Monocytes and macrophages are very closely related cells with a few important distinctions and different use cases. Put simply, monocytes are macrophages in the blood; macrophages are monocytes in tissue. Understanding the Difference Monocytes are the largest type of white blood cells and play an important role in the adaptive immunity process. Monocytes typically…
Complexity is the operative word in Pharm Exec’s 2017 Pipeline Report. Complex diseases are driving the development of new and innovative therapies while the market adjusts to manufacturing challenges and increasing drug costs. We’ve recapped some of the main topics in the report, including CAR-T therapies, combination treatments and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), among others. …
CMV antigens and CMV peptides are both great tools for studying the implications of the human cytomegalovirus (CMV), which infects nearly 1/3 of children before the age of five and more than half of adults in the U.S. Although CMV-infected individuals are often asymptomatic, the virus does pose a serious threat to individuals with weakened…
I’m on my way back from Washington, D.C. where our chief scientist, Ben Tjoa, and I were exhibiting at SLAS2017 this week. I don’t always leave events feeling this inspired, but SLAS put on a fantastic event. We had some great discussions with colleagues, shared ideas with peers and learned about new innovations in the…
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is one of the most prevalent infections, found in about 95% of the adult population. EBV is a lifelong infection with ties to many diseases. Although infected individuals often build adaptive immunity to EBV and are asymptomatic, EBV is associated with infectious mononucleosis, several types of cancer such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma,…
Macrophages play an important role in immunology, cancer, and inflammatory research. Two recent publications featured our cells to study the various effects of macrophages on killing breast cancer cells and impacting reproductive health, respectively. Macrophage-mediated Trogocytosis Leads to Death of Antibody-opsonized Tumor Cells Velmurugan, et al. found that trogocytosis was effective in killing HER2-overexpressing…
SLAS2017 will head to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. February 4–8, 2017. The area surrounding the Convention Center offers a variety of ethnic foods, local coffee shops, and unique dining experiences. In preparation for your stay, we’ve compiled a list of some of the top-rated local restaurants and coffee shops near…
We get many orders and requests for donors who are HLA-A*0201 positive and CMV positive, and for good reason. Scientists know that the HLA-A*0201 allele is the most common allele found in the European/North American Caucasian population, expressed by about half of all individuals. But are there alternatives to HLA-A*0201 positive donors? And should you…
With more than 5,000 attendees expected at the SLAS2017 International Conference & Exhibition in Washington, D.C. this February, there will be ample opportunities to discover, connect and grow. This year’s theme, Research: The Possibilities, will focus on the rapid evolution of the life sciences industry. From new technologies to advanced research models, the industry is…
Clinical trials play a vital role in finding new ways to detect and treat diseases. Without them, medical advancements won’t happen. Participants may be hesitant to participate in a clinical trial because they don’t understand the process or have misconceptions about what to expect. Here we dispel five common myths about clinical research trials. 1.…