Video: Oncimmune Scientists Decode Autoantibody Reactome Using xMAP® Technology

By Lauren Whitman

See how this service company runs high-throughput queries of its antigen library for R&D customers

At Oncimmune, scientists have developed one of the largest commercially available antigen libraries—spanning over 9,000 antigens and covering more than 95% of human antigens. As a precision medicine company specializing in examining immune interactions through the autoantibody profile, it is thanks to their ImmunoINSIGHTSTM platform that Oncimmune discovers and converts autoantibodies into actionable biomarkers, offering applications across immuno-oncology, autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, and neuroscience.

Moreover, Oncimmune enables biotech, biopharma, and contract research organizations (CROs) to harness these autoantibody biomarkers for early-stage discovery, mechanism of action validation, patient stratification in clinical trials, and for predicting treatment response or adverse events. In addition, the technology may also be used for discovering “clinically silent” autoantibodies for early disease detection.

Analyze thousands of antigens across thousands of samples using xMAP® Technology

The company has demonstrated success in profiling autoimmune signatures of patients for eight of the top 15 global pharma companies for de-risking key assets.

To maximize high-throughput studies, the Oncimmune team utilizes xMAP Technology. This approach allows them to analyze thousands of antigens across hundreds or thousands of samples using low sample volume (less than 50 μl).

 

In the Oncimmune partner spotlight video, the world-class scientific team introduces their impressive facility and discusses how xMAP Technology has positively impacted their work.

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Here at Luminex, we are truly inspired by how Oncimmune has deployed the xMAP platform at scale. We encourage you to learn more about the great work they accomplish.

Watch more partner spotlight videos and learn the benefits of becoming a Luminex partner

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Just Bead It!

By: Stephen Angeloni, PhD, Sr. Field Application Scientist, Luminex

From streamlining your workflow to general troubleshooting, learn the benefits and the mystery behind xMAP® Microspheres

Curious about the technology driving your life science testing processes? Discover the unique features of our bead products with their ability to enhance and simplify your workflow, revolutionizing how you perform multi-analyte analysis.

The key to simplifying how you perform efficient multi-analyte analysis is with our xMAP® microspheres (aka beads). xMAP® beads make our technology a one-of-a-kind platform. So, what are they? xMAP beads come in two forms:

  1. MicroPlex® beads are polystyrene particles with a uniform diameter of 5.6 µm.
  2. MagPlex® beads are 6.5 µm in diameter. MagPlex beads are derived from the standard polystyrene microspheres used to make MicroPlex beads but are coated with iron to provide them with superparamagnetic particle-like characteristics.

Both bead types are coated with carboxyl groups allowing proteins or amine modified oligos to be coupled to the beads for the development of different proteomic or nucleic acid applications. The small size and density of both bead types allow the beads to stay in suspension resulting in fast and more complete interactions with analytes in samples.

Streamline your multiplex workflow with xMAP beads

MicroPlex beads are internally dyed with different concentrations of two dyes, enabling Luminex to make 100 different types of beads with slightly different colors.

MagPlex beads are internally dyed with different concentrations of up to three dyes, enabling Luminex to make 500 distinctly colored bead sets. The superparamagnetic properties of MagPlex beads allow them to move quickly in a magnetic field and re-suspend easily upon magnetic field removal. This eliminates the need for centrifugation or filtration steps during assay development and processing.

With both bead types, the power of multiplexing allows the development of assays that require less sample and fewer reagents to yield more data faster and with greater accuracy. However, while the beads are stable and reliable, certain care should be taken when using them.

Keeping your microspheres protected from cumulative light exposure

Microspheres are dyed when placed in an organic solution containing two or three fluorescent dyes. In this organic solution, the microspheres swell, allowing the dyes to diffuse into the microsphere. When the microspheres are washed, they shrink to their original size as the dyes become trapped within the microsphere. This enables Luminex to make 500 different variations of beads with each having a unique color. Each batch is assigned a number from 1 to 500, which serves to identify a bead’s region or bead ID. When the dyes are excited by the red laser of an xMAP system, each bead can be identified by the different emission peaks of the dye combination it contains. Each instrument can identify all 100 MicroPlex beads but only the FLEXMAP 3D® and xMAP INTELLIFLEX® can read all 500 regions.

The three dyes used for bead identification are light-sensitive, meaning that four to six hours of intense cumulative light exposure may result in misclassification where beads start collecting outside their designated regions on the bead map. Photobleaching of the internal dyes is irreversible, and microspheres must be discarded if this occurs. Therefore, you should always protect xMAP beads from prolonged light exposure during storage and incubations in assays.

