BioChronicles Blog

As antibody experts, we have a passion for well-crafted ELISA kits and know how valuable they can be in the lab. We’re excited to be able to offer our customers significant price drops on many of our ELISA kits, allowing researchers streamlined detection and quantitation at a value. You can now save 5% to 25% on more than 40,000 ELISA kits, with the latest pricing reflected in our catalog. Learn more about our ELISA kits here, and contact us with any questions on your order. Our ELISA Kits ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) kits are a quick, convenient, and accurate research tool for the detection and quantitation of targets of interest in cultures and samples. We offer more than 50,000 cost-effective, ready-to-use ELISA kits for thousands of targets of interest, enabling quantitative and qualitative monitoring of a variety of biological processes, including cell proliferation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, signaling pathways, and more. Each kit includes all necessary reagents, as well as a clear protocol that walks you through the entire process, from sample preparation to result analysis. Featured ELISA Kits We’re excited to offer new savings on a wide range of ELISA kits. Featured kits include: You can check out our full collection of ELISA kits here, with the latest pricing reflected in our catalog. Options include: Download our ELISA kits flyer for more information. Please contact us with any questions or to place your order.

Researchers are increasingly relying on anti-dsRNA antibodies as crucial tools in their studies due to the pivotal role of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in cellular processes and infectious disease biology. To support dsRNA-focused research in fields like virology, immunology, and biotechnology, the SCICONS™ line of anti-dsRNA antibodies, kits, and controls were developed and have been highly cited since their initial discovery in 1990. Figure 1. Immunofluorescence microscopy using J2 antibody reveals dsRNA (labeled in red), a marker for the viral replication complex, in HuH-7 cells infected with Dengue virus. Cellular DNA is labelled with DAPI (blue). Figure taken from Anwar et al. (2011) PLoS One 6:e23246 Recent SCICONS Applications In a 2022 Nature Biotechnology study, Dousis et al. used SCICONS K1 mouse monoclonal antibodies to identify dsRNA in ELISA applications. The researchers were able to engineer a T7 RNA polymerase variant that reduces the amount of immunostimulatory dsRNA produced during in vitro transcription. This reduces the need for complex purification processes in IVT, streamlining the synthesis of long RNA transcripts for research and commercial applications like vaccine development. SCICONS was also used in this 2023 Cell study by Djosez et al. to investigate the ability for bat stem cells to accommodate viral sequences. The researchers used the SCICONS J2 antibody clone (10010200) in immunofluorescence assays to look for the presence of dsRNA, thought to be a sign of replicative genomes from both positive-strand dsRNA and DNA viruses. In the past 50 years, several viruses (like Ebola and SARS-CoV-2) have been linked back to bat species, and the use of SCICONS anti-dsRNA antibodies can help us understand the mechanisms that enable cross-species transmission. Another example of SCICONS antibodies empowering viral research is in this 2023 study published in Nature. Moshiri et al. used the J2 antibody clone to stain dsRNA in colonic organoids for confocal imaging in order to explore the factors that lead to virus-infected cell extrusion. The researchers found that intact, extruded virus-infected cells are still capable of causing new infections in other hosts. SCICONS antibodies were a valuable tool in this study to identify and track viral dsRNA due to their high specificity and clean staining. SCICONS antibodies have been used for SARS-CoV-2 research, including in this 2023 Cell publication authored by Baggen et al. This study used the J2 SCICONS antibody clone to stain fixed cells for immunofluorescence applications to identify dsRNA, a telltale sign of viral replication. Many viruses require the receptor ACE2 to enter host cells, but this study identified another receptor, TMEM106B. If you are interested in the study of SARS-CoV-2, read our article on how SCICONS anti-dsRNA antibodies helped the fight against COVID-19 . Conclusion The SCICONS™ anti-dsRNA antibody line has emerged as a crucial asset for researchers exploring diverse scientific realms, particularly within virology, immunology, and biotechnology. As evidenced by their widespread citation in recent publications, the SCICONS antibodies continue to contribute significantly to cutting-edge research, providing researchers with powerful tools to probe the intricate landscape of infectious diseases and cellular processes associated with double-stranded RNA. To learn more about how SCICONS can enable your research, explore our full line of SCICONS anti-dsRNA monoclonal antibodies and kits.

