MONROVIA, CA – Dr. Cathrin E. Bruederle, from the Foodborne Contamination Research Unit of the Western Regional Research Center at USDA Agricultural Research Service will give a presentation at GTCbio’s 3rd Assay Development & Screening Technologies Conference on June 5-6, 2008 in San Francisco, CA. Dr. Bruederle will present on two different strategies in assay discovery using conformation-dependent protein interactions and pH sensitive dyes for sensitive cell based detection.
Dr. Bruederle’s objective is the identification of interaction partners for PrP (prion protein) as potential targets for diagnosis of prion disease. Dr. Bruederle and his group used a PVDF membrane format, displaying peptide arrays corresponding to distinct functional domains within protein families, to capture detergent resistant membranes (DRM) isolated from normal or infected brain. This strategy identified a several peptides that interact specifically with DRM containing either PrPc or PrPsc, the isoforms of PrP characteristic of normal and diseased brain, respectively. Dr. Bruederle’s other objective is a cell-based test for detection of botulinum neurotoxin in food. Dr. Bruederle’s and his group established primary neuron culture as model system to visualize fusion of synaptic vesicles using pH-sensitive fluorophores. Inhibition of vesicle fusion by botulinum toxin is translated into a calibration curve. Transferring this method from a microscope-based system to a 96-well format provides a very sensitive and high throughput screening method for the toxin. The audience will learn how to translate methodology usually used for basic research to a format useful for assay development
GTCbio’s 3rd Assay Development and Screening Technologies conference will provide attendees with critical information to utilize in the discovery and development of assays, while keeping them informed about the latest screening technologies for both high-throughput screening and high-content screening. Topics being covered include cell based assays, high throughput screening, high content screening, in vitro assays and screening, novel assay and screening technologies, and target validation. For more information visit www.gtcbio.com.