How the bead map or doublet discriminator can benefit your routine troubleshooting

While using an xMAP flow-based instrument, how the microspheres appear in their regions on the bead map can reveal if the assay is running properly or having issues. For example, if the microspheres appear as a diagonal streak from lower left to upper right through its assigned region (see symptom list below), this may be a sign of agglutination (or the clumping) of the beads. The effect of agglutination may also be seen on the doublet discriminator (DD) plot where a peak to the right of the upper gate appears.

There are several causes for bead clumping, such as the cross-linking of beads during coupling (when highly hydrophobic molecules adhere to the beads), if the beads were not thoroughly vortexed and/or sonicated before assay use, or the need to include detergents and blocking agents in the bead storage and assay buffers.

If you are seeing issues with bead classification (not correctly identifying the beads in your assay), it is best to (1) ensure you selected the correct bead region in the software’s protocol, and (2) confirm the system had a successful calibration/verification to ensure the system is functioning properly.

You can use the xMAP verification microspheres to check the success of the system calibration. If there is a problem with your kit results, ensuring the system has passed calibration and verification can help you determine if the problem is a hardware issue. You may also include MagPlex® Monitoring Microspheres in your assay’s bead mix, which are magnetic polystyrene beads that aid in monitoring assay and instrument performance. These beads can help you troubleshoot if it is an assay or instrument issue that is the cause of unexpected results with median fluorescent intensity (MFI) and bead classification. Below are some additional examples and tips that can be applied to troubleshooting the Luminex® 200™, FLEXMAP 3D®, and xMAP INTELLIFLEX instruments:

Troubleshooting Acquisition Problems

Note that while these images may appear different in xPONENT® and xMAP INTELLIFLEX® software, the concepts of how they appear, and the problems and solutions they represent, are still the same.

 

Symptom Possible Problem Solution
xMAP® microspheres properly classified.

 Not a problem. No solution is required
xMAP® microspheres classify as too high.

 You may be using photobleached calibration microspheres. Replace the calibration microspheres with a fresh batch if due to calibration beads. To avoid photobleaching, protect your microspheres from light.
xMAP® microspheres hit the lower right region.

 You may be using photobleached xMAP® microspheres. Replace the microspheres with a fresh batch. To avoid photobleaching, protect your microspheres from light.
Beads appear scattered.

 There is air in the system. Verify sample probe height. Run three Prime commands, two Alcohol Flush commands, and then run three Wash commands with distilled water.
Beads appear scattered.

 The sheath fluid is empty. Ensure there is sheath fluid in the sheath container. Prime the system until all air is out of the system.
Microspheres appear as a long diagonal line.

 The xMAP® microspheres have agglutinated. Add additional detergent to the assay buffer. For example, add 0.2% to 0.1% Tween-20, Triton X100, or SDS.
Microspheres appear in an arrowhead pattern.

 The assay buffer or solvent is incompatible. Contact Luminex Technical Support for a list of incompatible solvents. If the solvent you are using is listed, switch solvents.
Microspheres appear in an arrowhead pattern.

 You are using incompatible sheath fluid. Use only xMAP® Sheath Fluid PLUS for your xMAP® flow-based instruments. Other fluids may cause damage and may void your warranty.

Want to learn more about how to develop your own xMAP assay? Check out the xMAP Cookbook to learn the best practices.

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Need an xMAP assay but don’t have time, bandwidth, or resources? Trust our experts in the LuminexPLORE Lab to do the work for you!

Meet the experts

About the Author

Stephen Angeloni, PhD, Sr. Field Application Scientist, Luminex

Dr. Angeloni received his PhD in Biochemistry from Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State University. While he has been at Luminex for 12 years, before joining Luminex he had over 30 years of research and industry experience with the development of a wide variety of biochemical, genetic, proteomic, immunology, microscopy, cellular and molecular biology assays. These technologies were applied to studying genetic and environmental factors contributing to the susceptibility or resistance to a number of infectious and non-infectious diseases. This includes studies on disease mechanisms or treatments in the areas of endocrinology, cancer, obesity, diabetes and the development of DNA vaccines. These research efforts employed cellular, mouse and non-human primate model systems. This diversified experience has been applied to developing and supporting commercial applications for cellular genetic engineering, bioinformatic data analysis as well the development of genomic and proteomic assay platforms for research and diagnostics. This experience is now available for supporting the development of several applications on the Luminex xMAP platform.

