Steve Reed - pp971 - 972

Charlotte Schubert

doi:10.1038/nbt1109-971

Steve Reed believes the organization he has founded has the potential to radically increase the developing world's access to vaccines for neglected diseases. The efforts of the Seattle-based Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI), which operates as a not-for-profit biotech company, may start to pay off during the H1N1 'swine' flu pandemic. IDRI developed an adjuvant to boost the effectiveness and supplies of flu vaccines and is making the technology available to vaccine manufacturers in developing nations. Charlotte Schubert talks to Reed about how IDRI, a 90-person operation with a $19 million annual budget, could have such a big impact.

Abstract - | Full Text - Steve Reed | PDF (220 KB) - Steve Reed

Biotech strikes back in Q3 - p973

Walter Yang

doi:10.1038/nbt1109-973

Full Text - Biotech strikes back in Q3 | PDF (245 KB) - Biotech strikes back in Q3

Whatever happened to GM wheat? - pp974 - 976

Jeffrey L Fox

doi:10.1038/nbt1109-974

Agribusiness is taking another run at transgenic wheat after shelving its programs five years ago because of concerns from farmers, trade organizations and even state governments about market acceptance. Will there be a market this time? Jeffrey Fox investigates.

Abstract - | Full Text - Whatever happened to GM wheat? | PDF (168 KB) - Whatever happened to GM wheat?

The gold rush for induced pluripotent stem cells - pp977 - 979

Sarah Webb

doi:10.1038/nbt1109-977

As the first commercial ventures are formed around induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell research, who will have the freedom to operate commercially remains a big unknown. Sarah Webb reports.

Abstract - | Full Text - The gold rush for induced pluripotent stem cells | PDF (203 KB) - The gold rush for induced pluripotent stem cells

The valuation high ground - pp980 - 983

Jeffrey J Stewart & Ben Bonifant

doi:10.1038/bioe.2009.9

PDF (149 KB) - The valuation high ground

The market value of GM products - p984

Rob Carlson

doi:10.1038/nbt1109-984a

Full Text - The market value of GM products | PDF (124 KB) - The market value of GM products

Accreditation and attribution in data sharing - pp984 - 985

Gudmundur A Thorisson

doi:10.1038/nbt1109-984b

Full Text - Accreditation and attribution in data sharing | PDF (190 KB) - Accreditation and attribution in data sharing

The role of patents in biodiversity conservation - pp994 - 995

Charles Lawson

doi:10.1038/nbt1109-994

Patents may not establish clear property and use rights and this may promote biodiversity destruction and decline. What is needed are schemes for patents to suit conservation and sustainable-use objectives.

Abstract - | Full Text - The role of patents in biodiversity conservation | PDF (87 KB) - The role of patents in biodiversity conservation

Recent patent applications in biological imaging - p996

doi:10.1038/nbt1109-996

Full Text - Recent patent applications in biological imaging | PDF (47 KB) - Recent patent applications in biological imaging

An integrative approach to reveal driver gene fusions from paired-end sequencing data in cancer - pp1005 - 1011

Xiao-Song Wang, John R Prensner, Guoan Chen, Qi Cao, Bo Han, Saravana M Dhanasekaran, Rakesh Ponnala, Xuhong Cao, Sooryanarayana Varambally, Dafydd G Thomas, Thomas J Giordano, David G Beer, Nallasivam Palanisamy, Maureen A Sartor, Gilbert S Omenn & Arul M Chinnaiyan

doi:10.1038/nbt.1584

With a flood of cancer genome sequences expected soon, distinguishing 'driver' from 'passenger' mutations will be an important task. Wang et al. describe a bioinformatic method for identifying cancer-associated fusions and apply it to discover a recurrent rearrangement in lung cancer.

Abstract - | Full Text - An integrative approach to reveal driver gene fusions from paired-end sequencing data in cancer | PDF (6,997 KB) - An integrative approach to reveal driver gene fusions from paired-end sequencing data in cancer | Supplementary information

The challenges of sequencing by synthesis - pp1013 - 1023

Carl W Fuller, Lyle R Middendorf, Steven A Benner, George M Church, Timothy Harris, Xiaohua Huang, Stevan B Jovanovich, John R Nelson, Jeffery A Schloss, David C Schwartz & Dmitri V Vezenov

doi:10.1038/nbt.1585

Abstract - | Full Text - The challenges of sequencing by synthesis | PDF (2,118 KB) - The challenges of sequencing by synthesis

