The Webinar will discuss an independent study in which recent developments in flow cytometry technologies are evaluated and compared, January 20, 2016
The sheer number of studies of secreted membrane vesicles—collectively called extracellular vesicles (EVs)—has grown briskly over the past decade. The release of EVs has been chronicled in the pathologies of cancer, and neurological, hematological, cardiovascular, autoimmune, and rheumatologic diseases, and viral infections (such as malaria). The potential for diagnostic and therapeutic promise has led to increasing study of EVs by the medical and scientific communities.
The acceleration of research into the identification and classification of EVs has not been problem-free. While gains in several fields (such as microscopy) have dealt with some of the preliminary obstacles, flow cytometry remains the predominant approach for the characterization of submicron cell-derived particles. The main obstacle in analyzing particles at the submicron level has been accurately representing their size distribution and light-scatter profiles. Instrumentation thresholds were first devised using whole blood as the standard, thus cellular measurement below 3 mm is excluded. Flow cytometric technology designed a short while ago distinguishes populations spanning the <400 nm="" to="" 1="" mm="" />
Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, as part of the Beckman Coulter Webinar Series, is sponsoring a new, free educational webinar, “Extracellular Vesicle Detection and Analysis via Flow Cytometry,” which will discuss an independent study in which several of the aforementioned technologies are evaluated and compared. Most of the hardware adjustments are achieved by enhancements to the FSC parameter (Beckman Coulter’s MoFlo Astrios EQ and MoFlo XDP with NanoView module). The study also evaluates the use of Violet SSC on Beckman Coulter’s CytoFLEX flow cytometer as a novel approach to small particle detection. In keeping with Mie theory, it is hypothesized that Violet SSC will give comparable results, as the lower wavelength will allow for detection of smaller particles. The first part of the webinar will address using flow cytometry for vesicles FL and scatter, and the second part will address flow cytometric analysis after sorting.
The speakers are Vasilis Toxavidis, resource director, and John Tigges, technical director/manager, both from Flow Cytometry Core, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Stem Cell Institute (BIDMC/HSCI).
Vasilis transitioned to academic research in the Pathology Department at Roger Williams Hospital, a Brown University teaching hospital, after receiving a degree in podiatric medicine from the University of Wales and working at South County Podiatric Associates in the United States. He joined a growing BIDMC Flow Cytometry Core in Boston, where his research interests expanded to stem cell biology, and he became a crucial member of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. The BIDMC/HSCI’s research interests revolve around small particle detection and leading-edge technologies.
John received certification as an immunology specialist from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists after obtaining a degree in the biological sciences from Rhode Island College. He was recruited to perform academic research at Roger Williams Hospital in the Pathology and Clinical Immunology Department. After John was named manager of the BIDMC Flow Cytometry Core in Boston, his growing research interests in stem cell biology led him to become a key member of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute.
The free webinar, hosted by LabRoots, will be presented on January 20, 2016, at 8 am Pacific Time/11 am Eastern Time.
For full details about the event, including a list of references in the literature for background, and free registration, click here.
About Beckman Coulter:
Beckman Coulter serves customers in two segments: Diagnostics and Life Sciences. The company develops, manufactures, and markets products that simplify, automate, and innovate complex biomedical testing. More than 275,000 Beckman Coulter systems operate in both Diagnostics and Life Sciences laboratories on seven continents. Scientists use Beckman Coulter’s Life Science research instruments to study complex biological problems, including causes of disease and potential new therapies or drugs.
About LabRoots:
LabRoots is the leading scientific social networking website and producer of educational virtual events and webinars. Contributing to the advancement of science through content sharing capabilities, LabRoots is a powerful advocate in amplifying global networks and communities. Founded in 2008, LabRoots emphasizes digital innovation in scientific collaboration and learning, and is a primary source for current scientific news, webinars, virtual conferences, and more. LabRoots is the owner and producer of BioConference Live – which has grown into the world’s largest series of virtual events within the Life Sciences and Clinical Diagnostics community.