AAPS PharmSci 360 2023: Making Strides to Tackle Complexity in Drug Development

By Dominic Andrada

Luminex was honored to participate in the 2023 AAPS PharmSci 360 conference in Orlando, Florida, where we rolled out our new redesigned booth as a Diasorin company, and we were represented by research partners that included MilliporeSigma and Charles River Laboratories. Renowned for its all-encompassing approach, every autumn the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) holds the conference as one of the key events to share and exchange information for producing better therapeutics.

Providing the latest advances in pharmaceutical sciences

The pharmaceutical industry is ever-evolving, with breakthroughs in science and technology driving constant advancements to develop more efficacious drugs that have greater safety and are manufactured with ever-improving techniques. The 2023 event covered the entire spectrum of pharmaceutical sciences, from drug discovery and development to regulatory sciences, manufacturing and quality control, as it focused on the following five tracks: Discovery and Basic Research, Preclinical and Translational Sciences, Bioanalytics, Manufacturing and Analytical Characterization, and Formulation and Delivery.

The landscape of various biomarkers in clinical drug development

Among the many interesting scientific sessions, workshops, and keynote presentations was Lindsay King from Pfizer presenting his keynote, “Biomarker Selection and Utility in Clinical Drug Development Today: Workhorses and Unicorns,” which addressed the landscape of different biomarkers in clinical drug development and highlighted that the utility of a given biomarker is dictated by the context of its use (COU), whether as a safety biomarker or to delineate the mechanism of action for a disease.

Another interesting keynote was by professor Jashvant Unadkat, PhD, titled, “Novel Tools and Insights into Predicting Systemic and Tissue Drug Concentrations in Humans Including Special Populations,” where he discussed his work from the Department of Pharmaceutics at the University of Washington regarding drug transporters using quantitative targeted proteomics and traditional PK modeling studies.

Utilizing xMAP® Technology across various disciplines in drug development

Furthermore, several attendees visited the Luminex booth to ask about our partners’ new immunoassays and the xMAP INTELLIFLEX® System. Hearing their insights into how they use xMAP® Technology across disciplines in drug development—from pre-clinical stages to monitoring safety in human clinical trials— proved invaluable, offering practical knowledge and hands-on experiences applicable in real-world scenarios.

xMAP Technology enables other biotechnology companies

We also enjoyed hearing from those representing various biotech companies, including several startups, that rely on xMAP Technology to develop and deliver better products. For example, Ira Herman at Precision Healing spoke about using xMAP assays to evaluate wounds that don’t heal easily. By testing samples of wound exudate with custom 15-plex and 27-plex assays developed with the LuminexPLORE Lab team, the company aims to improve and personalize healing treatments for challenging wounds.

This year’s PharmSci 360 brought together experts from academia, industry, and regulatory bodies to address the complex challenges in drug development, in addition to also allowing Luminex customers to connect with us and share how they continue to utilize the versatility of xMAP Technology to overcome these complex endeavors. For both seasoned professionals and budding scientists, the conference provided a platform for continuous learning and skill development.

Learn how LuminexPLORE Lab custom assay services can help your endeavors

To learn more about using xMAP Technology in your next drug discovery or development project, check out our LuminexPLORE Lab. Our expert team of application scientists specializes in immunoassay and genomic assay development, leveraging industry-leading xMAP® and xTAG® technologies to support a broad range of drug development disciplines.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Learn more about LuminexPLORE Lab!

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At xMAP® Connect Atlanta, Customers Highlighted the Benefits of Multiplexing Across Multiple Applications

From academic to commercial, using their own developed assays or LuminexPLORE Lab services, xMAP® end users showcased a wealth of applications for multiplex assays

By: Lauren Whitman

At our most recent xMAP® Connect event in Atlanta, GA., we had the great privilege of hearing from xMAP end users about how Luminex’s xMAP® Technology is making a difference in their research and development. We’d like to thank everyone who attended, and for those who couldn’t be there in person, we’ve summarized some of the event highlights.

