[Arrays] qPCR NEWS - September 2009 - key topic - circulating nucleic acids - CNA

[Editor www.Gene-Quantification.info]

qPCR NEWS - September 2009 - key topic - circulating nucleic acids -
CNA
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Dear researcher,
dear Gene Quantification page reader,

Our newsletter informs about the latest news in quantitative real-time
PCR (qPCR and qRT-PCR), which are compiled and summarised on the Gene
Quantification homepage. The focus of this newsletter issue is:

- NEW PAGE - circulating nucleic acids => http://CNA.gene-quantification.info
- a lot of updates in MIQE - media & press review =>
http://miqe.gene-quantification.info/
- New molecular diagnostics qPCR/real-time PCR discussion forum:
LinkedIN  &  XING
- qPCR / real-time PCR BLOG => http://real-time-pcr.blogspot.com/
- For better navigation we developed a TAG CLOUD =>
http://directory.gene-quantification.info/
- New qPCR events in autumn 2009:  symposia & workshops =>
http://events.gene-quantification.info/

European wide qPCR application workshops - register now !
Course program autumn 2009 & winter 2010 =>
http://www.gene-quantification.de/bioeps-courses-autumn-2009.pdf


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CNA = Circulating Nucleic Acids

Most of the DNA and RNA in the body is located within cells, but a
small amount of nucleic acids can also be found circulating freely in
the blood. These DNA, RNA and small RNA molecules are thought to come
from dying cells that release their contents into the blood as they
break down. The term "Circulating Nucleic Acids = CNA" refers to
segments of DNA or RNA found in the bloodstream.

CNAs offers a non-invasive approach to a wide range in diagnostics of
clinical disorders that will allow the basic information necessary not
only for use in predictive medicine but also for direct use in acute
medicine. Further free CNAs offer unique opportunities for early
diagnosis of clinical conditions, e.g. in early cancer detection.

Although DNA was first demonstrated in human blood from healthy
donors, pregnant women and clinical patients in 1948, the structure of
DNA was still to be determined as was the elucidation of its role as
the basis of the gene. Consequently, no interest was shown in the
presence of DNA in the circulatory system until high DNA levels were
demonstrated in the blood of patients with systemic lupus
erythematosus. Similar observations were also made in acute medicine,
diabetes, oncology and fetal medicine. The presence of DNA and RNA in
plasma of patients has been recognised since the 1970s.

A range of markers have been proposed for the identification of a
particular cancer, though there is frequent conflict in the literature
as to the effectiveness of particular probes. However, recently,
hypermethylated CpG in the promotor region of tumour suppressor genes
has been suggested to trigger local gene silencing. Aberrant
methylation of the p26 tumour suppressor gene was the first to be
detected in liver, breast and lung cancer.

Nucleic acids can be found in small amounts in healthy and diseased
human plasma/serum. Higher concentrations of DNA are present in the
plasma of cancer patients sharing some characteristics with DNA of
tumor cells. Together with decreased strand stability, the presence of
specific oncogene or tumor-suppressor gene mutations, microsatellite
alterations, Ig rearrangements and hypermethylation of several genes
may be detected. Moreover, tumor-related mRNA has been found
circulating in the plasma/serum.

The results obtained in many different cancers have opened a new
research area indicating that circulating nucleic acids might
eventually be used for the development of noninvasive diagnostic,
prognostic and follow-up tests for cancer.

For more info and for some key papers about circulating nucleic acids
=> http://CNA.gene-quantification.info


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Upcoming Events World-wide academic and commercial qPCR Events
http://events.gene-quantification.info/

Symposia, Meetings, Conferences, Workshops, Seminars, Online-Seminars,
qPCR Education Program, etc.
Please submit your qPCR event here  =>  events from gene-
quantification.info


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qPCR 2010 in Vienna
international qPCR Symposium
7-9th April 2010

Main Topic “The ongoing evolution of qPCR”

download updated 2nd announcement as PDF
=> http://www.bioeps.com/qpcr2010/Vienna-qPCR-2010-2nd-announcement.pdf


Symposium sessions & preliminary title

MIQE and QM strategies in qPCR
The MIQE guidelines: minimum information for publication of
quantitative real-time PCR experiments. Following these guidelines
will encourage better experimental practice, allowing more reliable
and unequivocal interpretation of qPCR results. QM strategies in real-
time PCR to guarantee better and more valid results.
Prof. Stephen Bustin,  “The MIQE Guidelines:  Minimum Information for
Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments”

