22
21
31
08
17
19 Cover Story 08 It is a “Cleanroom Special Issue� and in this issue we have added a new section called Product Launch. The magazine includes the Product Launch by the two leading companies namely Sai Scientific and Tiny Mart.
Research Updates
16
We have covered major research news from a number of areas like Biotechnology, Microbiology and Health Sciences to keep you updated with latest breakthroughs and discoveries around the globe.
Product Launch
31
Microbioz India, April 2017
Ultrasound and microbubbles may help detect malignant cancer in humans, study finds New App for Diabetes predicts blood sugar levels New test can identify dangerous bacteria with resistance to last-resort antibiotic New material could save time and money in medical imaging and environmental remediation Upcoming Shows/Events/Exhibitions
16 18 19 17
38
www.microbiozindia.com
5
ear friends and readers, I cannot thank you enough for the love and support you have been showering on me since the very beginning. Your encouragement and love are the two things which have always led me to pour in more of efforts to make the magazine more interesting and entertaining for you without compromising with the content. Here, I am happy to release another issue of Microbioz India. It is a “Cleanroom Special Issue” and in this issue we have added a new section called Product Launch. The magazine includes the Product Launch by the two leading companies namely Sai Scientific and Tiny Mart. Along with this, the magazine’s theme is supported by a cover story titled ‘Cleanroom Laboratory & Quality Control’, authored by Bhawana Jain, Author and Editor Microbioz India. The article begins with a small overview on cleanroom, where it is used and how contaminants that are small (micro size) in size can affect the manufacturing process in a cleanroom drastically. The articles also talks about the classification of cleanroom based of the size of articles allowed and the general regulations that must be followed in a cleanroom. The magazine also includes a List of Upcoming Events and Conferences which are going to be organized around the world recently along with the latest research news from topmost universities to widen your knowledge about what is going on in the field of research around the world. The research news are collected from number of areas like Biotechnology, Microbiology and Health Sciences to keep you updated with latest breakthroughs and discoveries around the globe. The magazine is incomplete without the love and support of the valuable readers. Your valuable feedback and suggestions are always welcome as they help us come with better content each time. For any further value addition, kindly write to us at editor@microbiozindia.com.
Kumar Jeetendra
Cover Story
Cover Story
Cleanroom is an enclosed environment in which the concentration of airborne particles and environmental pollutants e.g. dust, aerosol particles, chemical vapours, etc. is controlled and kept below a strict limit. These particles are particularly very small (submicron size) and their elimination requires a process of control. These pollutants are generated as a result of people, process, facilities and equipment and must be continually removed from the air to maintain the required cleanliness in the cleanroom.
A
It only takes a quick monitor to differentiate between a normal office building and a cleanroom. The number of particles in a typical office building ranges from 5,00,000 to 10,00,000 while the ambient air outside in a typical city environment contains 35,000,000 particles per cubic meter, 0.5 mm and larger in diameter, corresponding to an ISO 9 cleanroom which is at the lowest level of cleanroom standards. On the other side, a Class 100 cleanroom is designed to never allow more than 100 particles (0.5 microns or larger) per cubic foot of air. Class 1000 and Class 10,000 Cleanrooms are designed to limit particles to 1000 and 10,000 respectively.
This article highlights the importance of Cleanrooms, its applications in industries and the level of control of contamination that is required in Cleanroom.
“Cleanrooms are a most important part of every industry whose manufacturing process requires the small particles to be removed as these particles can adversely affect the manufacturing process and the product as well.�
Similarly, a human hair is about 75-100 microns in diameter. A particle 200 times smaller (0.5 micron) than the human hair can cause major disaster in a cleanroom. Contamination can lead to expensive downtime and increased production costs. In fact, the billion dollar NASA Hubble Space Telescope was damaged and did not perform as designed because of a particle smaller than 0.5 microns. In medicine also, a slightest contamination may lead to the loss of function, reliability, medical compatibility or other essential characteristics.
Microbioz India, April 2017
Hence, the aim of Cleanrooms is to protect patients, products, products or processes against any kind of contamination i.e., the number of particles like dust, pollen, bacteria viruses, etc must be minimized as much as possible. This is the reason, once a cleanroom is built, it must be maintained and cleaned to the same high standards.
The article also talks about the classification of Cleanrooms as per different organizations like ISO and the U.S. General Service administration’s Standards (known as FS209E). At the end, some general regulations that must be followed and the activities that are prohibited in a cleanroom has been discussed.
Where are they used?
Cleanrooms are a most important part of every industry whose manufacturing process requires the small particles to be removed as these particles can adversely affect the manufacturing process and the product as well. Their size and complexity varies largely depending on the use and they are used extensively in industries like semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical device and life sciences, as well as critical process manufacturing common in aerospace, optics, military and Department of Energy. Due to its vast application in scientific research, Cleanrooms has a vast global market which comprises consumables and hardware products and it continues to grow the hidden potential of pharma and other industries.
www.microbiozindia.com
9
Cover Story And for the same reason, a report by Markets and Markets (a global market research company based in U.S.), the Cleanroom Technology Market by Equipment (HVAC System, HEPA filter, Air Shower, Air Diffuser), consumables ( Apparal, gloves, wipes, disinfectants), Construction (Hardwall, Softwall, etc) & by End User-Global Forecast to 2019, the global Cleanroom market was valued at $2726.9 million and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period of 2014-19.5% during the forecast period of 2014-19.
What is Contamination? Contamination referes to a process or act that causes materials or surfaces to be soiled with contaminating substances. Preventing these contaminants is the responsibility of everyone entering the Cleanroom and it requires a strong commitment by the personnel to make it happen. For maintaining and controlling contaminants in a Cleanroom, the professional cleaning personnel must be aware of the importance of controlling contaminants. Strict procedures should be followed whenever entering or cleaning a Cleanroom. Compromise is not acceptable when cleaning in a Cleanroom.