The year in review

Kicking off the day was our own Sherry Dunbar, Senior Director of Global Scientific Affairs Programs, with a comprehensive review of five notable publications citing xMAP Technology in 2023, representing the breadth of the technology used across various applications. In the first three quarters of the year, there were more than 2,500 papers citing our technology — contributing to a total of more than 70,000 papers since xMAP Technology was first commercialized. Dr. Dunbar’s presentation focused on the following paper topics:

Optimizing cytokine analysis with xMAP Technology

From the University of Minnesota, Laura Hocum Stone spoke about work performed in the Preclinical Research Center to optimize the value of testing on animal models for preclinical trials. Her presentation focused on how her team is conducting cytokine analysis to generate accurate, reliable data from nonhuman primates. Cytokines are easily accessed in circulating fluids and can be studied in low sample volumes, improving conditions for animals in these important trials. They evaluated commercially available cytokine assays, selecting an xMAP-based option with an optimized protocol that yielded excellent results.

Evaluating SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious diseases

We also heard about several exciting efforts related to infectious diseases. Mukesh Kumar from Georgia State University spoke about using xMAP cytokine and chemokine assays to study neuroinflammation from infections of COVID-19, Zika, Powassan virus, and more. The approach works well with a variety of sample types and generates rapid results from low-volume samples. In another presentation, Ian Davis from the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases reported on the development of an assay for the rapid detection of mpox virus antigen. The two clade-specific xMAP-based assays were validated, and the team hopes to translate them to lateral-flow format in the future. In one more infectious disease presentation, Dylan George from the University of Nebraska Medical Center described a project designed to measure the humoral response to SARS-CoV-2. The resulting HumorX test is economical, reliable, and easy to use for community screening based on fingerstick blood samples.

xMAP Technology enables other biotechnology companies

We also enjoyed hearing from those representing various biotech companies, including several startups, that rely on xMAP Technology to develop and deliver better products. For example, Ira Herman at Precision Healing spoke about using xMAP assays to evaluate wounds that don’t heal easily. By testing samples of wound exudate with custom 15-plex and 27-plex assays developed with the LuminexPLORE Lab team, the company aims to improve and personalize healing treatments for challenging wounds.

Another startup, EmitBio, is developing a handheld medical device for at-home treatment of respiratory infections that uses specific light wavelengths to eliminate pathogens. Jacob Kocher described how the company used xMAP-based assays to study cytokine response, and then used that data to prioritize or rule out certain wavelengths (for instance, they found that 425 nm light works broadly against variants of SARS-CoV-2).

In another presentation, William Shea from ImmunoProfile (a Luminex partner) spoke about the development of an xMAP assay designed for rapid, cost-effective antibody status for 11 different diseases to help people understand their immunization status and history. The assay, which has performed well in validation studies, is designed to be run from fingerpick samples that can be collected at home by customers and mailed to the lab for analysis.

At Totus Medicines, xMAP Technology is being used to support a pharmacodynamics assay to validate the clinical performance of a molecule designed to inhibit PI3Ka, one of the most mutated oncogenes. Raymond Mak described working with the LuminexPLORE Lab to convert assays originally developed with western blot technology to a dual-reporter xMAP assay for the xMAP INTELLIFLEX DR-SE System that would measure the percentage of PI3Kα that bound to the candidate drug.

Finally, Jason Liggett from New Day Diagnostics (a Luminex partner formerly known as EDP Biotech) spoke about his company’s goal of increasing compliance with colon cancer screening, and how a blood-based test could accomplish that. The company developed ColoPlex™, an xMAP-based assay covering 16 serological protein biomarkers and validated it in a patient cohort of nearly 2,000 samples. The assay can be paired with standard stool-based immunochemical tests to provide more reliable early-stage detection of colon cancers.

At all our xMAP Connect events globally, we find ourselves inspired by the creativity with which scientists deploy our multiplexing technology, and the Atlanta meeting was no exception. We congratulate all our speakers on their terrific work!

COMING SOON!

The Atlanta presentations will be available for your on-demand viewing on our website in early 2024. Keep an eye on your inbox for details! In addition, our team is currently hard at work planning the next xMAP Connect meeting in 2024, so be sure to regularly check our website for updates!

In the meantime, stay in the loop with Luminex and the multiplexing community throughout the year with these helpful resources available at your fingertips:

xMAP Insights Magazine

Don’t Miss the Latest Issue of xMAP® Insights Magazine

Articles include a wealth of tips for deploying xMAP® Technology to analyze proteins and nucleic acids

By: Lauren Whitman

We’re delighted to share the latest edition of xMAP® Insights magazine, a valuable resource for xMAP users around the world to keep up with the latest tips and tricks, technology capabilities, and commercially available assays. In this issue, we delve into the realm of biomarker discovery — an essential domain where the ability to analyze a vast array of analytes within each sample is paramount. Without the bead-based xMAP multiplexing platform, biomarker discovery would prove significantly more daunting, hindering progress in this vital field.

