Researchers at the University of Texas have developed a polymer-based delivery system which could lead to vaccines that would be more effective and specific to the infectious disease. The engineers have used ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules for the purpose. The two year long study used the new system on mice, delivering a DNA-based hepatitis B vaccine. The immune response was found to be much stronger as compared to the conventional system.

Applied Biosystems’ ultra-high-throughput genomic analysis platform, the SOLID™ System, generates genome-wide expression profiling data at the single cell level. This can help in finding details about cell fate, accelerating the discovery of biomarkers for disease. Ability to generate such profiles of gene activity from single stem can give an idea on variation between molecules of genetically identical stem cells. Detailed characterizations of this kind give scientists a better understanding of the application of these cells in regenerative therapies for damaged cells and organs. The sensitivity of the SOLiD System, which is higher than the currently used micro-array technology, enables researchers to generate detailed gene expression profiles from the trace amounts of RNA present in single cell and cancer samples.