Taconic Insights

CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology enables the modification of the mouse and rat genomes with unprecedented simplicity and speed but is subject to limitations that restrict its application to the introduction of simple mutations such as constitutive knockout or point mutation alleles. Easi-CRISPR overcomes those limitations by using longer single-stranded DNA, offering researchers a faster and more efficient technology for targeted transgenesis and complex genetic modifications. Limitations of...

Spontaneous lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with an unclear cause. Nearly all lupus patients have high levels of anti-nuclear antibodies with a relatively high proportion being pathogenic anti-Ro protein antibodies. At the end of March, researchers at Yale University published a paper entitled "Commensal orthologs of the human autoantigen Ro60 as triggers of autoimmunity in lupus" in the journal Science Translational Medicine in which...

Taconic Biosciences' Dr. Philip Dubé discusses mouse models used to study immuno-oncology in this video excerpt from the webinar, "Advanced Toolkit For Syngeneic Tumor Modeling in Mice". There are essentially two types of models used in pre-clinical immuno-oncology research: Syngeneic models — a mouse tumor is implanted into a genetically identical and immuno-competent host Humanized models — severely immuno-deficient mice are implanted with both a human immune...

All are welcome to Biocom's continuing education seminar on the use of humanized mice in immuno-oncology and bone metastasis studies on April 12, 2018 at Larkspur Landing. Immuno-Oncology Seminar BioCom will hold an in-person continuing education seminar to explore new study design options in immuno-oncology supported by novel humanized mouse models, including a case study on how one particular humanized mouse could be used to study cancer...

This April 22,000 scientists from nearly 100 countries will gather in Chicago for the American Association for Cancer Research 2018 Annual Meeting. Over the course of five days, 6,000 scientists will share results from recent studies, spurring discussion and debate. Attendees can visit 400 exhibitors showcasing new tools and technologies. Presentations at the annual meeting will cover the latest basic, translational, clinical, and prevention-focused research in the...

A new study in Nature, published in March 2018, revealed novel potential adverse effects of a broad variety of marketed drugs. The researchers found that many drugs designed to target human cells and not microbes could inhibit the growth of different intestinal bacterial strains. This suggests that these drugs can alter the gut microbiota, in turn leading to adverse effects on human health. The study was an...

It is heavily debated whether the use of the weedkiller glyphosate in agriculture and gardening can induce dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, negatively affecting human and animal health. Dysbiosis is an imbalance in the microbiome composition associated with conditions such as colitis, metabolic syndrome, allergies, and more. Herbicides and the Microbiome We recently highlighted new Danish research showing that pure glyphosate and commercial formulations of glyphosate (e.g....

Many research investigators are faced with a decision: should they buy laboratory rodents from a commercial vendor, or produce them with an in-house breeding colony? There are many factors to evaluate before the decision to "breed or buy" can be made. Following are a few questions and considerations that must be addressed before an informed decision can be made: Are the rodents available from a commercial vendor?...

While developing a low-cost alternative to traditional gnotobiotic isolators, a team of researchers at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) were able to characterize cyclical changes in the microbiomes of gnotobiotic mice. Their research has implications for both the design and affordability of gnotobiotic animal model research. High Cost of Gnotobiotic Isolators Isolators are the gold standard for rearing germ-free mice, but it is sometimes difficult to justify...

A frankly shocking amount of research funding — perhaps as high as 85%, or $200 billion — is wasted on poorly designed studies. How can you improve your study design to avoid falling into this trend? Each day scientists plan, conduct, analyze and debate study design, hoping their efforts will lead to a cure or a new understanding of a critical biological pathway. Is it easy? No...