadly accepted tools in IVD, a number of criteria have to be fulfilled concerning robustness and automation. Robustness and automation are key demands to improve assay performance and reliability of multiplexed assays, and to minimize the time of analysis. These key demands are addressed in this thesis and novel methods and techniques concerning assay automation, array fabrication as well as performance and detection strategies related to protein microarrays are presented and discussed. In the first paper an automated assay format, based on planar protein microarrays is described and evaluated by the detection of several auto-antibodies from human serum and by quantification of matrix metalloproteases present in plasma. Diffusion-rate limited solid phase reactions were enhanced by microagitation, using the surface acoustic wave technology, resulting in a slightly increased signal-to-noise ratio. In the second paper of the thesis, a novel multiplexed immunoassay system was developed by combining a direct immunoassay with a competitive system. This set-up allows quantification of analytes present in widely varying concentrations within a single multiplex assay. In the third paper, a new concept for sample deposition is introduced, addressing contemporary problems of contact or non-contact microarrayers in protein microarray fabrication. In the fourth paper, a magnetic bead-based detection method for protein microarrays is described as a cost-effective alternative approach to the commonly used fluorescence-based confocal scanning systems. The magnetic bead-based detection could easily be performed by using an ordinary flatbed scanner. In addition, applying magnetic force to the magnetic bead-based detection approach enables to run the detection step more rapidly. Finally, in paper five, a microfluidic bead-based immunoassay for multiplexed detection of receptor tyrosine kinases in breast cancer tissue is presented. Since the assay is performed inside a capillary, the amounts of sample and reagent material could be reduced by a factor of 30 or more when compared with the current standard protein microarray assay.
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