Abstract
American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)
Tissue-Specific Tumor Cell Panels
ATCC now offers genetically diverse tumor cell panels for drug discovery, pathway analysis, and functional genomics. These new tools combine well-characterized adherent cell lines that were selected for their genomic mutations as found in the Sanger COSMIC database. Each tissue-specific tumor cell panel is composed of different cell lines that have been grouped by tissue of tumor origin. In developing the panels, ATCC evaluated 20 different genes associated with tumorigenesis, including TP53, CDKN2A, BRAF, and KRAS. Descriptive information for each cell line has been annotated with details regarding known mutations in these selected oncogenes or receptors. There are 10 tissue-specific tumor cell panels in the collection, including panels for breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, and pancreatic cancer. ATCC will continue to augment the available information on the tumor cell panel cell lines from other databases and will perform further characterization on the panels.
More: www.atcc.org/tcp
FRAMOS
USB3.0 Super-Speed Interface for Visiosens VFU Camera Platform
The newly extended VF camera series is a flexible and customizable image capture platform with more than 140 camera variants per image sensor. The Visiosens platform comprises a range of CCD and CMOS image sensors with resolutions ranging from 0.4 to 10.1 megapixels, output interfaces including USB2.0 and USB3.0 with fully-owned drivers, complementary assembly concepts, mounts, filters, and an optional integrated LED ring. For all variants, the user and system interface is built on a unified, future-proof, cross-platform software development kit based on the latest .NET technology and compatible with Windows and Linux. The Visiosens platform concept provides a single-software interface for all cameras in all applications, including specifically customized devices, and the addition of the USB3.0 super-speed interface enables data transfer speeds of up to 5 Gbps.
More: www.framos.eu
GE Healthcare
Cytell Image Cytometer
This new benchtop-sized image cytometer for rapid cell characterization enables users to capture detailed data about cells quickly while using minimal sample volumes. Data can be acquired for up to eight samples at a time, and results are delivered through an intuitive graphical interface in less than 2½ min. The system simplifies working practices and increases productivity by removing the need to use specialized cell analysis instruments.
Navitar
Dual-View Imaging System
According to Navitar, its new dual-view imaging system allows users to simultaneously view a single subject and capture an image at multiple fields of view (FOVs). The new module offers, with just one setup, a single objective lens presented to two separate imaging channels. The channels can be fixed, zoom, or a combination of both. Two separate light sources and wavelengths can be used, allowing inspection of multiple types of materials. The use of different adapter tubes on each optical path provides a wider FOV than a traditional single-view system, without the hassles of changing workstations or lighting setups.
The dual-view system has a minimum potential optical magnification range of 0.09× to 6.13×, which corresponds to FOVs as large as 120 mm diagonal on a 2/3″ format sensor down to a 0.65 mm diagonal on a 1/4″ sensor. Maximum optical magnification using the dual-view system can range from 20× to 583× using a 50× objective.
More: www.navitar.com
Olympus America
DP73 14-Bit Microscope Camera
The new Olympus DP73 digital microscope camera offers the highest combination of bit depth (14-bit) and pixel resolution (17.28 MB), for ultra-high resolution and exceptional color reproduction, even in very light or dark image areas. A powerful 3-CCD mode enhances normal pixel-shifting optical technology so the camera delivers ultra-high-quality brightfield and widefield fluorescence images without the interpolation artifacts typical of other Bayer mask cameras.
The DP73 offers a huge 17.28-megapixel image, with unprecedented resolving capability and color fidelity. Even more importantly, the camera’s 3-CCD mode provides a new way of performing pixel-shifted imaging with a Bayer mask camera. Like similar cameras, it increases pixel resolution by physically moving the CCD sensor horizontally and vertically within each pixel to capture and overlay subpixel information; but unlike comparable cameras, the DP73’s 3-CCD mode multiplies the RGB color information within each pixel, dramatically increasing resolution.
DP73 users also can avoid the photo-bleaching artifacts that sometimes happen under fluorescence illumination. Without changing brightness levels or losing gray-scale levels, the camera corrects for color bleaching or fading while eliminating cross-hatching and similar artifacts that occur with other pixel-shifting cameras. Images can be captured across a sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600, so that even dimly fluorescing subjects look crisp and clear.
For users whose work involves samples with important detail in the darkest or lightest tonal ranges of color, the DP73 offers an optional WiDER feature, which provides an extended, extra-wide dynamic range capability so that dark, light, and mid tone regions all are imaged crisply without sacrificing detail in other tonal regions. WiDER optimizes the entire image in real time without over- or underexposing samples, making it ideal for publishing and working with complex fluorescence applications such as fluorescence in situ hybridization or multiprobe imaging.