Product generated
Silicon chips Quartz flakes Cleanroom debris Aluminium particles
Key Elements of Contamination Control Controlling contamination is an arduous process and requires controlling the overall environment. It involves tight controlling of environmental parameters like air flow rates and direction, pressure, temperature and humidity. Along with this, controlling or completely eliminating the sources of these particles is also of utmost importance. And the sources of these particles need to controlled or eliminated whenever possible. The fundamental component of any Cleanroom is the High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter that filters particles that are 0.3 micron and larger in size with 99.97% particle-collective efficiency. All of the air delivered to a Cleanroom passes through HEPA filters, and in some cases where stringent cleanliness performance is necessary, Ultra Low Particulate Air (ULPA) filters are used.
Sources of Contamination The list below shows a small list of contaminants that can cause problems in Cleanroom environments. These contaminats are generated from various sources. Some of them are mentioned below:
There are number of other things that must be taken care of in providing effective contamination control program. They are mentioned below:
Facilities
Walls, floors and ceilings Paint and coatings Construction material (sheet rock, saw dust etc.) Air conditioning debris Room air and vapors Spills and leaks
People
Skin flakes and oil Cosmetics and perfume Spittle Clothing debris (lint, fibers etc.) Hair
Tool Generated
Friction and wear particles Lubricants and emissions Vibrations Brooms, mops and dusters
Fluids
12
Particulates floating in air Bacteria, organics and moisture Floor finishes or coatings Cleaning chemicals Plasticizers (outgasses) Deionized water
www.microbiozindia.com
Personnel selected to work in Cleanrooms must undergo extensive training in contamination control theory. They must enter and exit the Cleanroom through airlocks, air showers and/or gowning rooms, and must wear special clothing designed to trap contaminants that are naturally generated by skin and the body. Depending on the room classification or function, personnel gowning may be as limited as lab coats and hairnets, or as extensive as fully enveloped in multiple layered bunny suits with self contained breathing apparatus. Cleanroom clothing is used to prevent substances from being released off the wearer’s body and contaminating the environment. The Cleanroom clothing itself must not release particles or fibers to prevent contamination of the environment by personnel. This type of personnel contamination can degrade product performance in the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries and it can cause crossinfection between medical staff and patients in the healthcare industry for example. Cleanroom garments include boots, shoes, aprons, beard covers, bouffant caps, coveralls, face masks, frocks/lab coats, gowns, glove and finger cots, hairnets, hoods, sleeves and shoe covers. The type of Cleanroom garments used should reflect the Cleanroom and product specifications. Low-level Cleanrooms may only require special shoes having completely smooth soles that do not track in dust or dirt. However, shoe bottoms must not create slipping hazards since safety always takes precedence. A Cleanroom suit is usually required for entering a Cleanroom. Class 10,000 Cleanrooms may use simple smocks, head covers, and booties. For Class 10 Cleanrooms, careful gown wearing procedures with a zipped cover all, boots, gloves and complete respirator enclosure are required.
Upto what level the particles have to be removed depends upon the standards required. One such standard which is used is the Federal Standard 209E. T9E is a document that establishes standard classes of air cleanliness for airborne particulate levels in Cleanrooms and clean zones. Strict rules and procedures are followed to prevent contamination of the product.
Microbioz India, April 2017
Cover Story Table-1 United States Federal Standard
Class
US FED STD 209E Maximum Particles/ft
ISO Equivalent 3
≥0.1µm
≥0.2µm
≥0.3µm
≥0.5µm
≥5µm
1
35
7.5
3
1
0.007
ISO3
10
350
75
30
10
0.07
ISO4
100
3,500
750
300
100
0.7
ISO5
1000
35,000
7,500
3,000
1000
7
ISO6
10,000
350,000
75,000
30,000
10,000
70
ISO7
100,000
3,500,000
750,000
300,000
100,000
700
ISO8
Table-2 ISO 14644-1 Cleanroom Standards
Maximum Particles/m3
Class ≥0.1µm
≥0.2µm
ISO 1
10
2
ISO 2
100
ISO 3
≥5µm
≥0.3µm
≥0.5µm
24
10
4
1,000
237
102
35
8
Class 1
ISO 4
10,000
2,370
1,020
352
83
Class 10
ISO 5
100,000
23,700
10,200
3,520
832
293
Class 100
ISO 6
1,000,000
237,000
102,000
35,200
8,320
2,930
Class 1000
ISO 7
352,000
83,200
29,300
Class 10,000
ISO 8
3,520,000
832,000
293,000
Class 100,000
ISO 9
35,200,000
8,320,000
2930,000
Room Air
Microbioz India, April 2017
≥1µm
FED STD 209E Equivalent
www.microbiozindia.com
13
Cover Story
Cleanroom Classification
1.
Cleanrooms are classified on the basis of the number of particles that are permitted per cubic meter of air. However, different organizations follow different criteria to classify Cleanrooms. Before global Cleanroom classifications and standards were adopted by the International Standards Organization (ISO), the U.S. General Service administration’s Standards (known as FS209E) were applied virtually worldwide. However, when the need for the International standards was felt, a technical committee and working teams were established by ISO to present its own set of standards.
2.
3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
11. 12. 13. The FS209E standard (Table 1) has six classes, while the ISO 14644-1 14. classification system (Table-2) contains two cleaner standards and one dirtier standard in addition. The Class 1 is the "cleanest" cleanroom in FS209E standard while the Class In ISO cleanroom 100,000 is the "dirtiest" cleanroom class 100,000. In ISO cleanroom classifications, the ratings are done on the basis of how much particulate of specific sizes exist per cubic meter is present. The "cleanest" cleanroom is a class 1 and the "dirtiest" a class 9. ISO class 3 is approximately equal to FS209E class 1, while ISO class 8 approximately equals FS209E class 100,000. Many of us would think about how these particles are being counted or some may wonder about how the sizes of these particles are calculates.
classifications, the ratings are done on the basis of how much particulate of specific sizes exist per cubic meter is present.