High throughput quantitative PCR – digital PCR
384 well applications, new high throughput platforms, droplet PCR,
qPCR robotics, digital PCR, gene expression real-time RT-PCR arrays
(mRNA and microRNA), quantitative multiplexing, …
Prof. Mikael Kubista,  “Digital PCR and intracellular expression
profiling”
Dr. Philip Day,  “High throughput droplet PCR”
Dr. Ken Livak, "title to be announced"

HRM – High Resolution Melting
SNP analysis, HRM = high resolution melt applications, Epigenetics,
methylation markers, HRM platform comparison, etc …
Prof. Carl Wittwer,  "High Resolution Melting Analysis"
Prof. Claudio Orlando,  “High Resolution Melting Analysis in Cancer
Diagnosis”

Circulating nucleic acids
Analysis of circulating RNAs and DNA and microRNAs as diagnostic and
prognostic marker, …
Dr. Pamela Pinzani,  “Cell free circulating DNA”
Dr. Alfred Schöller,  "Targeting the human urine RNAome for tumor
diagnostics by qPCR”

Single-cell qPCR
Single-cell sampling, pre-amplification techniques, laser
microdissection, sub-cellular PCR, micro-manipulation of cell
clusters, cellular micro injection, FACS spotting, single cell
handling, pre-amplification…
Dr. Michael W. Pfaffl,  “Quantitative expression analysis after pre-
amp in single WBCs”
Dr. Anders Stahlberg,  “Single-cell gene expression profiling”

RNAi - microRNA - siRNA Applications – miRNA normalisation
RNAi mechanism, microRNA extraction, qRT-PCR technologies to detect
microRNA, microRNA normalisation strategies, siRNA applications in
combination with qRT-PCR, microRNA targets and microRNA precursors,
new siRNA manipulation and microRNA technologies, ...
Prof. Jo Vandesompele,  “MicroRNA and mRNA gene expression
normalization”
Dr. Mirco Castoldi, "Expression profiling of microRNA by quantitative
real time PCR, what is available and where to go from there"

qPCR BioStatistics & BioInformatics
software applications, data mining, calculation of relative
expression, primer and probe design on mRNA and microRNA level, real-
time PCR efficiency determination, mathematical modelling,
multivariate expression profiling, statistics in real-time PCR, data
management, multiway expression profiling, multiple regression
analysis,  3D data visualization, ...
Dr. Ales Tichopad,  “Statistical aspects of quantitative PCR
experiment design and qPCR data analysis”
Dr. Jan Hellemans,  “Accurate and objective copy number profiling
using real-time quantitative PCR”
Dr. Anders Bergkvist,  “Expression profiling - clusters of
possibilities”


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qPCR WORKSHOP

BioEPS GmbH / TATAA Biocenter Germany - qPCR Application workshops

At the TATAA Biocenter Germany we offer qPCR application workshops, a
3-day qPCR Core Module and a 2-day qPCR Biostatistics Module.  All
courses are held regularly in Göteborg, Sweden, in English and in
Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany, in German and English, and in Prague,
Czech Republic in English and Czech.
Depending on the occasion the workshop language and the different
prices may apply. Further customized workshops and specialized
trainings will be held as well across Europe and world-wide.
TATAA Biocenter Germany workshops are held in cooperation with BioEPS
GmbH, located at the campus of the Technical University of Munich, in
Freising-Weihenstephan, very close to the Munich Airport (MUC). For
more information and registration, please see our web page:
=> http://TATAA.gene-quantification.info/


Course Occasions 2009:

- 3-day qPCR Core Module  (Mon. - Wed.)
- 2-day BioStatistics Module (Thu. - Fri.)
- 3-day single-cell qPCR Module  (Mon. - Wed.)
- 3-day microRNA Module   (Mon. - Wed.)


19 - 23 October 2009  (E)   3-day microRNA Module (Mon. - Wed.) & 2-
day BioStatistics (Thu. - Fri.)
26 - 28 October 2009 (E)    3-day qPCR Core Module (Mon. - Wed.)
16 - 20 November 2009  (E)   3-day microRNA Module (Mon. - Wed.) & 2-
day BioStatistics (Thu. - Fri.)
7 - 11 December 2009  (E)    3-day qPCR Core Module (Mon. - Wed.) & 2-
day BioStatistics (Thu. - Fri.)

=> http://www.gene-quantification.de/bioeps-courses-autumn-2009.pdf


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Forward Please send the qPCR NEWS to further scientists and friends
who are interested in qPCR !


Best regards,

Michael W. Pfaffl
responsible Editor of the Gene Quantification Pages
http://www.gene-quantification.info


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