Kerafast Adds New Zika Virus Antibody to Its Catalog of Novel Life Science Reagents

Company aims to help accelerate progress toward a vaccine or treatment for this global health threat

2 May 2016
Alex Waite
Editorial Assistant

Product news

Kerafast Inc., developers of an online platform that facilitates accessibility to unique bioresearch materials from laboratories across the globe, has announced the availability of a Zika virus antibody from Vanderbilt University.

While researchers scramble to increase the pace of research toward treatment and prevention measures for the Zika virus, the virus’s geographical distribution continues to widen during this epidemic. Thought to be the cause of microcephaly in newborn babies, the disease is spread by the mosquito genus Aedes as well as by sexual contact.

By sharing data and materials research institutions can help to address the current Zika outbreak and minimize its effects on the global population. “Progress in the field of infectious disease is predicated on the availability of critical reagents, many of which can be difficult to source. We wanted to supply this Zika antibody to the global research community as quickly as possible,” said Alan Bentley, who heads up Vanderbilt University’s Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization.

Kerafast is constantly adding new research materials to its online collection that are available for purchase through a user-friendly and straightforward research-use-only “click license.” The Zika polyclonal antibody recognizes the human Zika envelope (E) protein and can be utilized for a range of applications to study the virus and its function.

“At Kerafast, our mission promotes access to rare and unique research reagents by facilitating a community of both Providing and Procuring laboratories that work toward the cure of disease,” said Dr. Robert Bondaryk, CEO. “We hope by making this Zika virus antibody available in our catalog we are helping to progress research toward a vaccine, treatment and cure for this worldwide health crisis.”

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Sample PreparationSample preparation can improve the quality and speed of separation techniques. Products to assist sample preparation include filtration equipment, evaporators, membranes and sieves.AntibodiesAntibodies are used in techniques such as confocal and fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, ELISA, ELISPOT, immunohistochemistry, western blotting and immunopreciptation. Select specific antigen reactivity, high specific affinity, low non-specific binding, monoclonal or polyclonal, primary or secondary antibodies and associated conjugates such as an enzyme or dye for visualization.MicrobiologyMicrobiology is the study of microorganisms including protists, prokaryotes, fungi, and, often, viruses. Microorganisms are a useful research tool as genetic vectors and, in immunology, for antibiotic susceptibility testing, cellular biology and genetics. 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Accessories in sample management include barcode scanners, heat sealers and tubes.ImmunologyImmunological techniques measure and characterize immune responses. Immunology kits and analysis systems often use techniques such as ELISA, radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunodiffusion assays, Immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. Immunologists use equipment such as flow Cytometers, plate readers, plate washers and fluorescent microscopes.Cell-Based AssaysCell-based assays are used to monitor the presence, quantity and activities of a desired cellular analyte including drug molecules or biomarkers. This can reveal information on cell health (apoptosis, cytotoxicity, viability and proliferation assays), cell metabolism, cell migration and cell signaling mechanisms. Find the best cell-based assay products, kits and equipment with our peer reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receiving pricing direct from manufacturers.Protein PurificationProtein purification is a vital step in drug discovery, therapeutics, biotech and life science research. The purification process typically involves subcellular or membrane protein extraction with cell lysis kits, separation of proteins from cell debris by filtration or spin columns, and the isolation of proteins of interest from other proteins and impurities with affinity purification (including fusion protein tags and antibody binding proteins A, G and L), immunoprecipitation or chromatographic methods, such as ion exchange, size exclusion and immobilized metal affinity chromatography. All purification methods come in multiple formats for your laboratory needs, including agarose or magnetic beads, resins, columns and filter plates. Find the best protein purification equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Biopharmaceutical AdvancesBiopharmaceutical advances follow the development of pharmaceuticals derived from biotechnology, also known as biotechnology medicines. Biopharmaceuticals may be produced from cell lines, plants, or microbial cells. Important considerations of biopharmaceutical use include application, cost, production process and purification.Clinical MicrobiologyMicrobiology is the study of microorganisms including protists, prokaryotes, fungi, and, often, viruses. Microorganisms are a useful research tool as genetic vectors and, in immunology, for antibiotic susceptibility testing, cellular biology and genetics. Microorganisms commonly grow readily in incubators with microbial culture media; this can contain chromogenic supplements to differentiate between cell lines. Estimate your culture’s density of microorganisms with colony counters, or screen and select colonies for desirable clones with automated colony pickers. Additionally, equipment is available to monitor environments for the presence of microbes and identify with microbial identification instruments. Find the best microbiology products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Animal ModelsThe use of non-human animals in experiments or behavorial observations. The research is conducted inside universities, medical schools, pharmaceutical companies, farms, defence establishments, and commercial facilities that provide animal-testing services to industry. It includes pure research such as genetics, developmental biology, behavioral studies, as well as applied research such as pharmaceutical testing in pre-clinical, before human, studies. 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Kerafast Adds New Zika Virus Antibody to Its Catalog of Novel Life Science Reagents