One article explores the rise of biologics for patients with immune-related diseases — therapies that have been enabled by a deeper understanding of the immune response. Of course, scientists continue to make breakthrough discoveries about our immune systems using multiplex xMAP immunoassays, which are beneficial in developing and validating new biologics. If you’re pursuing this kind of research, check out the cytokine panels from our Licensed Technologies partners.

The many multiplexing advancements of Luminex partners

We also have great content contributed by some of our Licensed Technologies partners. Here’s a quick look at the topics:

  • Bio-Rad—Apolipoproteins as biomarkers for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer risk
  • Bio-Techne—Protein biomarkers offer a new approach to bladder cancer testing
  • MilliporeSigma—How to choose an immunoassay platform, from multiplexing to software and services
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific—Unified, high-throughput workflows for RNA and protein analysis

Benefits of customizing your own assay

And if you’re encountering difficulties during assay development, our custom assay group at LuminexPLORE Lab is here to help. xMAP Insights magazine includes an article about why it can be important and advantageous to develop your own assay. Whether it’s about optimization for your specific sample type or supply chain management, there are many benefits to developing your own assay, and our LuminexPLORE Lab team can help you meet your specific research goals, allowing you to save time.

Finally, this xMAP Insights issue includes a useful how-to article focused on grant writing, with tips to make your next proposal shine. With an emphasis on R01 grants, the article walks you through planning and developing an application, refining your proposal, and other various elements. We hope this helps you score your next grant to support xMAP-based research!

Read the xMAP Insights magazine here

Beyond Checkpoint Inhibitors: New Cancer Vaccine Candidate Shows Promising Preclinical Results

At the Ohio State University, scientists are using xMAP® Technology to evaluate the molecular effects of this candidate therapy

Researchers at Ohio State University are making impressive progress toward a cancer vaccine that could potentially be used to treat a broad range of cancers. As a key part of their efforts, they deployed the xMAP INTELLIFLEX® System to streamline testing for key molecular interactions and antibody response related to the treatment.

In a new open-access paper published in JoVE, authors Jay Overholser, Linlin Guo, and Pravin Kaumaya describe their candidate cancer vaccine and detail the multiplex immunoassay testing protocol they developed. “Over the past 30 years, Dr. Kaumaya’s laboratory has developed peptide cancer vaccines and peptide mimic-related agents for cancer therapy, some of which are in ongoing clinical trials,” they note.

Learn the advantages of xMAP Technology over ELISA

Among the lab’s latest candidates is the B-cell peptide epitope cancer vaccine known as PDL1-Vaxx, which is designed to block the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction. The team believes this approach could one day help patients whose cancers do not respond to standard checkpoint monoclonal antibody immunotherapies. “Preclinical testing has indicated that [PDL1-Vaxx] effectively stimulates highly immunogenic antibodies in animals,” the researchers report. “Animals immunized with PDL1-Vaxx show reduced tumor burden and extended survival rates in various animal cancer models.”

Initially, the team assessed the effects of the vaccine candidate using two separate ELISA tests to check for inhibition of the PD1/PD-L1 interaction. But the bead-based xMAP approach offered several advantages, including improved assay sensitivity and a broader dynamic range due to its fluorescence rather than the colorimetric ELISA technique. The xMAP reaction occurs in a fluid suspension, eliminating the binding issues that can arise when proteins must be immobilized on a substrate.

xMAP Technology: achieving more in less time and with less sample volume

xMAP Technology also offers multiplexing capabilities that cannot be achieved with ELISAs. In this project, researchers were able to generate the information from both ELISA assays in a single xMAP reaction, saving both time and sample volume. In addition, more data can be produced thanks to a feature unique to the xMAP INTELLIFLEX System: its dual-reporter function. This enables users to acquire data about two parameters per target protein or nucleic acid at once.

In this study, the team compared their new xMAP assay results to their original ELISA tests, finding a direct correlation between them. “The assay was able to precisely quantify the inhibition of the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction by four unique polyclonal antibodies, generated against the rhPD-L1 vaccine peptides, that are being explored as potential cancer therapeutic agents,” the researchers note.

From vaccine candidate to clinical trial using xMAP Technology

With successful results from the new xMAP-based assay, the researchers now hope to move their cancer vaccine candidate into clinical trials to determine its performance as a potential new immunotherapy.

