Molecular Diagnostics

Image: The MAGPIX single or multiplex automated immunoassay reader (Photo courtesy of Bio-Rad).

Assays Detect Inherited Blood Disorders Associated with Malaria

Plasmodium parasites have co-evolved with human hosts and exert a considerable evolutionary pressure on mutations that confer a degree of protection against malaria. More...
07 Feb 2019

$Image: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans of the brain of a normal patient (left) versus an Alzheimer\'s disease patient, which may have been detected earlier by measuring Neurofilament light chain (NfL) in CSF (Photo courtesy of Science Photo Library).$

Blood Test Detects Brain Damage Years before Symptoms

Alzheimer's disease is a major cause of dementia that destroys brain cells and tissue. As the brain damage spreads, it leads to symptoms such as confusion, memory loss, and diminishing capacity to function. Eventually, the person can no longer lead an independent life. More...
07 Feb 2019

DNA Methylation Test Detects Early Aggressive Prostate Cancer

Liquid biopsies that noninvasively detect molecular correlates of aggressive prostate cancer (PCa) could be used to triage patients, reducing the burdens of unnecessary invasive prostate biopsy and enabling early detection of high-risk disease. More...
06 Feb 2019

Image: Vials of cerebrospinal fluid that can be sequenced for cell-free DNA in glioma patients (Photo courtesy of James Heilman, MD).

CSF Liquid Biopsy Sequencing Tracks Glioma Evolution

Genetic tumor profiling of gliomas is used to classify disease and guide therapy, but involves brain surgery for tissue collection; repeated tumor biopsies may be necessary for accurate genotyping over the course of the disease. More...
06 Feb 2019

$Image: Porphyromonas gingivalis gingipains in the neurons of Alzheimer\'s brain. P. gingivalis gingipains = red, neurons = yellow, astrocytes = green (Photo courtesy of Cortexyme).$