New parent company unites multiple antibody-centric brands to deliver unique antibody solutions Boston, MA. October 4, 2022. Absolute Biotech launched today as a unified company joining together leading antibody-centric brands from around the world. Absolute Biotech specializes in antibody reagents and services, adding value to existing antibodies, reagents and kits through annotation, validation, sequencing, engineering and recombinant manufacturing. The combined company will leverage each brand’s unique antibody expertise to advance the creation and availability of highly defined life science reagents. Absolute Biotech offers customers worldwide the full breadth of antibody-related products, services and expertise for research, diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The company brings together a strong recombinant antibody portfolio with expertise in antibody engineering and application-specific validation to make sequence-defined, reproducible reagents more widely available for immunohistochemistry and other key applications. Together, the different brands offer more than one million off-the-shelf life science reagents, as well as custom antibody sequencing, antibody engineering and recombinant antibody expression services. Brands within the Absolute Biotech family include: “We are very excited to launch Absolute Biotech and unite multiple life science brands into one integrated company that offers more to its customers,” said CEO Dr. Heather Holemon. “Our combined company mission is to serve as antibody curators for customers worldwide, treating each antibody like a work of art to deliver unique and absolutely defined reagents that empower scientists. We are eager for what the future holds, as we continue to merge unique product portfolios and wide-ranging antibody expertise to provide better access to the reproducible reagents researchers need.” Current customers will still use the same contacts and processes for order placement and fulfillment. As integration continues, products and services from the full family of brands will become available to order via the Absolute Biotech website, providing customers with one centralized place to compare and purchase reagents for the entire antibody workflow. Customers will also have access to a larger and more international customer service team, enabling faster turnaround times and reduced shipping costs. For more information, please visit the Absolute Biotech website here. About Absolute Biotech Absolute Biotech specializes in antibody reagents, kits and services, adding value to existing antibodies through annotation, validation, sequencing, engineering and recombinant manufacturing. Our company unites multiple antibody-centric brands to offer customers worldwide the full breadth of antibody-related products, services and expertise for research, diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Our mission is to serve as “antibody curators” for customers worldwide, treating each antibody like a work of art to deliver unique and absolutely defined reagents that empower scientists.

SCICONS’ mouse anti double-stranded RNA antibody (clone J2) was used in crucial research to identify potent therapeutic agents to impede SARS-CoV-2 viral entry into host cells. SARS-CoV-2, better known as COVID-19, is a positive-strand RNA virus. Positive-strand RNA viruses are a group of positive-sense, single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses which include Hepatitis C, Dengue Virus, MERS and West Nile Virus. It was demonstrated in a paper by Weber et al in 20061 that cells infected by this group of viruses contain detectable levels of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), produced as an intermediate during viral replication. It is this intermediate form which is detected by the SCICONS J2 antibody, enabling confirmation of viral infection and replication within a host cell. The aim of a joint study between institutes based in Canada and the USA, was to identify new host-directed therapeutics preventing viral entry, by targeting the type-II transmembrane serine protease (TTSP), TMPRSS2. TMPRSS2 is a protease which mediates cleavage of the COVID-19 spike protein, a necessary step by which the pathogen gains entry via angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which acts as its receptor. In this study, available as a preprint and currently under peer review, the J2 clone was used to examine the potency of anti-viral compounds by their ability to obstruct viral entry into the host cell, thus preventing infection. The authors, Shapira et al2, developed a library of novel small-molecule TMPRSS2 inhibitors as potential therapeutics. In experiments using the J2 antibody, a lung epithelial cell line (Calu-3) and a human biopsy-derived colonoid monolayer were pre-treated with therapeutic agent, followed by infection with multiple strains of SARS-CoV-2. Successful COVID-19 infection was determined by immunofluorescent cell staining of fixed cells to detect the presence of dsRNA (J2 clone) and nucleocapsid protein. From this fluorescent staining they were able to determine the percentage reduction in infection for their library of compounds. Dose response analysis and further investigations revealed compound N-0385 to be a nanomolar, broad-spectrum coronavirus inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2, including variants of concern B.1.1.7 (UK) and B.1.351 (South Africa). Their striking data in a K18-human ACE2 transgenic mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 disease demonstrated that intranasal administration of compound N-0385 early in infection improved clinical outcomes and led to a 100% survival rate compared to 20% in the control group. The J2 anti-dsRNA IgG2a monoclonal antibody has become the gold standard in dsRNA detection. It can be used to detect dsRNA intermediates of viruses as diverse as Hepatitis C virus, Dengue virus, rhinovirus, Chikungunya virus, Rabies virus, Polio virus, Classic swine fever virus, Brome mosaic virus and many more in cultured cells, and also in fixed paraffin-embedded histological samples. SCICONS is now part of Exalpha Biologicals, more information on our mouse anti double-stranded RNA (clone J2) can be found on the Exalpha Biologicals website here and under product code 10010500.     This article is a preprint and has not been certified by peer review