To learn more, check out the helpful protocol video accompanying the JoVE paper.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Explore the capabilities of multiplexing. Learn more about the technology that is helping scientists progress towards a newer cancer vaccine.

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Scientists Choose xMAP® Technology to Identify Exposure to Pathogens That Cause Lyme Disease

Dual-reporter feature allows for data generation in half the time

The NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen in Germany is highly regarded for their applied research and early adoption of multiplexing alternatives to singleplex immunoassays. It is no surprise that the NMI scientists were the first in the world to bring our new xMAP INTELLIFLEX® System into their laboratory to see how its novel features could benefit them.

Since the installation of this system in 2021, scientists at NMI and their collaborators have been adapting xMAP® assays to take advantage of the xMAP INTELLIFLEX® System’s unique dual-reporter feature, which makes it possible to interrogate two parameters per analyte. In a new publication in JoVE, they describe the results of a dual-reporter serological test for antibodies to Borrelia bacteria responsible for Lyme disease, a tick-borne infectious disease.

Interrogating two parameters per analyte with xMAP INTELLIFLEX® DR-SE System’s dual-reporter feature

The paper highlights the importance of correctly identifying the infectious agent via antibody testing since Lyme disease can be caused by several members of the Borrelia genus. This requires testing for antibodies to many different antigens, ideally all at once to streamline the workflow and produce results quickly. In addition, the scientists note that testing for both IgG and IgM responses is useful because these antibodies tend to increase at different times as the disease progresses.

Generally, testing for Lyme disease — also known as Lyme borreliosis — is based on serology assays run after clinical symptoms are found. “In both Europe and North America, diagnostic guidelines recommend a two-step testing series consisting of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with an immunoblot to evaluate antibody response against Borrelia specific antigens,” Häring et al. write. “However, this approach lacks sensitivity and is suboptimal, particularly in the early phase of infection when seroconversion may be incomplete and anti-Borrelia IgG and IgM titers are too low.”

Developing multiplexing alternatives to singleplex immunoassays

In this project, the scientists developed a multiplex alternative to traditional ELISA testing. They first designed single-reporter xMAP assays that could detect either IgG or IgM antibodies against Borrelia infection and then combined them into a dual-reporter assay that can measure both isotypes at once. The test utilizes four antigens representing “the most common pathogenic Borrelia species native in Europe … and North America,” the authors note. “This allows decisive pathogen identification and the ability to discern early IgM and later, more durable, IgG immunoreactivity in patient samples.” (While the assay reported in this study utilizes four antigens, the team later expanded it to eight for a more comprehensive analysis.)

Conserving time and resources through dual-reporter assays

The team thoroughly evaluated the performance of both the single-reporter and the dual-reporter assays. In the latter, they found no significant cross-reactivity between the two antibody systems used to detect IgG and IgM simultaneously. Inter- and intra-assay precision studies showed high reproducibility with excellent results across a range of sample concentrations. “This dual-reporter approach retains the analytical performance of single-reporter methods while conserving time and resources and reducing sample size requirements,” the scientists report. “This assay allows essentially double the serological information to be generated from a blood sample in half the time.”

They also note the flexibility and scalability of this approach, since multiplex assays can be run on 96-well or 384-well plates, allowing for high-throughput and automated testing when needed. In addition, the scientists note, “a major advantage of this bead-based Borrelia multiplex assay is the ease with which the assay can be modified or expanded to evaluate different or additional analytes, [such as] antibodies against antigens of further Borrelia species.”

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Explore the capabilities of multiplexing. Learn more about the technology that helps identify the pathogens behind Lyme disease.

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Summarizing the Benefits of Proteomics in Early Cancer Detection

A recently published white paper titled “The Role of Proteomics in Early Cancer Detection: A Look at Six Core Benefits” touches on the collaborative goal between Luminex and Bio-Techne Corporation. The publication addresses six core benefits of integrating protein biomarkers into the development of early cancer detection assays.

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The paper notes how new proteomic-based technologies have enabled the identification of potential biomarkers that can be used to improve detection of cancers and tumor progression. Yet in moving robust biomarker panels closer toward clinical utility, research trials need sensitive and highly reproducible immunoassay systems that can simultaneously interrogate large numbers of targets per sample in a short time. That’s where Luminex’s xMAP® Technology has emerged as a valuable tool. Incorporating multiple non-tumor biomarkers from the xMAP® platform into a multi-omic early cancer detection assay can potentially enhance sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, thereby improving early detection and leading to earlier intervention and better patient outcomes.

