Author: Eagle Biosciences

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New Product: Ustekinumab (Stelara) ELISA Assay Kit

by Eagle Biosciences

Ustekinumab (Stelara®) ELISA Assay Kit is for Research Use Only. Not to be used in diagnostic procedures.

A new ELISA assay kit for the quantitative determination of free Ustekinumab. This new kit, Ustekinumab (Stelara®) ELISA Assay Kit has recently been added to our Drug Monitoring Assay Kit line which is a complete group comprised of a unique, versatile set of products for a variety of applications, research, and fields of study surrounding overall immunological health and immunological-related disorders.

What is Ustekinumab?

The drug Ustekinumab (brand name Stelara®) is a humanized immunoglobulin G1k monoclonal antibody that binds with high specificity to the p40 protein subunit used by both the IL-12 and IL-23 cytokines. The Ustekinumab ELISA (mAb-based) kit can be efficiently used for measuring free Certulizumab pegol levels in serum and plasma, without any cross reaction with any other drug directed to target IL-12 and IL-23 molecules.

Why Measure Ustekinumab ELISA from EagleBio?

This Ustekinumab ELISA (mAb-Based) measures the free form of Ustekinumab and the choice of specifically measuring the free form allows investigators to analyze the concentration-effect relationship. Our assay is superior to any other assay kit in the market in terms of specificity.

Our assay offers:

  • Unique Specificity: The  Ustekinumab ELISA (mAb-Based) measures the biologically active free form of Ustekinumab, i.e. not preoccupied by human IL-12 or IL-23 antigen. No cross reaction was observed with sera spiked with the other therapeutic antibodies including: Infliximab, Rituximab, Cetuximab, Vedolizumab, Tocilizumab, Trastuzumab, Nivolumab and Bevacizumab at concentrations tested up to 40 µg/mL.
  • Fast results: incubation time- 2.25 hours
  • Automatable: suitable for use by an automated ELISA processor.

Ustekinumab (Stelara®) ELISA Assay Kit

Catalog number: IG-AB121

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DNA-Delivered Antibodies Successfully Fought Off Lethal Bacterial Infection

by Eagle Biosciences

image credit: www.the-scientist.com

In a recent study, mice injected with the genetic sequence for a monoclonal antibody survived after inoculation with a life-threatening bacterial disease. This opens many doors for a possibly cheaper and faster method of delivering monoclonal antibody treatments to patients.

Ken Stover, a microbiologist at AstraZeneca subsidiary MedImmune, explains several advantages to this technique. “DNA is more readily manufacturable than protein antibodies,” he says, and so “the time to produce [a] drug may be quicker; DNA can hang around a while and continue to express the monoclonal antibody, hopefully at levels that are more sustainable.” 

Read More. 

A. Patel et al., “An engineered bispecific DNA-encoded IgG antibody protects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a pneumonia challenge model,” Nature Communications, 8:637, 2017.

C. Offord et al., “DNA-Delivered Antibodies Fight Off Lethal Bacteria Infection.” The Scientist, 3 Oct 2017.

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Gut Bacteria May Play a Role in Multiple Sclerosis

by Eagle Biosciences

image credit: www.iflscience.com

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative autoimmune disorder, that occurs when the immune system attacks the myelin around nerve cells. Two different recent studies may have found a link between the microbial biome in the gut and the progression of MS. The studies, conducted by University of California San Diego and the Max Planck Institute in Germany, found differences in the gut bacteria of patients with MS and patients without. These different strains triggered cells to be pro-inflammatory. Learn More Here.

Cekanaviciutea, Egle, et al. “Gut bacteria from multiple sclerosis patients modulate human T cells and exacerbate symptoms in mouse models.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy Sciences.

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Zika Virus Could Potentially be Used to Kill Brain Cancer Stem Cells

by Eagle Biosciences

image credit: https://medicine.wustl.edu

The Zika virus, which can cause devastating damage to the brains of developing fetuses could one day be developed to effectively treat glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer. The Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of California San Diego School of Medicine conducted some research that shows that the virus kills brain cancer stem cells, the type of cell most resistant to treatments. 

Bhandari, Tamara. “Zika virus kills brain cancer stem cells.” Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 5 Sept. 2017, medicine.wustl.edu/news/zika-virus-kills-brain-cancer-stem-cells/.

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North Carolina Study Utilizes An EagleBio Calprotectin ELISA

by Eagle Biosciences

EagleBio’s Calprotectin ELISA was recently used in a study done by the University of North Carolina. This assay is a part of our Gastrointestinal Assay Kit line which is comprised of a unique set of products that can be used in a variety of applications, research, and fields of study. Check out the product page for full details on this kit, or click the link below to view the new publication referencing out Calprotectin ELISA Assay.

