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Molecular Techniques Laboratory
Course Name: Molecular Cloning and Protein Chemistry for Graduate Students
July 7th to July 25, 2008
ICBR, Room G-184, Cancer and Genetics Research Complex
University of Florida, Gainesville
Course Number: ALS 5905 (College of Agriculture), PHA 6522L (College of Pharmacy), GMS 6004 (Section number 5204, College of Medicine), VME 6934 (section 5261).
This course is also available for all UF or non-UF staff, students or faculty.
Number of Credits: 2
Course Coordinator:
Sharon Norton, B.S.
Phone: 273-8048/ EMail: norton@biotech.ufl.edu
Co-instructors:
Bill Farmerie, Ph.D.
Phone: 273-8049/ EMail: wgf@biotech.ufl.edu
Fahong Yu, Ph.D.
Phone: 273-8065 / EMail: fyu@ufl.edu
Meeting time:
M, T, W, Th, F from 8:00-5:00 PM (Periods 1-9) July 7th to July 25th only.
Pre-requisites:
There are no specific pre-requisites for this class. However, having had any basic course in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology or Genetics would be helpful.
Course description:
This laboratory course targets all graduate students that have been admitted to the graduate programs of a wide range of disciplines in the Life Sciences and related areas (e.g., human and veterinary medicine, pharmacy, animal and plant sciences, food sciences, chemistry, computer and engineering sciences, etc.). Those students who are interested in pursuing careers in Biotechnology-related areas will especially benefit from this course. Students spend approximately 70% of their time “at the bench” and 30% of their time attending theoretical lectures.
The course has been designed following a project-based approach with the purpose of illustrating the way in which molecular biology techniques are used to ask and answer biological questions. Participants will learn a large number of the basic techniques required for basic DNA cloning and analysis, differential gene expression tools, as well as fundamentals of protein purification and characterization. Carbonic anhydrase is used as a model protein for cloning, expression and characterization.
Course objectives:
- To provide incoming graduate students or students in the early stages of their training with a head start on the understanding of how recombinant DNA and protein characterization tools are being used currently to tackle important problems in biology.
- To provide graduate students who are interested in pursuing biotech-related careers with the basic knowledge and information on available resources to facilitate the fulfillment of their academic goals.
- To help students in their transition into graduate school by providing them with an ideal environment where they can meet and interact with other students of similar interest.
Grading:
Evaluation of student’s performance will be based on lLaboratory manual record-keeping, including bench experiments and lab exercises (20%), Bioinformatics presentation (20%) a problem set (15%), one quiz (20%), and attendance (25%).
Scale: 90-100%: A 70-74%: C
85-89%: B+ 65-69%: D+
80-84%: B 60-64%: D
75-79%: C+ <60%: F
Policies:
Problem sets and lab manual are due by 4:00 PM on July 25th, 2006. A “late” delivery can be made by 11 AM on July 28th , 2008 however, this will be penalized by taking 10% off of total grade. No materials will be accepted beyond this date. Missing more than three days in the course will result in a non-passing grade. Every unapproved absence, up to a total of three will be penalized with a 10% off of the total grade per day missed.
Text:
A customized laboratory manual will be available for the course and will be provided on the first day of class. Additional materials and notes will be provided throughout the course.
Laboratory fee:
Paid to the ICBR
UF Students, UF Faculty or UF Staff: $600.00
Non-student participants $1,200.00
Sponsored Students: $600.00 Sponsored students are subject to the registration policies of each sponsoring Department, regarding cost of credit hours, etc.
Monolithic Technology Platform for the Purification of Large Biomolecules
All seminars and lunch will take place on Friday April 25th in ICBR room 184 in the Cancer Genetics Research Building.
Please RSVP for lunch to tony.brazzale@monoliths.com
10:00-10:45AM CIM® (Convective Interaction Media) for the Purification of Large Biomolecules.
Liquid chromatography is the method of choice for purification of therapeutic biomolecules because it increases productivity and provides the high level of purity required.
Conventional particle based media suffer from mass-transport limitations due the poor diffusion constants of large biomolecules. These limitations are avoided by employing CIM® monolithic columns which rely upon convective mass transport for purification. Convective mass transport offers many advantages, including flow-independent binding capacity and flow-independent resolution.
