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Category: Technical

Self-Antigens vs. Non-Self Antigens: Examples & Cluster of Differentiation Markers

Updated on Nov 29, 2023

Antigens are molecules present on the surface of cells that bind to receptors on antibodies or on the surface of lymphocytes. Antigens are classified based on where they originate, and the immune system discriminates between native and foreign antigens in order to fight against pathogens. Immunology research utilizes the binding properties of antigens with antibodies in order to detect, track, and isolate specific cell populations within blood samples. Self vs …

Achieve Gentle Mouse Naïve Cell Isolation Using Akadeum’s Microbubble Naïve Mouse Kits

Updated on Aug 21, 2023

In working with biological samples for life science research, sample preparation is a critical first step to isolate the specific cells of interest from a complex mixture. This is especially true when looking to isolate rare cells of low abundance, and it is critically important when working with delicate cell types that the sample preparation method used for cell isolation is exceptionally gentle so that it does not interfere with …

How Does RBC Depletion Work?

Updated on Aug 21, 2023

Sample preparation is often a critical first step in any number of life science workflows. Due to the inherent complexity within samples and diversity between applications, sample preparation needs can vary widely. One common first step is a “cleanup” step to deplete residual red blood cells (RBCs) from the sample before proceeding with downstream analysis. Once the RBCs have been depleted, the resulting blood product can be used across many …

High Throughput Human T Cell Enrichment for Immunological Research

Updated on Aug 21, 2023

High Throughput Human T Cell Enrichment The field of immunological research is continuously expanding. More and more things are being discovered on a cellular and molecular level. Cell separation and enrichment has become an integral part of studying our immune cell behaviors. One of the most significant challenges in the research community has been finding a high throughput T cell enrichment method that can be used to isolate high volumes …

Necrosis Vs. Apoptosis: Processes, Necrotic Cell Death, & Apoptosis Steps

Updated on Nov 29, 2023

The stages of cell death vary depending on the way in which a cell dies. When discussing cell death, there are two main types: apoptosis and necrosis. Each of these involves a unique process and has different effects on the rest of the body. What is Cell Apoptosis? Programmed cell death is called apoptosis, a regular growth, and development mechanism within an organism. This process is also known as “cellular …

The Secrets of Regulatory T Cells: Balancing Immunity and Health

Updated on Mar 7, 2024

Toned photo of a backlit microscope lens in a science laboratory

T cells are known as the guardians of our immune system, initiating and maintaining our defense against infections and diseases. While there are many types of T cells, regulatory T cells, or Tregs, have the unique ability to keep balance in the immune system. Tregs help ensure that our bodies react effectively against pathogens while preventing excessive or misdirected immune responses that can lead to autoimmune diseases. Tregs serve as …

FACS vs. Flow Cytometry

Updated on Nov 29, 2023 By Dominique Badea, PhD

Scientist Holding a Dropper While Doing Biotech Research

Over the past few decades, technologies like flow cytometry and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) have revolutionized our understanding and manipulation of cell populations. Since their inception, there have been significant advancements and applications, from clinical diagnosis to biomedical research, propelling a new era of cellular analysis and handling. The terms flow cytometry and FACS are often used interchangeably. However, this is not accurate. Namely, FACS is a subtype of flow …

CTC Separation: Circulating Tumor Cells Isolation Methods and CTC Isolation from Whole Blood

Updated on Aug 21, 2023

CTC Separation When a cancerous tumor is present in the human body, some of the tumor cells can be shed into blood or lymph vessels, where they travel through the bloodstream alone or in clusters. These cells are called circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Scientists can collect these cells for research purposes through a process called CTC separation. CTC separation is the process of CTC isolation from whole blood samples. Residual …

The Simplest and Quickest Method for T Cell Isolation From Mouse Spleen

Updated on Nov 29, 2023

Spleen Cell Isolation Just as a gold mine has different areas with higher concentrations of gold, different parts of the body have different levels of T cells. In a mouse, the spleen cell culture is composed of around 100 million splenocytes. Splenocytes are mononuclear white blood cells (WBCs) derived from or situated in the spleen. T cells typically comprise roughly 25% of the total splenocyte population. While murine (relating to …

CD4 Helper T Cells: What Are CD4 T Cells? CD4 T Cell Functions and Isolation Methods

Updated on Aug 21, 2023

What are CD4 Cells? The human immune system is broken down into two major categories: the innate immune system and the adaptive immune system. The innate immune system is comprised of different physical, chemical, and cellular responses to pathogens that jump into action, offering general and non-specific first line defense when the immune system is called to act in an effort to contain the spread of pathogens. The adaptive immune …

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