Becker-Dreps, Sylvia,
Samuel Vilchez, Filemon Bucardo, Erica Twitchell, Wan Suk Choi, Michael G.
Hudgens, Johann Perez, and Lijuan Yuan. “The Association Between Fecal
Biomarkers of Environmental Enteropathy and Rotavirus Vaccine Response in
Nicaraguan Infants.” The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal36.4
(2017): 412-16. Web. https://journals.lww.com/pidj/Abstract/2017/04000/T…

“Environmental enteropathy (EE) is a common intestinal condition among children living in low- and middle-income countries and is associated with diminished enteric immunity to gastrointestinal pathogens, and possibly to oral vaccine antigens. The goal of this study was to examine associations between biomarkers of EE and immunogenicity to the pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RV5).” Read More.

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Antibiotic Resistance Linked to Common Household Disinfectant

by Eagle Biosciences

image credit: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/

Scientists from the University of Birmingham and Norwich Research Park have discovered a link between a major mechanism of antibiotic resistance and resistance to the disinfectant triclosan which is commonly found in domestic products.

“Given the prevalence of triclosan and other antimicrobials in the environment, a greater understanding of the impact they can have on bacteria and how exposure to these antimicrobials may impact the selection and spread of clinically relevant antibiotic resistance is needed.” – Professor Laura Piddock, of the Institute of Microbiology and Infection at the University of Birmingham

“New Study Links Antibiotic Resistance to Common Household Disinfectant Trisoclan .” University of Birmingham, 03 July 2017. Web. 11 July 2017.

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Biomarker Spotlight: Zonulin

by Eagle Biosciences

The zonulin biomarker is a pre-haptoglobin (pre-HP2) protein found in the gut. It is responsible for the permeability of the mucosal barrier of the intestines. When zonulin binds to the epithelial cells of the intestines a signal cascade is induced. This cascade disassembles the paracellular tight junctions of the intestinal wall. The tight junctions of the intestinal walls are one of two ways that allow molecules to transfer from the gut lumen to the bloodstream and vice versa. 

Why Measure Zonulin?

When zonulin levels in the gut increase and go out of balance, these junctions open wider and stay open longer. These widened entry points allow larger macromolecules into the bloodstream or into the gut lumen. The molecules that pass through these breaches can increase the body’s natural immune reaction, causing inflammation and a number of autoimmune diseases. 

Diseases Associated with Increased Zonulin Levels:

  • Celiac Disease
  • Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
  • Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-D)
  • Type-1 Diabetes
  • Liver Disease
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis

image credit: https://physrev.physiology.org/

Related Kits

Zonulin Stool ELISA Assay

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Scientists Uncover the Atomic Structure of Key Alzheimer’s Protein

by Eagle Biosciences

image credit: news.medicine.iu.edu

In healthy brains, tau acts as a stabiliser, but when the proteins become defective, they can form into bundles of tangled filaments, which are thought to impede communication between brain cells, leading to the neurodegeneration and reduced cognitive ability seen in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.

“It’s clear that tau is extremely important to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and certain forms of dementia. In terms of designing therapeutic agents, the possibilities are now enormous.” – Bernardino Ghetti from Indiana University

Dockrill, Peter. “Scientists Have Uncovered The Atomic Structure of a Key Alzheimer’s Protein For The First Time.” IU School of Medicine Newsroom. Indiana University, 06 July 2017. Web. 11 July 2017.

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New Technique Allows Scientists to Clone Thousands of Genes at Once

by Eagle Biosciences

image credit: hub.jhu.edu/

According to the researchers, the new technology—known as LASSO cloning—speeds up the creation of proteins, the final products of genes, and is likely to lead to far more rapid discovery of new medicines and biomarkers for scores of diseases.

“Our goal is to make it cheap and easy for any researcher in any field to clone and express the entire set of proteins from any organism,” says Ben Larman, an assistant professor of pathology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the study’s co-senior author. “Until now, such a prospect was only realistic for high-powered research consortia studying model organisms like fruit flies or mice.”


Chanapa Tantibanchachai  “With powerful new technique, scientists can clone thousands of genes at once.” The Hub. John’s Hopkins University, 05 July 2017. Web. 11 July 2017.

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Personalized Cancer Vaccines Train Immune Systems to Attack Tumors

by Eagle Biosciences

image credit: https://www.nature.com/news/

Personalized Cancer Vaccines Show Glimmer of Success

In two small clinical trials, led by Catherine Wu a the Dana-Farber Institute of Cancer, six people with skin cancer showed a positive immune response after the injection of a personalized cancer vaccine engineered specifically for their tumors. 

Read More.

Ledford, Heidi. “Personalized cancer vaccines show glimmers of success.” Nature News. Nature Publishing Group, 05 July 2017. Web. 06 July 2017.