Introduction

The lab of Dr. William D. Tolbert and Dr. Neelakshi Gohain use Papain-linked agarose resin to create combinations of purified Fabs of Cluster A monoclonal antibodies (A32 mAbs and JR4 mAbs) to validate the design and crystal structure of a stabilized inner domain (ID) of HIV-1 gp120. This ID displays a major antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) target of the A32 region. Current research supports a role for ADCC in preventing HIV-1 infection and in vaccine-induced protection that correlates with slower HIV progression or decreased virus replication.

Prion diseases (also referred to as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, or TSEs) are a group of progressive, untreatable, and fatal neurodegenerative conditions affecting both humans and animals. Generally, these conditions are characterized by long incubation periods (usually between 5 to 20 years), disruption in the normal tissue structure (resulting in holes and vacuole formation in the neurons), and the absence of an inflammatory response.

Spectrophotometric analysis, also called spectral scanning, of biomolecules serves two main purposes – the quantitation of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and purity assessment. Since the amount or concentration and purity of the DNA or RNA in a solution significantly affect the results of subsequent downstream applications, establishing these values early on can reduce, if not totally eliminate, the risk of committing errors and guarantee optimum results.