Susteren, Netherlands (13th April 2021) – Nordic-MUbio announces the acquisition of Scicons who provide highly cited monoclonal antibodies used by researchers worldwide as a reliable tool for dsRNA detection. The team at Nordic-MUBio is committed to making sure that the SCICONS product range will be managed correctly and that all SCICONS and Nordic MUbio customers will be given exceptional customer service, deep expertise and an environment you all want to be part of. Nordic-MUbio are excited to welcome SCICONS to the family and offer this exceptional range of products to new and existing customers. For all enquiries or orders you will need to contact Nordic MUbio:General Enquiries: [email protected]: +31 (0) 6 83611669 About Nordic-MUbio: Nordic-MUbio is a rapidly expanding research reagent company based in Susteren, Netherlands. The acquisition of Scicons comes after a succession of other acquisitions including MUbio Products BV and An Der Grub Bioresearch GmbH. These acquisitions have allowed Nordic-MUbio to create a broad portfolio of products for flow cytometry, cell biology, immunology, cancer research, stem cells and more. Nordic-MUbio offers a wide range of custom services, including assay development and antibody production. Nordic-MUbio operates under ISO 9001:2015 certified quality management systems. For more information on Nordic-MUbio, visit: http://www.nordicmubio.com.

Continues expansion of its range of Antibodies and Reagents that answer real needs Shirley, Massachusetts, USA – June 6th, 2018 – Exalpha Biologicals, Inc., founded over 20 years ago and dedicated to accelerating the pace of discovery in the life science arena announces the acquisition of Gallus Immunotech Inc., which is effective from today 6th June 2018. Gallus Immunotech, Inc. founded in 1994 to promote the remarkable and humane process of developing chicken polyclonal antibodies. Chicken antibodies produce immunoglobulin (IgY) which Gallus Immunotech, Inc. has now matured into a business with world class IgY expertise and a world-wide customer base. Exalpha Biologicals, Inc. are tremendously excited at the opportunity to both welcome Gallus Immunotech Inc. to the Exalpha family and the offer the extended range of products and additional value that can now be offered to new and existing customers. “We are very pleased with the acquisition of Gallus Immunotech, Inc., and the extended quality range that will now be available to our customers” said Peter Rutten, Exalpha Biologicals, Inc. Operations Director. “We look forward to working with all the Gallus customers and serving their needs” For all enquiries or orders you will need to contact Exalpha Biologicals, Inc.: General Enquiries: [email protected] Telephone: 978-425-1370 Address: Exalpha Biologicals, Inc. 2 Shaker Road Unit B101 Shirley, MA 01464 USA About Exalpha Biologicals, Inc. Exalpha, the Boston based life science company, specializes in the provision of high quality research products such as apoptosis & proliferation assays along with enzymes and antibodies. Founded 20 years ago, it is based in Shirley, Boston and dedicates itself to selling antibodies, kits and reagents to the Research community.