Below is a summary of the six core benefits of utilizing proteomic-based technologies for early cancer detection:

    1. Protein patterns: As cancer progresses, monitoring the patterns of protein expression over time can assist in identifying biomarkers that effectively track disease progression and the response to therapy. By focusing on the immune response, we can potentially detect and intervene in cancer at an earlier stage.

 

    1. High sensitivity: Proteomic analysis can help identify specific protein biomarkers associated with different types of cancer, providing highly sensitive detection and potential early warning signs of the disease.

 

    1. Non-invasive sampling: Many protein biomarkers can be detected through blood, urine, or saliva. Such non-invasive sample collection makes it feasible to perform regular screenings and monitor high-risk individuals more effectively while reducing patient discomfort.

 

    1. Practical implementation: Proteomic profiling can identify and characterize proteins indicative of early-stage cancer and can readily serve as targets for diagnostic tests or potential therapeutic interventions. Incorporating protein biomarkers into multi-omics assays increases the potential for practical implementation in routine clinical settings.

 

    1. Early intervention: Recent advances in proteomic-based technologies have led to progress in developing tools for early diagnosis, such as certain protein signatures that can help predict the likelihood of disease progression, response to specific treatments, or even the risk of recurrence after initial treatment.

 

  1. Protein abundance: Protein biomarkers can be derived from tumor cells, tumor microenvironment, or other tissues affected by cancer. When released into the bloodstream or other bodily fluids, these protein biomarkers provide a broader range of potential targets for early cancer detection.

The collaborative goal: Luminex Corporation and Bio-Techne partnership

Multi-omic approaches offer valuable information in early cancer detection, providing a more comprehensive understanding of cancer biology and may help make diagnostic testing more accurate and actionable.

This innovative partnership between Luminex and Bio-Techne Corporation combines the world’s leading antibody, protein, and ELISA manufacturer with the world’s leading platform for multiplex proteomics—with the joint mission to accelerate the development and commercialization of early cancer detection assays and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

We encourage you to download this white paper for a more in-depth analysis of the role of Luminex’s xMAP Technology in cancer biomarker research and to also check out our Luminex Licensed Technologies Partner program to learn the benefits of becoming a partner.

Download the white paper here

Learn more about becoming a partner

xMAP® Journal Club: Recent Papers Highlight Utility of Multiplexing Assays

From cancer and infectious diseases to drug discovery and obesity, research projects get a boost from xMAP® Technology

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Celebrating Scientists and Their Impact

In the halls of Luminex, we speak about how innovative our customers are. They start with our xMAP® multiplexing technology, but we know that the technology requires the dedication of scientists to power groundbreaking new vaccines, therapies, and diagnostic tests.

To celebrate those scientists, we’re launching the xMAP Journal Club blog series wherein each quarter, we’ll feature recent scientific publications that highlight the inspiring range of projects and applications where xMAP-based assays are making a difference. We hope you’ll find them as impressive as we do.

CANCER

Development of a duplex serological multiplex assay for the simultaneous detection of Epstein-Barr virus IgA and IgG antibodies in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients

Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center and other institutions used the new dual-reporter feature on the xMAP INTELLIFLEX® System to develop a multiplex assay to simultaneously detect IgA and IgG antibodies against the Epstein‐Barr virus in cancer patients. This approach enables more cost-effective serology studies and demonstrates the value of the dual-reporter capability for a range of antibody studies.

Development of a novel circulating autoantibody biomarker panel for the identification of patients with ‘actionable’ pulmonary nodules

In this study, researchers developed assays to measure novel autoantibody biomarkers in three cohorts, ultimately developing a risk stratification technique for lung nodules as a companion diagnostic for lung cancer screening. The project also made use of machine learning and protein microarrays.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Predicting Vibrio cholerae infection and symptomatic disease: a systems serology study

Reported in Lancet Microbe, scientists measured vibriocidal antibodies as a proxy for protection against cholera based on vaccination or prior infection. The team used a custom xMAP assay for antigen-specific IgG subtyping and Ig isotyping and designed an algorithm to identify biomarkers associated with patients at high risk or low risk of infection.