All personal items such as keys, watches, rings, matches, lighters and cigarettes should be stored in the personal locker outside the gowning room. Valuable personal Items such as wallets may be permitted in the Cleanroom provided they are NEVER removed from beneath the Cleanroom garments. NO eating, smoking or gum chewing allowed inside the Cleanroom. Only garments approved for the Cleanroom should be worn when entering. NO cosmetics shall be worn in the Cleanrooms. This includes: rouge, lipstick, eye shadow, eyebrow pencil, mascara, eye liner, false eye lashes, fingernail polish, hair spray, mousse, or the heavy use of aerosols, after shaves and perfumes. Only approved Cleanroom paper shall be allowed in the Cleanroom. Approved ball point pens shall be the only writing tool used. Use of paper or fabric towels are prohibited. Use of hand dryers equipped with HEPA filters are suggested. Gloves or finger cots should not be allowed to touch any item or surface that has not been thoroughly cleaned. Only approved gloves, finger cots (powder-free), pliers, tweezers should be used to handle product. Finger prints can be a major source of contamination on some products. Solvent contact with the bare skin should be avoided. They can remove skin oils and increase skin flaking. Approved skin lotions or lanolin based soaps are sometimes allowed. These can reduce skin flaking. All tools, containers and fixtures used in the cleaning process should be cleaned to the same degree as the Cleanroom surfaces. All of these items are a source of contamination. NO tool should be allowed to rest on the surface of a bench or table. It should be place on a Cleanroom wiper. 15. Only Cleanroom approved wipers are allowed to be used. The wipers must be approved for the Class of Cleanroom being cleaned. 16. ALL equipment, materials and containers introduced into a sterile facility must be subjected to stringent sterilization prior to entrance. 17. NO ONE who is physically ill, especially with respiratory or stomach disorders, may enter a sterile room. This is a good practice in any cleanroom environment. Personal Actions Typically Prohibited in Cleanrooms
This is genrally done by a discrete, light-scattering airborne particle counter which determines the concentration of airborne particles, equal to and larger than the specified sizes, at designated sampling locations.
Writing on equipment or garments. Sitting or leaning on equipment or work surfaces. Wearing the Cleanroom garment outside the Cleanroom. Wearing torn or soiled garments. Removal of items from beneath the Cleanroom garments Fast motions such as running, walking fast or horseplay.
References General Cleanroom Regulations Below is a list of general regulations recommended as a minimum for the successful operation of a Cleanroom. All professional cleaning personnel should be aware and follow these regulations at all times.
Microbioz India, April 2017
http://www.coastwidelabs.com/Technical%20Articles/Cleaning%20the %20Cleanroom.htm http://www.cleanairtechnology.com/cleanroom-classifications-class.php https://www.terrauniversal.com/cleanrooms/iso-classificationcleanroom-standards.php http://www.americancleanrooms.com/cleanroom-classifications/
www.microbiozindia.com
15
Research Updates
Ultrasound and microbubbles may help detect malignant cancer in humans, study finds A Stanford-led team of researchers have found out a new way to diagnose cancer without resorting to surgery, raising the possibility of far fewer biopsies. his was reported as a result of the first-in-humans clinical trial which involved 24 women with ovarian tumors and 21 women with breast tumors who were intravenously injected with the microbubbles capable of binding to and identifying cancer. It was followed by an ordinary ultrasound to visualize the tumor for about a half hour after injection. The malignant tumors was found to be clustered by the high test bubbles while the benign tumor remained as it is.
T
The ultrasound imaging of patients' bubble-labeled tumors was followed up with biopsies and pathology studies that confirmed the accuracy of the diagnostic microbubbles.
What are microbubbles? Medical microbubbles are spheres of phospholipids, between 1 to 4 microns in diameter and made of the same material that makes up the membranes of living cells. They are filled with a harmless mixture of perfluorobutane and nitrogen gas.
And it also works with ordinary ultrasound equipment. "So, there's no new ultrasound equipment that needs to be built for that," he said. "You can just use your regular ultrasound and turn on the contrast mode -- which all modern ultrasound equipment has." According to the researcher, Willman, the labeled microtubules MBKDR offers one more advantage which is that the bubbles remain attached to the tumors for several minutes and as long as half an hour -- the longest time tested in the trial. That gives clinicians time to image both breasts or both ovaries, without having to start over with a new injection of contrast agent. According to the researcher Willman, the technique shows a way to distinguish benign from malignant tumors with harmless ultrasound imaging and could save millions of patients from biopsies they don't need. “To decrease those unnecessary biopsies and surgeries would be a huge leap forward," he adds. "We could make ultrasound a highly accurate screening technology that is relatively low cost, highly available and with no radiation." And since ultrasound technology is accessible almost everywhere, he said, the technology could potentially help patients all over the world.
However, ordinary microbubbles which have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and in clinical use for several years now have only been used to image organs like the liver by displaying the bubbles as they pass through blood vessels. Up to now, the bubbles couldn't latch onto blood vessels of cancer in patients.
The research has been published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology with, JürgenWillmann, MD, a professor of radiology at Stanford as the lead author, and Sanjiv "Sam" Gambhir, MD, PhD, professor and chair of radiology, as the senior author of the study.
Safe but better microbubbles
Story Source/ Credit: Stanford University
In this study, the researchers used microbubbles which were designed to bind to a receptor called KDR found on the tumor blood vessels of cancer but not in healthy tissue.
Journal Reference:
This receptor is absent in noncancerous cells. Under ultrasound imaging, the labeled microbubbles, called MBKDR, show up clearly when they cluster in a tumor. And since benign breast and ovarian tumors generally lack KDR, the labeled microbubbles mostly passed them by. This small preliminary safety trial which used the technique of microbubbles appeared to be both safe and very sensitive, said Willmann, who is chief of the Division of Body Imaging at Stanford.