The technology will be discussed along with the advantages over other purification media. An overview of application areas will be covered, including viruses, phages, vaccines, nucleic acids, antibodies, and use of these columns as online enzymatic bioreactors.
11:00-11:45AM CIM® Monolithic Columns and Their Use for the Purification of Viruses, Phages, Nucleic Acids, and Vaccines
A brief overview of the Convective Interaction Media®, the technology, and the advantages will be discussed followed by an in-depth discussion of the title applications. Current manufacturing processes for pDNA purification and influenza vaccine will be covered as well as applications for phage purification and titer determination.
11:45-12:30 Lunch will be provided and posters of application areas will be displayed.
12:30-1:15PM CIM® Monolithic Columns and Their Use for the Purification of Antibodies
A brief overview of the Convective Interaction Media®, the technology and the advantages will be discussed followed by an in-depth discussion of the title application. Included in the discussion will be a planned clinical scale manufacturing process for IgM.
1:30-2:15PM CIM® Monolithic Columns and Their Use for Bioconversion
Due to the design of the Convective Interaction Media® there are significant advantages to binding substrates to the column to perform bioconversions. These advantages, specific applications, and results will be discussed.
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Presented by Tony Brazzale, Eastern US Regional Manger, BIA Separations. BIA Separations is the only worldwide manufacturer of Short Monolithic Columns optimized to meet the research and production needs of the biotechnology industry. The company's purpose is to become a leader in innovative liquid chromatographic methods and develop monolithic materials for the next century. BIA Separations has developed a wide range of media that address the growing need for timesaving innovations in therapeutic biomolecule purification.
EPI-ICBR Innovative Projects Initiative Call for Proposals
Through a partnership between the Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research (ICBR) and the Emerging Pathogens Institute (EPI) , funding for up to five seed grant projects is available to qualified faculty seeking ICBR services to seed preliminary data gathering for proposal development or for innovative technology development related to the study of emerging, or re-emerging, pathogens. Each project will be worth up to $20,000 in ICBR services.
To apply for funding, please send a two page request to Dr. Glenn Morris, jgmorris@ufl.edu, and address the following:
- PI Name/Unit. PIs that are new customers to ICBR and existing customers with new and innovative directions involving emerging pathogens are especially encouraged.
- Approximate costs of services requested.
- Extramural sponsor and/or RFA for the current project or future proposal for which ICBR services are requested (USDA, NSF, NIH, etc.).
- Detailed description of ICBR services requested, and an explanation of how these services will enhance the competitiveness of the investigator in applying for extramural funding. Projects must demonstrate a clear route towards future funding with further deployment of ICBR services as part of the ongoing project. Consultation with ICBR service directors is strongly encouraged.
Project proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis through May 1 for spring 2008. Drs. Morris and Ferl will notify faculty of their selection and the qualifying dollar amount of services that will be available to them. After conclusion of the projects, ICBR will also work with the awardees to further incorporate ICBR services into their proposals(s) to maximize the benefit of the seed project(s).
McKnight Brain Institute (MBI) Cell and Tissue Analysis Core (CTAC) Open House - Monday, March 10th
The McKnight Brain Institute, in cooperation with the ICBR, is pleased to announce the opening of the new MBI Cell and Tissue Analysis Core (CTAC). Please stop by our open house on the ground floor of the MBI, LG-164 from 10am - 4pm on Monday March 10th.
The CTAC core facility has a wide array of new image and analysis instrumentation available for use at a modest hourly rate. To set up an account with the core contact the core manager - Doug Smith (dugsmith@ufl.edu). He will provide scheduling information and the name of the appropriate operator for the equipment you are interested in being trained on and using.
The MBI Cell and Tissue Analysis Core has been established to provide a centralized resource for the UF/MBI research community to perform in vivo and in vitro imaging and investigation of rodent models, as well as the development of practical ancillary techniques. CTAC is designed to bring new imaging and analysis modalities to UF investigators as they become available. Currently, CTAC has a variety of imaging modalities such as confocal and intravital microscopy, live cell imaging, hi-resolution ultrasound, whole animal bioluminescence/fluorescence imager, laser capture microdissection, and TC Plate live culture cell sorting/optical injection system.
Happy New Year!
We have many new things coming in 2008. Continue to watch this space for updates...