DRUG DISCOVERY

Multiplexed selectivity screening of anti-GPCR antibodies

Researchers from the Science for Life Laboratory and other labs aimed to address the challenge of distinguishing anti-GPCR antibodies by creating a multiplex assay capable of testing more than 400 antibodies targeting a custom library of GPCRs. Their findings shed light on the immunogenicity of GPCR epitopes and could help other scientists more accurately detect relevant autoantibodies or design new therapeutics.

Small-molecule-mediated OGG1 inhibition attenuates pulmonary inflammation and lung fibrosis in a murine lung fibrosis model

In this Nature Communications paper, scientists used mice to model interstitial lung diseases associated with dysfunctional repair processes and demonstrated that OGG1, a DNA repair protein, could be a good therapeutic target for lung fibrosis. They used an xMAP-powered assay to measure cytokine responses in mice.

OBESITY

Maternal obesity blunts antimicrobial responses in fetal monocytes

A team from the University of California, Irvine, and collaborating institutions found that obesity prior to pregnancy depresses the response to infectious pathogens in umbilical cord blood monocytes. They used xMAP assays to measure chemokines and cytokines in monocyte samples.

Obesity-defined molecular endotypes in the synovium of patients with osteoarthritis provides a rationale for therapeutic targeting of fibroblast subsets

In this project, researchers in the UK were able to identify four molecular subgroups of patients with osteoarthritis, finding that obesity noticeably alters the inflammatory landscape in affected joints. The team used xMAP assays among many tests performed to measure genes, proteins, and metabolites from fibroblasts in synovial tissue.

Looking for even more? Don’t miss our publication tracker, now loaded with more than 70,000 papers citing xMAP Technology.

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For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Dominic Andrada headshot

Dominic Andrada, M.S.
Sr. Manager, Scientific Applications

Dominic Andrada is a Senior Manager for Scientific Applications in the Licensed Technologies marketing team at Luminex Corporation. His professional career spans over 20 years intersecting product development, marketing, business development, and biopharma research. His focus is developing collaborations to utilize xMAP Technology for biomarker discovery and finding innovative immune profiling strategies. Dominic is an alumnus of UC San Diego and has a Master of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Washington.

Owning Your Assay

The benefits of developing your own xMAP® assay

Developing your own xMAP® assay can provide several advantages in various fields of study, including medical research, drug discovery, environmental testing, and more. Here are several reasons why you might consider developing your own xMAP assay:

1) Developing your own custom assay offers you the flexibility to choose the specific targets or analytes you want to detect and quantify. By customizing the assay to suit your specific research or diagnostic needs, whether it’s for protein detection, serology, genotyping, or other applications, this flexibility allows you to address unique research questions and tailor the assay to your experimental requirements.

2) The benefits of using Luminex’s xMAP® Technology to develop your own assay can be cost-effective in the long run, since the ability to multiplex and analyze multiple targets in a single reaction well reduces reagent and sample consumption. This can lead to cost savings when compared to performing multiple single-analyte assays for the same set of samples.

3) Developing a custom Luminex xMAP assay offers the advantage of flexibility in selecting high-affinity antibodies and proteins. By developing your own assay, you have the freedom to choose antibodies and proteins that specifically target your analyte of interest with high affinity. This allows you to optimize the assay for sensitivity and specificity, ensuring accurate and reliable results.

4) Luminex’s xMAP Technology is highly sought-after in the market, with a wide range of applications in research and diagnostics. With more than 20,000 systems installed and the availability of 1,300 RUO (Research Use Only) kits, xMAP has gained widespread validation and acceptance. This technology is particularly well-suited for fields such as immunology, infectious diseases, oncology, and drug discovery. By creating an assay on the Luminex xMAP platform, you can access a market that already acknowledges and leverages the benefits of a proven technology.

5) Quality Control: When you develop your own xMAP assay, you lead the quality control and quality assurance processes as you optimize the assay’s performance, validate it according to your specific requirements, and implement rigorous quality control measures to ensure accurate and reproducible results.

Cost-effective multiplexing assays

Luminex is committed to delivering exceptional support to customers seeking to develop and optimize their own xMAP assays. Our extensive resources, such as the renowned fifth edition xMAP Cookbook, provide a comprehensive collection of methods and protocols to navigate how to develop a custom xMAP assay with ease. Furthermore, our team of experienced field application scientists and the cutting-edge facilities at LuminexPLORE Lab are readily accessible to offer expert guidance. By partnering with Luminex, you can confidently harness the power of xMAP Technology, accelerate your multiplex assay development, and achieve your research or diagnostic objectives with confidence.

Learn more about how to get started with xMAP Technology, here!

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