16
www.microbiozindia.com
Jürgen K. Willmann, Lorenzo Bonomo, Antonia Carla Testa, Pierluigi Rinaldi, Guido Rindi, Keerthi S. Valluru, Gianluigi Petrone, Maurizio Martini, Amelie M. Lutz, Sanjiv S. Gambhir. Ultrasound Molecular Imaging With BR55 in Patients With Breast and Ovarian Lesions: First-in-Human Results. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2017; JCO.2016.70.859 DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2016.70.8594
Microbioz India, April 2017
New material could save time and money in medical imaging and environmental remediation esearchers at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a material that holds the key to cheap, fast and portable new sensors for a wide range of chemicals that presently cost government and industries large sums to detect. The innovation could lead to major public health gains, as it holds the potential to drastically reduce the costs associated with cleaning-up accidental chemical spills, remediating old industrial sites, detecting radioactive contamination in drinking water, and operating medical and research imaging devices.
R
According to the lead researcher, Simon Humphrey, associate professor of chemistry, “a company with an abandoned chemical plant that has barrels of unlabeled solvents or a public utility concerned its water supply has been contaminated today face a cumbersome process of identifying the chemicals before they can start clean-up.” He adds further,“it's costly and can take two or three days. We can now do that with a rapid, on-site method -- and that difference could improve people's health and reduce pollution a lot more efficiently." Humphrey envisions disposable paper dipsticks coated with the new material. A user would dip one into an uncharacterized substance and stick it into an ultraviolet (UV) reader. Based on the colors of light emitted, the device would indicate what components, such as organic solvents, fluoride, mercury and heavy metals, are in the substance. The material, called PCM-22 and described in a paper published in the journal Chem, is a crystal made of lanthanide ions and triphenylphosphine. When a chemical bonds to the material and a UV light shines on it, the material emits specific colors of visible light. Each chemical produces a unique eight-factor signature of color and brightness that can be used to identify and quantify it in an uncharacterized sample. The research involves calibrating the sensor on known samples to create a catalog of fingerprints that can be used to identify the components of uncharacterized samples, the dipstick-type sensors would be relatively simple to produce, Humphrey said. He and UT Austin share joint patents on the sensor material and on the process of analyzing results, and UT Austin's Office of Technology Commercialization has already begun work to license the technology to companies. Another advantage that is offered by PCM-22 is that it can distinguish between two types of water -- the ordinary water (H2O) that we experience in everyday life and so-called heavy water (D2O), used in the operation of medical and research imaging.
Microbioz India, April 2017
With D2O, hydrogen atoms are replaced by deuterium atoms, but the two types of water are notoriously hard to tell apart because they look and, in most cases, behave the same chemically. It normally requires a costly test with a sophisticated piece of laboratory equipment called a laser spectrometer to differentiate the two apart. Because the new material PCM-22 makes distinguishing between the two types of water simpler, it could become much easier for government agencies to detect the presence of radioactive contamination in drinking water or other bodies of water such as lakes and rivers. When ordinary water interacts with radioactive material, such as uranium, some of it is converted to heavy water, so elevated levels of heavy water give an early warning of contamination with radioactive material. The ability to detect and quantify the two forms of water quickly, cheaply and at the point of need also would pave the way for more affordable and reliable medical and research imaging, such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), which requires heavy water to operate. For NMR to function properly, this heavy water has to be very pure, but it is easily contaminated with ordinary water from moisture in the atmosphere. "When you buy heavy water from a manufacturer it starts out ultrapure," Humphrey said. "But as soon as you unscrew the bottle, hydrogen atoms from the air start swapping with deuterium atoms. A week later, all of the H's have become scrambled with the D's and it effectively ruins the heavy water. It's an exchange that you can't stop." The new material, which is sensitive enough to detect concentrations of ordinary water as low as 10 parts per million in a solution of heavy water, could make it cheaper and faster to verify the purity of this important reagent. Story Source/Credit: University of Texas Journal Reference: Samuel G. Dunning, Ana J. Nuñez, Matthew D. Moore, Alexander Steiner, Vincent M. Lynch, Jonathan L. Sessler, Bradley J. Holliday, Simon M. Humphrey. A Sensor for Trace H 2 O Detection in D 2 O. Chem, 2017; 2 (4): 579 DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2017.02.010
www.microbiozindia.com
17
Research Updates
New App for Diabetes predicts blood sugar levels
A
First-of-its-kind personalized glucose forecasting tool named ‘Glucoracle’ may make food planning simpler for type 2 diabetes patients.
The researchers of Columbia University has developed personalized algorithm that predicts the impact of particular foods on an individual's blood sugar levels. The algorithm has been integrated into an app, Glucoracle, that will allow individuals with type 2 diabetes to keep a tighter rein on their glucose levels and could help them in preventing or controlling the major complications of a disease that affects 8 percent of Americans. Doctors often prescribe medications to help patients with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels, but exercise and diet also play an important role. "While we know the general effect of different types of food on blood glucose, the detailed effects can vary widely from one person to another and for the same person over time," said lead author David Albers, PhD, associate research scientist in Biomedical Informatics at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) in the context of the above research. "Even with expert guidance, it's difficult for people to understand the true impact of their dietary choices, particularly on a meal-to-meal basis. Our algorithm, integrated into an easy-to-use app, predicts the consequences of eating a specific meal before the food is eaten, allowing individuals to make better nutritional choices during mealtime,� he added. Further, the co-study leader George Hripcsak, MD, MS, the Vivian Beaumont Allen Professor and chair of Biomedical Informatics at CUMC explained that the algorithm makes use of a technique called data assimilation, in which a mathematical model of a person's response to glucose is regularly updated with observational data, blood sugar measurements and nutritional information -- to improve the model's predictions. "The data assimilator is continually updated with the user's food intake and blood glucose measurements, personalizing the model for that individual," said co-study leader Lena Mamykina, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical informatics at CUMC, whose team has designed and developed the Glucoracle app.
