Anti-Echis carinatus venom antibodies from chicken egg yolk: isolation, purification and neutralization efficacy.

High titer antibodies (IgY) were raised in egg yolk of white leghorn chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) by immunizing with the venom of Echis carinatus (Saw scaled viper or carpet viper), an Indian venomous snake belonging to the family Viperidae. The anti-snake venom antibodies (antivenom) were isolated from egg yolk by the water dilution method, enriched by 19% sodium sulfate precipitation and purified by immunoaffinity chromatography. A single, electrophoretically pure IgY band of 180-200 kDa was obtained on SDS-PAGE.

Relationship of gene expression and chromosomal abnormalities in colorectal cancer.

Several studies have verified the existence of multiple chromosomal abnormalities in colon cancer. However, the relationships between DNA copy number and gene expression have not been adequately explored nor globally monitored during the progression of the disease. In this work, three types of array-generated data (expression, single nucleotide polymorphism, and comparative genomic hybridization) were collected from a large set of colon cancer patients at various stages of the disease.

Application of expression genomics for predicting treatment response in cancer.

During tumor progression, multiple genetic changes in the genome vastly alter the transcriptomes of cancers. Some of these changes, including the mutations of various growth regulatory genes as well as alterations in the transcription of a large number of genes, may lead to resistance to treatment. Therefore, capturing such genomic information of the tumors would enable a physician to decide on the course of treatment options clinically available.

Expression profiling of crystal-induced injury in human kidney epithelial cells.

Background: Deposition of crystals within tubular lumens is a feature of many kidney stone diseases, including crystals of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) in primary hyperoxaluria and of 2,8-dihydroxyadenine (DHA) in adenine phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency. Crystals are injurious to renal epithelial cells, but the molecular bases of cell injury have not been well characterized.

Methods: We used a cDNA microarray to identify the time-dependent changes in gene expression associated with the interaction of COM or DHA crystals with primary cultures of normal human kidney cortical epithelial cells.

Prediction of chemotherapeutic response in ovarian cancer with DNA microarray expression profiling.

Ovarian carcinoma is a leading cause of gynecologic cancer death in women. Despite treatment, a large number of women with ovarian cancer eventually relapse and die of the disease. Hence, recurrent ovarian cancer continues to be a therapeutic dilemma, possibly a result of the emergence of drug resistance during relapse.

Gene expression changes induced by green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate in human bronchial epithelial 21BES cells analyzed by DNA microarray.

Many studies suggest green tea is a cancer chemopreventive agent. This effect has been attributed to its major constituent (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). EGCG is also observed to have cytotoxic anticancer effects, especially when used in combination with certain chemotherapeutic agents.

A mixture model for estimating the local false discovery rate in DNA microarray analysis.

Motivation: Statistical methods based on controlling the false discovery rate (FDR) or positive false discovery rate (pFDR) are now well established in identifying differentially expressed genes in DNA microarray. Several authors have recently raised the important issue that FDR or pFDR may give misleading inference when specific genes are of interest because they average the genes under consideration with genes that show stronger evidence for differential expression. The paper proposes a flexible and robust mixture model for estimating the local FDR which quantifies how plausible each specific gene expresses differentially.

Expression genomics of cervical cancer: molecular classification and prediction of radiotherapy response by DNA microarray.

Purpose: The incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer are declining in the United States; however, worldwide, cervical cancer is still one of the leading causes of death in women, second only to breast cancer. This disparity is at least partially explained by the absence of or comparatively ineffective screening programs in the developing world. Recent advances in expression genomics have enabled the use of DNA microarray to profile gene expression of various cancers.

Practical integration of polymerase chain reaction amplification and electrophoretic analysis in microfluidic devices for genetic analysis.

An integrated system of a silicon-based microfabricated polymerase chain reaction (microPCR) chamber and microfabricated electrophoretic glass chips have been developed. The PCR chamber was made of silicon and had aluminum heaters and temperature sensors integrated on the glass anodically bonded cover. Temperature uniformity in the reaction chamber was +/-0.

An ISFET-based immunosensor for the detection of beta-Bungarotoxin.

An ion-sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET)-based immunosensor was developed to detect/quantitate beta-Bungarotoxin (beta-BuTx), a potent presynaptic neurotoxin from the venom of Bungarus multicinctus. A murine monoclonal antibody (mAb 15) specific to beta-BuTx was immobilized onto silicon nitride wafers after silanization and activation with glutaraldehyde. A chip based enzyme linked-immunosorbantassay (ELISA) was performed to ascertain antigen binding to the immobilized antibody.

A new avidin-biotin optical immunoassay for the detection of beta-bungarotoxin and application in diagnosis of experimental snake envenomation.

A highly sensitive avidin-biotin optical immunoassay (AB-OIA) has been developed for the detection of beta-bungarotoxin (beta-BuTx), a neurotoxin from the venom of Bungarus multicinctus, in whole blood, plasma, and urine. Affinity purified rabbit IgG anti-beta-BuTx antibody was immobilized on an optically active silicon surface (SILIAS wafer). The test sample was incubated and the antigen-antibody reaction was monitored by the addition of a biotinylated monoclonal antibody (mAb 15) specific to the toxin, avidin-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and tetramethylbenzidine substrate.

Purification and properties of three new phospholipase A2 isoenzymes from Micropechis ikaheka venom.

Three new phospholipase A2 (PLA2) isoenzymes were purified from the Micropechis ikaheka venom by successive chromatographies. The homogeneity of them was accessed by capillary zone electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Their N-terminal sequences showed high identity (94, 88 and 90, respectively) with MiPLA-1, a group IB PLA2 also from this venom.

ELISA for the detection of venoms from four medically important snakes of India.

A double antibody sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to detect Echis carinatus venom in various organs (brain, heart, lungs, liver, spleen and kidneys) as well as tissue at the site of injection of mice, at various time intervals (1, 6, 12, 18, 24 h and 12 h intervals up to 72 h) after death. The assay could detect E. carinatus venom levels up to 2.

Tests for detection of snake venoms, toxins and venom antibodies: review on recent trends (1987-1997).

Various methods developed for the detection of snake venoms, toxins and venom antibodies, during the last decade is reviewed. Radioimmunoassay, agglutination assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), fluorescence immunoassay etc. have been used for detection of venoms and toxins.

Ehretianone, a novel quinonoid xanthene from Ehretia buxifolia with antisnake venom activity.

Ehretianone (1), a new quinonoid xanthene, together with known sterols, was isolated from a MeOH extract of the root bark of Ehretia buxifolia. The structure of ehretianone was elucidated as 7-hydroxy-9a alpha-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-4a alpha,9 alpha-(2-methylprop-2-enyl)-4a, 9a-dihydro-1,4-dioxoxanthene on the basis of spectroscopic data and X-ray crystallographic analysis. The antisnake venom activity of ehretianone against Echis carinatus venom in mice is also reported.