Olympus FluoView FV1000 Laser Scanning Confocal and Multiphoton Microscope Research Imaging System
Three enhancements to the Olympus FluoView FV1000 system include a gallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) detector, updated ASW v.3.1 software and a new multipoint mapping/scanning and piezo focus system. The GaAsP detector is designed for users who must visualize very weakly fluorescing specimens, highly photosensitive samples or very thick specimens requiring the highest sensitivity. It offers higher signal-to-noise performance and more than double the quantum efficiency of standard photo-multiplier tubes (PMTs). It couples two standard PMTs and two additional GaAsP channels when the highest sensitivity is required. The cooled GaAsP detector also has a protection circuit.
Updated ASW v.3.1 software helps users acquire large Z-stacks of image data and view them easily. Data sets of more than 150 gigabytes can be acquired in a single Z-stack and image files can be accessed directly from the hard disk. An enhanced graphical user interface allows users to acquire well beyond Nyquist rate and open images directly within the software. The direct-access feature is designed to work with the FV1000’s automated stage.
For fast measurements at multiple points or tissue depths, the high-speed piezo-Z focus scanning mechanism provides the speed necessary for fast data acquisition over multiple Z-axis locations.
Porvair Sciences
500120 Gas-Permeable Adhesive Seals for Live Cell Assays
According to Porvair, its new gas-permeable adhesive seals allow uniform air and carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange but prevent moisture evaporation, making them ideal for eukaryotic cell culture and long-term live cell assays. The gas-permeable film in the new seals is bonded to an adhesive sheet with adhesive-free windows, which align over the wells. Available with 96 round windows for a 96-well plate and 384 square windows for a 384-well plate, the seals provide high-integrity microplate closure from −20 °C to 80 °C. Supplied sterile in packs of 50 (5 × 10 sheets), the seals are easily peelable for straightforward application onto microplates.
More: www.porvair-sciences.com
SeraCare Life Sciences
Human Cord Blood Mononuclear Cells
Off-the-shelf human cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMNCs) are now available within SeraCare’s line of AccuCell mononuclear cells. With viability after thaw validated at greater than 90%, SeraCare cryopreserved CBMNCs are considered ideal for use in stem cell research, drug discovery, vaccine manufacture, production of cell-based products and instrumentation, and cell production, translation, separation, or expansion services.
SeraCare’s CBMNCs are processed at ISO-certified facilities following a rigorous, validated process, with donor material collected at facilities regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The product is available in large lots to support long-term research initiatives and comparisons across multiple labs.
More: www.seracarecatalog.com
TAP Biosystems
Cell-IQ Live Cell Observation and Analysis System
New Cell-IQ software enables walk-away monitoring, recording, and quantification of changes in cell morphology and cell distribution of unlabeled cells, as well as cells labeled with up to three different colored fluorescent dyes. Users also can use the new software to train the system to recognize experimental characteristics, including phases of cell attachment, scratch wound proliferation, and migration assays. In addition, after an analysis has been programmed into the system, it can be reused to generate extensive sample libraries, thus building expertise in the laboratory. The latest Cell-IQ system also comes with two plate positions that have independent gas supplies that allow cells to be maintained for days or weeks, side by side in normoxia versus hypoxia conditions.
More: www.tapbiosystems.com
RAFT (Real Architecture for 3D Tissue)
According to TAP, its new RAFT system generates consistent and reproducible 3D cell cultures at physiologically relevant collagen concentrations. The simple three-step RAFT process of mix, make, and measure simplifies the route to improved results from 3D experiments. Users mix the reagents from the kit with their cells, pipette into 96-well plates, and incubate on the plate heater for 30 min to form a cell-seeded collagen hydrogel. The RAFT plate is placed on the hydrogels, and in 15 min, the medium is absorbed gently, leaving cells encapsulated in physiological strength collagen, which is considered ideal for use in their cell-based assays.
More: www.tapbiosystems.com
Ventana Medical Systems
VENTANA Companion Algorithm HER2 (4B5)
Ventana received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the VENTANA Companion Algorithm HER2 (4B5) for image analysis applications with associated VIRTUOSO software and iScan Coreo Au scanner. Ventana now offers a complete workflow solution for determining HER2 (4B5) expression in breast cancer patients.
The application assists in the detection and semiquantitative measurement of HER2 (4B5) protein in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded normal and neoplastic tissue. Although the pathologist is still the ultimate authority in scoring HER2 (4B5) stains, the image analysis application helps ensure consistency and objectivity in interpretation. When used with the VENTANA PATHWAY anti-HER2 (4B5) rabbit monoclonal primary antibody, it is indicated for use as an aid in the assessment of breast cancer patients for whom Herceptin (trastuzumab) treatment is being considered. The 510(k) clearance covers all components of the workflow including the 4B5 clone, slide stainer, detection systems, software, and scanner.
More: www.ventana.com
BenchMark Special Stains Platform
According to Ventana, its new BenchMark Special Stains platform offers walk-away automation, baking through staining including deparaffinization, random batch access, connectivity to the VANTAGE workflow solution, and the Ventana CareGiver remote support. The platform uses the same software interface as the BenchMark ULTRA platform, enabling ease of use and protocol editing. As part of maintaining VENTANA world-class safety standards, the platform and reagent kits are designed to minimize exposure for lab personnel.
More: www.ventana.com