Microdroplet-based PCR enrichment for large-scale targeted sequencing - pp1025 - 1031

Ryan Tewhey, Jason B Warner, Masakazu Nakano, Brian Libby, Martina Medkova, Patricia H David, Steve K Kotsopoulos, Michael L Samuels, J Brian Hutchison, Jonathan W Larson, Eric J Topol, Michael P Weiner, Olivier Harismendy, Jeff Olson, Darren R Link & Kelly A Frazer

doi:10.1038/nbt.1583

In many sequencing applications, it is sufficient to sequence selected portions of a genome rather than the complete genome. Tewhey et al. describe an approach for massively parallel genome targeting that relies on PCR in microdroplets generated by a microfluidic device.

Abstract - | Full Text - Microdroplet-based PCR enrichment for large-scale targeted sequencing | PDF (883 KB) - Microdroplet-based PCR enrichment for large-scale targeted sequencing | Supplementary information

See also: News and Views by Kirkness

Live cell imaging distinguishes bona fide human iPS cells from partially reprogrammed cells - pp1033 - 1037

Elayne M Chan, Sutheera Ratanasirintrawoot, In-Hyun Park, Philip D Manos, Yuin-Han Loh, Hongguang Huo, Justine D Miller, Odelya Hartung, Junsung Rho, Tan A Ince, George Q Daley & Thorsten M Schlaeger

doi:10.1038/nbt.1580

Methods for reprogramming human cells are unable to prospectively distinguish bona fide induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from partially reprogrammed cells. Using live imaging to monitor cell fate, Chan et al. identify a set of markers that allows identification of rare iPS cells within a heterogeneous cell population.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Live cell imaging distinguishes bona fide human iPS cells from partially reprogrammed cells | PDF (725 KB) - Live cell imaging distinguishes bona fide human iPS cells from partially reprogrammed cells | Supplementary information

See also: News and Views by Subramanyam & Blelloch

Transcriptional analysis of intracytoplasmically stained, FACS-purified cells by high-throughput, quantitative nuclease protection - pp1038 - 1042

Susanne Pechhold, Melissa Stouffer, Gregory Walker, Ralph Martel, Bruce Seligmann, Yan Hang, Roland Stein, David M Harlan & Klaus Pechhold

doi:10.1038/nbt.1579

Cells that have been purified by FACS using intracellular markers are not amenable to gene expression analysis by conventional methods. Pechhold et al. solve this problem with the quantitative nuclease protection assay and apply the approach to study subsets of islet cells.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Transcriptional analysis of intracytoplasmically stained, FACS-purified cells by high-throughput, quantitative nuclease protection | PDF (551 KB) - Transcriptional analysis of intracytoplasmically stained, FACS-purified cells by high-throughput, quantitative nuclease protection | Supplementary information

The transcription unit architecture of the Escherichia coli genome - pp1043 - 1049

Byung-Kwan Cho, Karsten Zengler, Yu Qiu, Young Seoub Park, Eric M Knight, Christian L Barrett, Yuan Gao & Bernhard Ø Palsson

doi:10.1038/nbt.1582

Cho et al. reconstruct the regulatory and functional architecture of the E. coli genome by integrating data from several high-throughput measurements. The detailed map will allow the development of improved models of the networks that control the bacterium's transcription and translation.

Abstract - | Full Text - The transcription unit architecture of the Escherichia coli genome | PDF (623 KB) - The transcription unit architecture of the Escherichia coli genome | Supplementary information

Comprehensive characterization of cytochrome P450 isozyme selectivity across chemical libraries - pp1050 - 1055

Henrike Veith, Noel Southall, Ruili Huang, Tim James, Darren Fayne, Natalia Artemenko, Min Shen, James Inglese, Christopher P Austin, David G Lloyd & Douglas S Auld

doi:10.1038/nbt.1581

Cytochrome P450 enzymes metabolize drugs and contribute to harmful drug-drug interactions. To decipher p450 activities, Veith et al. screen 17,000 compounds, including >1,000 FDA-approved drugs, against five important P450 isozymes and identify chemical structures that are enriched in compounds active against specific isozymes.

Abstract - | Full Text - Comprehensive characterization of cytochrome P450 isozyme selectivity across chemical libraries | PDF (588 KB) - Comprehensive characterization of cytochrome P450 isozyme selectivity across chemical libraries | Supplementary information

People - p1058

doi:10.1038/nbt1109-1058

Full Text - People | PDF (66 KB) - People