18
www.microbiozindia.com
How Glucoracle works? Glucoracle allows the user to upload fingerstick blood measurements and a photo of a particular meal to the app, along with a rough estimate of the nutritional content of the meal. This estimate provides the user with an immediate prediction of post-meal blood sugar levels. The estimate and forecast are then adjusted for accuracy. The app begins generating predictions after it has been used for a week, allowing the data assimilator has learned how the user responds to different foods. The researchers initially tested the data assimilator on five individuals using the app, including three with type 2 diabetes and two without the disease. The app's predictions were compared with actual post-meal blood glucose measurements and with the predictions of certified diabetes educators. For the two non-diabetic individuals, the app's predictions were comparable to the actual glucose measurements. For the three subjects with diabetes, the app's forecasts were slightly less accurate, possibly due to fluctuations in the physiology of patients with diabetes or parameter error, but were still comparable to the predictions of the diabetes educators. "There's certainly room for improvement," said Dr. Albers. "This evaluation was designed to prove that it's possible, using routine selfmonitoring data, to generate real-time glucose forecasts that people could use to make better nutritional choices. We have been able to make an aspect of diabetes self-management that has been nearly impossible for people with type 2 diabetes more manageable. Now our task is to make the data assimilation tool powering the app even better." These early results have encourages the researchers to prepare for a larger clinical trial. The researchers estimate that the app could be ready for widespread use within two years. The findings of this research has been published online in the journal PLOS Computational Biology. Story Source/Credit: Columbia University Medical Center Journal Reference: David Albers et al. Personalized Glucose Forecasting for Type 2 Diabetics Using Data Assimilation. PLOS Computational Biology, 2017 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005232 V
Microbioz India, April 2017
Research Updates
New test can identify dangerous bacteria with resistance to last-resort antibiotic
A
new research suggests that some the most dangerous and drug-resistant types of bacterial infections can be quickly and accurately diagnosed using equipment already owned by most hospitals.
Slowly and gradually, bacteria have been evolving to become resistant to the antibiotics used to treat them. Over the last few years, scientists have found evidence that some bacteria have become resistant to a last resort antibiotic called colistin. The same was presented by researchers in a presentation at the 27th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in which the described how they were able to test bacteria to quickly tell whether they were resistant to colistin, and how easily they might pass this resistance on to other bacteria. They say this is an important discovery because knowing which patients have these most dangerous infections means it is possible to use quarantine measures to halt their spread and stop the rise of drug resistance. The researchers who presented are Dr Laurent Dortet, Associate Professor at South Paris University, France, and a researcher at Imperial College London, UK. The work was collaboration between DrDortet and colleagues at Imperial, Dr Gerald Larrouy-Maumus and Professor Alain Filloux. Their researched involved studying bacteria called Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, members of a group of bacteria called Enterobacteriacae that can cause gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections, lung diseases such bronchitis and pneumonia, and even sepsis.
A number of strains of these bacteria have become resistant to nearly all available antibiotics mostly by producing antibiotic inactivating enzymes, for example extended-spectrum -lactamases and carbapenemases, thus making colistin the only treatment option for these multidrug resistant bacteria. Unfortunately, some have now also developed resistance to colistin. Previous research has shown two different types of colistin resistance exist in bacteria. One type, called chromosome-encoded resistance, can only be passed on when bacteria grow and divide to form new bacteria cells. The other type, called plasmid-encoded resistance, is considered more dangerous because it can be passed on from one type of bacteria to another completely different type of bacteria. DrDortet told the congress: "This plasmid-encoded resistance is particularly worrying because it has the potential to spread quickly and easily and, if that happens, last resort drugs like colistin could also become obsolete. If, on the other hand, we are able to rapidly identify bacteria that have this type of resistance, we can take measures to stop its spread. This might include isolating the patient in a separate room where they are treated by dedicated medical staff." The team tested 134 different colonies of bacteria using a machine called a mass spectrometer. Mass spectrometers are found in testing labs at most hospitals where they are used to analyse various different molecules. They found that it was possible to distinguish not only between those bacteria that are colistin resistant, and those that are not, but also which bacteria have the more dangerous plasmid-encoded resistance. They say the test can be carried out in around 15 minutes and would cost less than one US dollar per sample. DrLarrouy-Maumus explained: "The exciting thing about this technique is that it relies on technology that is already available in most hospitals. This means that it could be rolled out quickly and cheaply, and potentially have a rapid impact on tackling drug-resistance." The researchers are now working with Imperial Innovations, Imperial College London's technology transfer office, to patent the technique and develop it for widespread use in hospital laboratories. They say the test could also be useful for screening in veterinary samples, where levels of colistin-resistance are known to be high. It might also be used for testing whether new drugs are able restore bacteria's vulnerability to colistin. Story Source/ Credit: European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Microbioz India, April 2017
www.microbiozindia.com
19
Research Updates
A molecule in brain controls appetite, study finds esearchers of Hiroshima University have discovered a new molecule that increases appetite during fasting, and decreases it during gorging. Named NPGL, a neuron-exciting protein, it aims to maintain body mass at a constant, neither too low nor two high. The discovery of the molecule has greatly increased the understanding of hunger in scientists who until now knew that leptin, a hormone released by fatty tissue, reduces appetite, while ghrelin, a hormone released by stomach tissue makes us want to eat more.
R
The discovery of NPGL by Professor Kazuyoshi Ukena of Hiroshima University shows that hunger and energy consumption mechanisms are even more complex than what we think and that NPGL plays a central role in what were thought to be well-understood processes. NPGL was first discovered by Professor Ukenain chickens after noticing that growing birds grew larger irrespective of diet -- suggesting there was more to energy metabolism than meets the eye. Intrigued, the researchers at HU performed a DNA database search to see if mammals might also possess this elusive substance. They found that it exists in all vertebrates -including humans. To investigate the role of NPGL, if any, in mammals, Professor Ukena's team fed three groups of mice, on three distinct diets, to see how NPGL levels are altered. They fed the first set of mice on a low-calorie diet for 24 hours, the second group on a high-fat diet for 5 weeks and the third lucky group was fed on a high-fat diet, but for an extended period of 13 weeks. It was found that the mice fed on a low calorie diet experienced an extreme increase in NPGL expression, while the 5-week high-fat-diet group saw a large decrease in NPGL expression. On further analysis, it was found that mice possess NPGL, and its associated neuron network, in the exact same locations of the brain as those regions already known to control appetite suppression and energy use. According to Professor Ukena, NPGL plays a vital role in these mechanisms -- increasing appetite when energy levels fall and reducing appetite when an
Microbioz India, April 2017
energy overload is detected -- together, helping to keep us at a healthy and functioning weight, and more importantly alive! Increase in NPGL level in mice exposed to a low calorie diet also shows that it is an appetite promoter, working in opposition to appetite suppressing hormones such as leptin.