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a technique which is used to study the tissue distribution of a defined target. It relies on antibodies to detect specific proteins in a sample of tissue which has been paraffin embedded or frozen and can provide a wealth of data regarding protein localization and relative levels of expression. In a clinical laboratory setting this information is used in the diagnosis of various disease conditions, as well as to help predict prognosis and to evaluate a patient’s response to treatment. It can also be used to advance understanding of disease etiology and progression. IHC for cancer diagnosis IHC is regularly employed to diagnose cancers since tumor cells often present specific de novo antigens or exhibit irregular levels of protein expression in comparison to healthy tissue samples. It can facilitate the qualification of a cancer as benign or malignant, can allow clinicians to determine the grade of a tumor, and enables identification of the tissue of origin to drive appropriate therapeutic intervention. A multitude of IHC markers have been identified for clinical oncology, some which are unique to a particular type of cancer and others that demonstrate expression across a range of tumors. It is common for researchers to simultaneously evaluate multiple markers, the detection of which relies on the use of high quality, clinically-validated antibodies to stain biopsies which have been acquired from both healthy and diseased tissue. Generation and interpretation of clinical IHC data Once a tissue sample has been obtained for IHC analysis, it is either fixed and then paraffin embedded or is immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. Although the subsequent downstream staining process differs depending on the method of sample preservation (for example paraffin embedded sections often necessitate antigen retrieval, whereas this step is not usually required for frozen tissue sections where fixation is mild), a typical IHC staining protocol involves permeabilization, blocking, immunostaining and detection. Antibody binding is visualized using detection moieties which include fluorescent dyes, enzymes or colloidal gold. These may be directly conjugated to the primary antibody or attached to an appropriate secondary reagent. As for any experimental protocol, each step of the procedure requires careful optimization. For the correct interpretation of clinical IHC data, it is essential to understand the biological and physiological relevance of any markers. A literature review can provide information such as the expected distribution pattern and expression level of the antigenic target. Additionally, it can inform the selection of relevant positive and negative control tissue samples. Antibodies for clinical IHC It is fundamental that trusted and well-validated antibodies are used for clinical IHC. These specialized reagents undergo rigorous characterization to assess specificity and sensitivity and are frequently compared to other antibodies raised against the same target to ensure accurate and consistent staining. In addition to staining positive and negative tissue samples, it is good practice to test any antibodies in at least one other non-IHC method. This could, for instance, be immunocytochemical staining of relevant cells fixed within microplate wells, or Western blot analysis of lysates, recombinant proteins or knockout samples. The inclusion of appropriate controls is vital to any clinical IHC experiment, and antibody-based controls should include staining in which the primary antibody or secondary antibody has been omitted, as well as isotype controls. The latter involves incubation of the sample with isotype matched primary antibodies that have no specificity to the antigenic target. The aim of these controls is to identify the source of any background staining which may be observed. Exalpha Biologicals offers a range of antibodies targeting clinical IHC markers, many of which have been literature cited.

Veterinary research is essential to understanding a wide range of pathological conditions in veterinary species. The research undertaken supports a broad range of veterinary disciplines including clinical veterinary medicine, animal husbandry, infectious disease dynamics, zoonotics and comparative medicine. In addition, many diseases affecting companion animals, livestock, wild animals and birds have an impact on global economics, and ongoing veterinary research provides vital information that underpins decision making by various associated organisations. Understanding the role that the immune systems plays in animal health and disease is an essential part of veterinary research. To support this valuable research, Exalpha supply a comprehensive range of validated polyclonal antibodies that have been raised to recognize different immunoglobulin classes, or subclasses, in a wide range of species and suitable for a wide range of applications such as western blot, IHC, ELISA and flow cytometry. Products include antibodies to: Antibodies supplied by Exalpha are available directly conjugated to enzymes or fluorochromes for use in a wide range of applications.

