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Ultramicro Immunodiagnostics

Contents

• UI Overview
• Specialized Instruments
• Specialized Techniques
• Meet the UI Staff
• Publications

Overview

The Ultramicro Immunodiagnostics UI) research team provides collaborative support in the areas of micro- and ultramicro analytical immunochemistry. Additionally, the research group engages in the development of new technologies for the analysis and identification of molecules of biomedical interest, including protein chip technology. Although the techniques available are primarily based on affinity and immunoaffinity isolation procedures, the goal is to provide approaches for molecular identification and characterization including determination of size, PI, and limited sequencing. Studies focus on the development of apparatuses for investigating cell-cell interactions and single cell secretions utilizing specialized sampling chambers for performing such studies.

Specialized Instruments

• Automated capillary electrophoresis system with scanning fluorimeter and UV detection
• A custom-built capillary electrophoresis system with electrochemical and laser-induced fluorescence detection
• A microfluorimeter
• A multi-column recycling affinity/immunoaffinity system
• One- and two-dimensional electrophoresis systems
• Single cell culture and analysis system
• Microdialysis sampling and perfusion system
• Microforge and cell injection/manipulation apparatus
• Multi-dimensional micro- and nano-flow HPLC systems
• Chip-based immunoaffinity and capillary electrophoresis systems
• MS/MS with chip-based nanospray interface
• Bench MALDI-TOF MS

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Specialized Techniques

• Design analytical tools based on affinity and immunoaffinity ligand technology: Such tools can be used to isolate a number of specific analytes from minute (less than 1 µl) samples of complex biological fluids. Examples of such techniques are recycling immunoaffinity chromatography, immunoaffinity capillary electrophoresis, and protein chip technology.
• Design new micro-analytical instruments for the detection of specific analytes at the femtogram and attogram levels of concentration: These instruments will analyze extremely small samples based on chemiluminescence, fluorescence, and time-resolved fluorescence techniques.
• Immobilization chemistry for the production of affinity and immunoaffinity separation plates, chips, and supports: Efforts often focus on custom immobilizations of proteins and peptides to artificial and natural surfaces for the development of chips and biosensors.
• Design and manufacture micro glass tools: These tools are useful for single-cell manipulations such as unique cell capture and cell organelle isolation and micro-injection, and micro chambers are capable of performing single-cell manipulation and analysis.
• Other development specialties include two-dimensional gel and chromatographic analysis of protein expression and secretion from single cells; micro-sequencing of isolated proteins for characterization; and preparative immunochemical techniques for pure protein, peptide, and glycoprotein isolation based on IEF, isotachophoresis, lectin affinity chromatography, and HPLC.

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Meet the NI Staff

Terry Phillips, Ph.D., Sc.D - Immunochemist, Chief

Henry Eden, M.D., Ph.D. - Medical Officer

Heather Kalish, Ph.D. - Chemist

Inna Gorshkova, Ph.D. - Staff Scientist

James Ellis, Ph.D. - Electronics Engineer

Thea Kuddo, M.D. - Research Fellow

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