And the decrease in NPGL levels, which plummeted in the 5-week-long high-fatdiet mice -- fell back to normal levels in mice who stuffed themselves for the longer period of 13 weeks. Professor Ukena says that more study is needed to understand the interaction of previously known appetite mechanisms with this new kid on the homeostasis block. It does seem however, that we still have a lot to learn about appetite, hunger, and energy consumption. It is hoped that this study into mammalian NPGL adds another piece to the puzzle. For those who believe that dieting is difficult, the discovery and study of mammalian NPGL helps explain why, and provides a convincing excuse for those whose good intentions fall short. Story Source/ Credit: Hiroshima University Journal Reference: aichi Matsuura KenshiroShikano Takaya Saito EikoIwakoshi-Ukena Megumi Furumitsu Yuta Ochi Manami Sato George E. Bentley Lance J. Kriegsfeld Kazuyoshi Ukena. Neurosecretory protein GL, a hypothalamic small secretory protein, participates in energy homeostasis in male mice. Endocrinology, March 2017 DOI: 10.1210/en.2017-00064
www.microbiozindia.com
21
Research Updates
New brain cells generated using skin stem cells Study leads to advanced understanding of the role of microglia in Alzheimer's disease Making use of human skin cells, Neurobiologists at University of California, have created a method to generate one of the principle cell types of the brain called microglia, which play an important role in preserving the function of neural networks and responding to injury and disease.
T
he results marks an important step in the use of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells for targeted approaches to better understand and potentially treat neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's. These iPS cells are derived from existing adult skin cells and show increasing utility as a promising approach for studying human disease and developing new therapies.
Skin cells were donated from patients at the UCI Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. The study, led by Edsel Abud, Wayne Poon and Mathew Blurton Jones of UCI, used a genetic process to reprogram these cells into a pluripotent state which could then develop into any type of cell or tissue of the body. These pluripotent cells were then guided by researchers to a new state by exposing them to a series of differentiation factors which mimicked the developmental origin of microglia. The resulting cells act very much like human microglial cells.
"Our findings provide a renewable and highthroughput method for understanding the role of inflammation in Alzheimer's disease using human cells.� "These translational studies will better inform disease-modulating therapeutic strategies," he added. Their study has been published in the current issue of the journal Neuron.
22
www.microbiozindia.com
In the brain, microglia mediate inflammation and the removal of dead cells and debris. These cells make up 10- to 15-percent of brain cells and are needed for the development and maintenance of neural networks. According to Blurton-Jones, an assistant professor of the Department of Neurobiology & Behavior and Director of the ADRC iPS Core, "Microglia play an important role in Alzheimer's and other diseases of the central nervous system. Recent research has revealed that newly discovered Alzheimer's-risk genes influence microglia behavior. Using these cells, we can understand the biology of these genes and test potential new therapies.� "Scientists have had to rely on mouse microglia to study the immunology of AD. This discovery provides a powerful new approach to better model human disease and develop new therapies," added Poon, a UCI MIND associate researcher. Further Abud, an M.D./Ph.D. student said that, "Our findings provide a renewable and high-throughput method for understanding the role of inflammation in Alzheimer's disease using human cells.� "These translational studies will better inform disease-modulating therapeutic strategies," he added. Story Source/ Credit: University of California Journal Reference: Edsel M. Abud, Ricardo N. Ramirez, Eric S. Martinez, Luke M. Healy, Cecilia H.H. Nguyen, Sean A. Newman, Andriy V. Yeromin, Vanessa M. Scarfone, Samuel E. Marsh, CristhianFimbres, Chad A. Caraway, Gianna M. Fote, Abdullah M. Madany, Anshu Agrawal, RakezKayed, Karen H. Gylys, Michael D. Cahalan, Brian J. Cummings, Jack P. Antel, Ali Mortazavi, Monica J. Carson, Wayne W. Poon, Mathew Blurton-Jones. IPSC-Derived Human Microglia-like Cells to Study Neurological Diseases. Neuron, 2017; 94 (2): 278 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.03.042
Microbioz India, April 2017
Research Updates
Malaria could be diagnosed by analyzing patient’s immune response, study finds
M
alaria affects nearly 200 million people globally but its non-specific symptoms, coupled with a lack of access to testing facilities makes it difficult to distinguish from other infectious diseases.
Treating malaria promptly not only increases a patient's chances of survival, but also helps prevent the disease from spreading to more people. The new research, presented by Purvesh Khatri, Assistant Professor in the department of medicine at Stanford University, USA, presented on the World Malaria Day at the 27th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) measures a patient's immune response and could help in quickly and accurately diagnosing malaria. The research could ultimately speed up malaria diagnosis and treatment. Along with his team, Prof. Khatri studied the way the immune system responds to infection by looking at gene expression -- which genes are active and which are not -- and whether there are differences in patients with malaria compared to other infectious diseases. When it is active, each gene produces a unique molecule called a messenger ribonucleic acid, or mRNA. This means that gene expression can be measured by the amount of each unique type of mRNA found in a blood sample.
"This research suggests that it's possible to develop a fast and accurate blood test for malaria that could be used even in areas where medical facilities are very basic. And if that's the case, more patients can be given life-saving treatment straight away." The team then successfully combined the data already available from 40 previous studies, bringing together more than 3,000 blood samples from patients with various infectious diseases.