Background Discovered in 1963, M13 bacteriophage was first isolated from Escherichia coli bacteria. M13 is a single stranded DNA virus that belongs to the Inoviridae family of filamentous bacteriophages, which infect gram- negative bacteria. It is a member of the Ff (F-specific filamentous phage) class of phages and is one of the smallest filamentous bacteriophages known. M13 phage has the advantage of being able to reproduce within the infected host without causing cell lysis. The M13 bacteriophage has been extensively investigated and much is now known about its biochemical, biophysical and genetic characteristics. Structurally, the M13 phage consists of five different proteins which include the minor coat proteins pIII, pVI, pVII, pIX and the major capsid protein pVIII. The phage predominantly consists of 2,700 copies of the pVIII protein, encoded by gene VIII (g8) with 4-5 copies of the minor coat proteins capping each end. Early researchers demonstrated that the coat protein surface of the M13 phage could be genetically modified by incorporating foreign DNA fragments into the phage genome. The expression of exogenous peptides on the surface of filamentous bacteriophage was first described by Smith et. al. in 1985. Since this important discovery, M13 bacteriophage has been used widely as a vehicle for displaying various peptide ligands for use in biological investigations. The M13 phage has also been used to create vast display libraries for the screening and selection of recombinant antibodies, which is proving to be useful in the continuing search for therapeutic antibodies. Antibodies recognising M13 filamentous phage coat proteins are instrumental in the selection and detection of phages expressing specific antibody fragments or peptide sequences at their surface. The monoclonal antibodies manufactured and supplied by Exalpha react with either the 45kDa pIII (g3p) or the 5KDa pVIII (g8p) proteins of M13 filamentous bacteriophage. All antibodies are available in a purified format. The antibodies are fully validated and are suitable for a wide range of techniques including: – Antibodies recognizing M13 filamentous bacteriophage MUB0603P (clone RL-ph1) – Mouse anti M13 phage coat protein g8p, 0.1mg purified antibodyX1599M (clone RL-ph2) – Mouse anti M13 phage coat protein g8p, 0.1mg purified antibodyZ115M (clone E1) – Mouse anti M13 bacteriophage g3p, 0.1mg purified antibody

What are GPCRs? G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest and most diverse family of transmembrane receptors in the human genome, and have been extensively targeted by the pharmaceutical industry in the development of therapeutics. They are involved in a huge array of functions and, as their name suggests, interact with G-proteins (specialized proteins capable of binding GTP and GDP) within the plasma membrane to transduce extracellular stimuli into intracellular signals in a ligand-specific manner. The range of stimuli to which GPCRs respond is extensive, and includes amino acids, hormones, proteins, chemokines, nucleotides, light and more1, yet despite this multiplicity GPCRs share an evolutionarily-conserved structure. GPCR structure Each GPCR consists of a single polypeptide which is embedded in the cell membrane and spans the full width of the membrane seven times; for this reason, GPCRs are also known as seven-transmembrane receptors (7TM receptors). Although the N-terminus is extracellular, the C-terminus is intracellular, and the termini are among the most variable regions of the GPCR family. The greatest degree of sequence homology is shared by the transmembrane domains, and this has been used to cluster the GPCRs into five families – the Glutamate, Rhodopsin, Adhesion, Frizzled/Taste2 and Secretin families – a classification known as the GRAFS system, and which refers to the prototypical members of each group2. A further family, known as Other, is used for GPCRs which do not fall into any of these categories. Where does the Edg family fit in? The Endothelial cell Differentiation Gene (Edg) GPCRs fall within the Rhodopsin family, and function as receptors for Sphingosine-1-Phosphate (S1P) and Lysophosphatidic Acid (LPA). Since the discovery of Edg1 in 19903, seven further Edg proteins have been identified; although originally referred to as Edg1-8, the Edg receptors have subsequently been classed into two sub-families and renamed according to the ligand which they bind.Activation of the Edg receptors by S1P or LPA has multiple effects on cells, including proliferation, survival, migration, differentiation and cytoskeletal organization, and the Edg receptor signaling pathways are therefore considered to be critical to many physiological and pathological events. Following S1P or LPA binding, the Edg receptors activate various (often overlapping) G-protein mediated signaling pathways, yet since the expression of different Edg receptors changes during development and differentiation, and because divergent signaling pathways are activated by each Edg receptor, functional analysis requires a great deal of care. Edg protein Recommended human gene name (Uniprot) Ligand Edg1 Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) S1P Edg2 Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPAR1) LPA Edg3 Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 3 (S1PR3) S1P Edg4 Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 2 (LPAR2) LPA Edg5 Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2) S1P Edg6 Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 4 (S1PR4) S1P Edg7 Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 3 (LPAR3) LPA Edg8 Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 5 (S1PR5) S1P Activation of the Edg receptors by S1P or LPA has multiple effects on cells, including proliferation, survival, migration, differentiation and cytoskeletal organization, and the Edg receptor signaling pathways are therefore considered to be critical to many physiological and pathological events. Following S1P or LPA binding, the Edg receptors activate various (often overlapping) G-protein mediated signaling pathways, yet since the expression of different Edg receptors changes during development and differentiation, and because divergent signaling pathways are activated by each Edg receptor, functional analysis requires a great deal of care.