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DIATRAK

One of MicroMol's scientific focal points is to determine and interfere in abnormalities of the human immune system, especially for autoimmune disease and allergy. In the context of autoimmune disease two projects, DiaTRAK and TheraTRAK, were granted by the german authorities within the initiative BioChance plus.  DiaTRAK, finished in 2006, was followed up by the TheraTRAK project.
The goal of the DiaTRAK project was the development of an innovative technology for the diagnosis of TSH receptor dependent autoimmune disease. Within this project a series of functional active recombinant proteins, spanning various parts of the extracellular domain of the human TSH receptor, were established. Based on these variant TSHR proteins a preliminary test system was established with which it was possible to determine anti TSHR reactivity from the serum of patients suffering on thyroid autoimmune disease.

In addition to that MicroMol implemented a platform technology for the identification of immunological relevant protein epitopes and succeeded to determine physiological relevant epitopes of the human TSH receptor.

Achievements of the DiaTRAK project    

• A series of bacterial recombinant GST proteins covering various parts of the extracellular domain of the TSH receptor
• An ELISA-test for the evaluation of patients sera based on the above mentioned recombinant TSHR variants
• Establishment of a test system for the identification of immunological relevant autoantibody epitopes in autoimmune disease
• Identification of  3 physiological relevant autoantibody epitopes on the extracellular domain of the human TSH receptor
• Establishment of a general test system for the fast and sensitive identification of antibody epitopes on defined proteins

Services and products established within this project are purchasable. Customers and interested people are welcome to contact MicroMol and to discuss, use and profit from the achievements of the DiaTRAK project.

THERATRAK

The aim of the TheraTRAK project was the functional evaluation of 3 physiological relevant autoantibody epitopes of the human TSH receptor as the basis for a novel therapeutical approach for the treatment of autoimmune diseases of the thyroid.
In the course of these project the full length human TSH receptor including the signal peptide was cloned in an eucaryotic expression vector and expressed in a human cell line (HEK293). TSHR specific antisera were produced to determine clones expressing the TSHR on their cell surface. The functionality of the positive clones was determined by TSH dependent TSHR signal pathway triggering.
At the moment the functional active TSHR transfectants are under investigation to analyze the ability of the peptides, corresponding to the identified autoepitopes, to interfere in the receptor activation by TSHR specific autoantibodies present in the serum of patients suffering from thyroid autoimmune disease. The results of the THERATRAK studies will give ideas and solutions for novel therapeutic approaches with the aim of replacing the up to now extremely aggressive therapies of thyroid autoimmune disease.

Achievements of the TheraTRAK project

• Establishment of a powerful eukaryotic expression system encoding the full length human TSH receptor
• Establishment of human cell lines expressing the human TSH receptor on their cell surface
• Generation of sensitve and highly TSH receptor specific antisera  for the usage in Western Blots and ELISAs
• Establishment of a functional test system for the analysis of peptides and other molecules interfering in TSH receptor specific triggering.

All the products and achievements are open to the scientific community and the customer. MicroMol is looking forward to your contact!

ALLERGOSCAN

The AllergoScan project, granted by the initiative Biotechnology Baden Württemberg, fits perfectly well in MicroMols concept dealing with abnormalities of the human immune system.
The aim of the ALLERGOSCAN project is the development of a higly specific method for the determination of hidden food allergens. In this context it is not only planned to determine hidden food allergens in a defined food sample, but also directly in the production line of food producing facilities. Hereby the focus is directed onto celery as one of the most powerful food allergens known to date.
Using bioinformatical tools, 4 regions out of the protein sequence of celery's major allergens Api g 1 and Api g 2 were determined according to their immunogenicity and their uniqueness. Antibodies raised against these regions show highly specific and strong reactivity against the recombinant allergens and the native proteins from celery extract.
In a preliminar test system celery contamination in various commercially available spice preparations as well as from celery supplemented boiled food samples could be determined. In combination with novel immunological labelling approaches the concept will end up in a series of celery specific DipStick assays with the abilty to define the allergen directly at the place of action.  

Achievements of the ALLERGOSCAN project

• Determination of 4 highly immunogenic and/or unique regions from the protein sequence of the two major celery allergens Api g 1 and Api g 2
• Generation of highly reactive and specific antisera against peptides corresponding to the identified immunogenic/unique regions
• Establishment of a preliminar test system which determines celery contamination in commercially available spice formulations as well as from boiled food

ALLERGODIFF

ALLERGODIFF, started in 0ctober 2009, is the consequent  follow up of the ALLERGOSCAN project.
ALLERGODIFF is carried out in cooperation with R-biopharm AG and it is funded by the authorities within the initiative KMU-INNOVATIV. One of the goals of this project is to further improve the preliminar celery test establlished in the course of the ALLERGOSCAN project on the basis of additional antisera to the final formulation of a Dip Stick assay with the ability to determine celery contamination in any matrix with a sensitivity of up to 1 ppm. It will be suitable for being applied directly in the production line of food processing companies. Moreover in the course of the ALLERGODIFF the allergenic epitopes of the celery allergen Api g 1 should be determined using MicroMol's Peptide Scanning technology in combination with defined sera of individuals suffering from celery allergy.

The information of these investigations in combination with sophisticated bioinformatical analysis will give detailed information on cross reaction phenomena often observed in allergic disease. Moreover, the identification of disease specific epitopes can represent a complete new level for the generation of allergen specific test systems.  

Goals of the ALLERGODIFF project

• Implementation of a celery specific protein assay which is able to determine celery contamination in any matrix to the maximal sensitivity of 1 ppm
• Determination of the celery specific allergenic epitopes on the basis of patients IgE reactivity
• Generation of a new class of disease specific allergen assays on the basis of the allergenic epitopes