This included some from patients who were known to have malaria, some from patients with other common tropical diseases such as dengue, typhoid, or leishmaniasis, and some from healthy volunteers. This allowed the researchers to study the activity of more than 6,000 different genes. They used a computer to trawl through 2,100 of the samples and look for patterns of gene expression. It was found that a group of seven genes showed a different pattern of expression in patients with malaria, compared with healthy people and patients with other infectious diseases. Prof. Khatri told the congress: "We know that the immune system is able to deploy different tactics for fighting different infections such as bacteria, viruses and the malaria parasite. This research shows that we can detect signs of these differences by looking at which genes are being expressed, and we think it is possible to use this knowledge to speed up diagnosis and treatment." Once the pattern of expression of these genes had been identified, Prof. Khatri and his colleagues tested it out on the remaining 900 samples from patients with different tropical diseases and from healthy people. They found that the pattern could distinguish malaria samples from the others with 96% accuracy. Prof Khatri said: "The early signs of malaria include fever, headache and nausea, which can also be signs of common viruses such as the flu, or of other tropical diseases such as dengue. The gold-standard for diagnosing malaria involves examining blood under a microscope, but that option is not always available, for example in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. "This research suggests that it's possible to develop a fast and accurate blood test for malaria that could be used even in areas where medical facilities are very basic. And if that's the case, more patients can be given life-saving treatment straight away." Prof. Khatri says the work still needs to be validated in a prospective trial, where the activity of these genes will be tested on samples from patients with suspected but undiagnosed malaria. At the same time, he is working with colleagues to develop a device for measuring the expression of these genes that could be used in a low-resource setting. If both are successful, the test could be available in the next three to five years.
Story Source/ Credit: European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease
Microbioz India, April 2017
www.microbiozindia.com
23
Product Show
Sai Scientific Instruments global leader in the “next generation” of scientific lab ai Scientific Instruments was started in 1991 and is a Ambala; Haryana-based Lab Equipment manufacturing company. We design and deliver best lab equipments to the global companies. We also provide a complete range of scientific & laboratory research apparatus made from high quality raw material ranging from brass (entrusted), stainless steel, aluminum, mild steel, acrylic, rubber, wooden, Teflon and borosilicate, silica and quartz glassware.
S
Our dedication is to provide the best quality product and customer service in parallel. Moreover, we strive to improve our product quality through continuous in-house R&D. We have vowed to produce the best possible products and pass it on to the end users. May it be the latest design, technology, working convenience and lifelong working and possible zero problems, a unique combination of long technical experience of over two decades and subject knowledge has prompted us to stake this claim. With its own manufacturing facilities, professional management and commitment to quality & customer satisfaction along with almost two decades of experience, we are fully capable of meeting the demands & requirements of customers all over the world.
Quality
:
Our Products are as per with Indian & International Standards.
24
www.microbiozindia.com
Production
: We are having complete in house facilities for
Production and Storage of finished and semifinished materials.
Deliveries
: Our products are mainly available in our stock or if
not, we make it available within a specific time and fast delivery with quality is our main objective.
Featured products Here is few range of products manufactured by Sai Scientific Instruments BOD Incubator B.O.D incubators are suitable for preservation of vaccines, insulin, lever extracts, chemicals etc. and to make biochemical oxygen demand determination. The low temperature indicator is made of double walled mild steel sheet finished with epoxy based powder coated; inner chamber is made of highly polished stainless steel or Alluminium. Two doos are provided. Inner door is made of transparent acrylic for inspecting specimens; outer door is insulated and is fitted with magnetic tape with lick and key. Temperature ranges from 5-50degree C with an accuracy of ±1 degree C. It is also provided with two air circulating fans of high performance.
Microbioz India, April 2017
Product Show
Hot Plate Rectangular Provided with temperature controller having temperature range upto 350 degrees C; it is suitable for general purpose laboratory heating. Rectangular cast iron plate is fixed on a thick mild steel body. Heating elements made of high temperature kanthal wire are fixed beneath the plate. Body is convered with thick layered powder coating. Temperature is controlled by an energy regulator.
B.O.D Incubator
U.V. Cabinet U.V cabinet is used for viewing & detecting prepared substance on TLC plates and a number of other laboratory & investigation work. This cabinet is fitted with one long U.V., one short U.V. and one visible light. An eye protective glass window is also provided on the top front for viewing the samples.
Melting Point Melting point apparatus is very useful in the determination of the melting point of any substance in small quantity upto 300 degree C. It consists of an aluminium block which accepts three capillary tubes and a mercury thermometer. The block is heated by two elements clamped to the sides. The built in lamp provides uniform and shadowless illumination of sample tube which are viewed through the magnifying lens against either a dark or bright ground selected by rotating a knob to the rear of the apparatus.
Water Bath Water bath rectangular is suitable for evaporating liquids like alcohol or for melting solids such as agar. Conecntric rings can be removed to accommodate containers of various sizes. Double walled chamber is made of stainess steel and outer wall is made of thick mild steel finished with powder coating or stainless steel. The double walled chamber is filled with high grade insulation to prevent heat loss. This is provided with ISI mark heating device, controlled by capillary type thermostat from ambient to 110 degree C, within = -1 degree C, two indicator lights & one on/off rotary switch.
26
www.microbiozindia.com
Magnetic stirrer Magnetic stirrer with hot plate, with temperature regulator suitable for stirring and with variable speed controller.
Microbioz India, April 2017
Product Show
Tiny Mart introduces World's Best B2B Market Buy & Sell Medical Equipments Online o you ever have a tough time finding an international or overseas buyer for your medical or dental product? OR Are you not able to buy low cost, efficient and quality medical & dental products or equipment from international or overseas suppliers? If your answer is “Yes” for any of the above questions, then you have no need to worry again! Tinymartgroup.com has provided a unique solution that would benefit B2B wholesale business trading across the international market.
D
Our Unique Solution Users can buy products sold by international sellers on our platform. Tinymartgroup has partnered with numerous hospitals, pharmaceutical laboratories along with medical, dental & laboratory product manufacturers around the world. The innovative service of the tinymartgroup service makes online purchase powered by machine learning and complex artificial intelligence. This help our buyers view exactly the product they looking for and at the best rates compared to other marketplace.
