The CRISPR Cas9 System was first discovered as part of the bacterial adaptive immune response against viruses, but in recent years it’s revolutionized our techniques for genome editing. The Cas9 complex is formed of two components. A protein called Cas9 that can cut double stranded DNA, and a guide RNA, that binds to a specific …Read More >

When a new pathogen invades, it’s a race against time for your immune system to stop it from multiplying out of control. This week, we explore Protein Based Vaccines as part of our “How Does It Work?” series. Fortunately, #vaccines give your immune system a head start against dangerous pathogens. A protein-based vaccine, like this …Read More >

This week, we delve into Adenovirus Vaccines as part of our “How Does It Work?” 3D MoA animation series examining biotech topics on a molecular level. In 2020, the World Health Organization declared the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic, but not all viruses are bad news. Adenoviruses are a family of viruses that can be used …Read More >

If you’ve ever read about mRNA vaccines and wondered, “How Does It Work?” This week’s installment of our video series was made with you in mind. To understand how mRNA vaccines work, let’s take a close look at the immune system. Your immune system can recognize that the structures on bacteria or viruses are different …Read More >

This week’s episode of our “How Does It Work?” series features Peptide-Oligonucleotide Conjugates. Peptide-oligonucleotide conjugates are made up of peptide and oligonucleotide components. These cutting-edge molecules have many applications in biomedicine. The oligonucleotide component can interact with mRNA to alter gene expression within diseased cells but oligonucleotides are easily degraded in the body and have …Read More >

Nucleic acids have long been regarded as biological compounds for storing and transferring information. However, their functionalities are far more diverse than this – ranging from gene regulation to enzymatic catalysis. One type of unconventional nucleic acid is the aptamer. Aptamers are short, single stranded nucleic acids that fold into highly specific structures. They bind …Read More >

In this week’s episode of our “How Does It Work?” video series, we explore Individualized Oligonucleotide Therapies. Around 6 billion letters form the genetic code that makes each person’s biology unique. Genomic sequencing allows us to read this code to find defects that cause disease, enabling us to tailor therapies for individual patients. This was …Read More >

In this week’s installment of our “How Does It Work?” video series, we explore Antibody Drug Conjugates. Monoclonal antibodies are highly versatile molecules that we can modify to generate new and improved cancer therapies. Here we have a type of modified antibody, known as an antibody drug conjugate, or ADC. The ADC contains two antigen …Read More >

In this week’s installment of our “How Does It Work?” video series, we’ll explore Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapy. Errors in DNA, known as gene mutations, can originate harmful proteins that cause disease. However, we can target the mRNA involved in the formation of specific disease associated proteins by using drugs called antisense oligonucleotides. They work by …Read More >