Benefits for Online Buyers Buyers can place quotation with the seller of the product to be purchased. The seller can be an OEM manufacturer or distributor. The wholesale or bulk deal price can be negotiated with the seller. We will provide your buyer contact information and quotation to the seller on request from the buyer.
Microbioz India, April 2017
Similarly, the buyers can obtain product and seller information and purchase product by negotiating with the manufacturer or distributor directly.
Global Presence of our Online Shopping Marketplace We have sellers from various countries registered with us. The buyer can buy medical, dental and laboratory products from sellers in China, United States, Singapore, Dubai, India, United Kingdom, Germany and sellers from other countries. Go through Tiny Mart official web portal (http://www.tinymartgroup.com) to access our global B2B online market for Medical, Dental & Laboratory Products & Equipments
Our Mobile App Our Android App “Tiny Mart” is designed for meeting our customer’s requirements and satisfaction. All our features and innovation can be accessed on our mobile app. Download “Tiny Mart” android mobile app from Google play store.
Why Need IT? In simple terms, Tiny Mart is a Global Market for Laboratory & Medical Equipments. Her global presence and relationships with international traders in United States, Europe, Middle East and South Asian countries would help to generate business leads for you. As simple as it sounds, “International Business Leads” on your finger tips.
www.microbiozindia.com
27
Product Show 3.
Some of elegant features of Tiny Mart are 1.
World’s Best B2B trade facilitator for Laboratory & Medical Equipments.
2. Provide Access to International Business Leads Get ‘Best Product’ at ‘Best Price’ from ‘Best Sellers’ across the world. Call Directly and Make Deals with One Touch.
No Masked Numbers or any Fake Leads. All Sellers details exposed and transparent. Choose from Thousands of laboratory products worldwide.
We try to ensure genuineness of data and best business in the world. If you wish to obtain our support and care for your business and growth, click on the download application and connect with us and thousands of fellow sellers and buyers across the globe. OR Scan the QR code from your phone to Download Tiny Mart Mobile App. Website: http://www.tinymartgroup.com Email ID: business@tinymartgroup.com
28
www.microbiozindia.com
Microbioz India, April 2017
Product Launch
PRODUCT LAUNCH LABORATORY ANALYTICAL EQUIPMENTS Storage tubes
Mainly designed for Light Sensitive Samples Micronic, Lelysted, the Netherlands, offers 0.75 ml and 1.40 ml amber-tinted polypropylene storage tubes that ensure the integrity of light-sensitive biological samples even over long-term storage periods. The tubes are manufactured from special amber-colored material, eliminating sample degradation from exposure to light while still permitting visual checking of the enclosed sample volume. For details: www.micronic.com News Credit: http://www.clpmag.com
Vertical Laminar Flow Cabinet
Manufactured with rear-wall perforations The product is improved by the company named “Air Science� having perforations on rear wall that remove a small amount of air at the rear of the cabinet to minimize turbulence. Airflow directly strikes the work surface, and an ultra-low particulate air filter is mounted above it, providing a taller, deeper work space. For details: www.airscience.com News Credit: http://www.clpmag.com
Microbioz India, April 2017
www.microbiozindia.com
31
Product Launch
Fume Hood
Provides total chemical resistance The UniFlow Aire Stream fume hood from Hemco Corp, Independence, Mo, is a high-performance fume hood that maximizes user protection and energy savings. Hoods are constructed entirely of chemical resistant, flame retardant, non-metallic composite resin materials and feature “unitized� construction that does not require metallic hardware. For details: www.hemcocorp.com News Credit: http://www.clpmag.com
High-Performance Refrigerators, Freezers
Units provide significant energy savings A series of high-performance refrigerators and freezers from Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, Mass, has been developed to support sustainability objectives by lowering energy usage and reducing noise output. The Thermo Scientific TSX series refrigerators and freezers feature V-Drive variable speed compressor technology, designed to facilitate improved performance and provide significant energy savings. For details: www.thermofisher.com News Credit: http://www.clpmag.com
Microbioz India, April 2017
www.microbiozindia.com
33
Product Launch
Digital Chilling and Heating Dry Bath
Saves bench space Torrey Pines Scientific Inc, Carlsbad, Calif, has released the two-position EchoTherm model IC22 digital chilling and heating dry bath for use in chilling or heating biological samples from 10°C to 100°C. Saving valuable bench space, the device can run two separate or identical temperatures and two different sample blocks at the same time. For details: www.torreypinesscientific.com News Credit: http://www.clpmag.com
LABORATORY ARRANGEMENTS Fabwall TM
Laboratory Wall Modules Equipment Formaspace, the nation’s leading designer and manufacturer of custom lab furniture and workspace solutions, announced today that they have launched FabWall™ Lab Partition Modules, a new one-of-akind product that is designed specifically for laboratory environments. The new FabWall™, the first ever lab partition module, was designed specifically for laboratories that require frequent layout changes. For details: https://formaspace.com News Credit: http://www.prweb.com
34
www.microbiozindia.com
Microbioz India, April 2017
Product Launch
Subracks
Developed for shock and vibration requirements Pentair, Warwick, RI, offers Schroff subracks for shock and vibration requirements between 5 g and 25 g as part of its standard product portfolio. The subracks feature self-locking assembly screws, special rounded corners and edges, and an additional top cover lock for access protection, added safety, and sound insulation. For details: www.torreypinesscientific.com News Credit: http://www.clpmag.com
Cleanroom Lab Coat
Available in bulk packaging The Kimtech Pure A7 cleanroom lab coat from KimberlyClark Professional, Roswell, Ga, provides enhanced chemical and biological protection and superior contamination control for cleanroom environments. Available in bulk packaging, the lab coats are easy to don and doff. For details: www.kimtech.com News Credit: http://www.clpmag.com
Microbioz India, April 2017
www.microbiozindia.com
35