Webinars

Despite the availability of existing genome sequences in public databases, the quality, completeness, authenticity, accuracy, and traceability of genomic data is inadequate; the lack of standards for genome quality exacerbates these underlying problems. To address the underlying problems, ATCC has implemented a robust next-generation sequencing and genome assembly workflow to produce reference-quality microbial genomes. In this webinar, ATCC genomics expert Andrew Frank, MS, will cover these key points:

• Understand the standardized process and quality control criteria required for growing, extracting, sequencing, and analyzing each reference-quality genome
• Review the metadata provided on the ATCC Genome Portal to contextualize the data as it fits with your NGS workflow
• Explore the features of the ATCC Genome Portal as well as the genomes available

Use of exosomes as reference materials in biomedical research

Dr. Siddhartha Paul is an expert in the isolation and characterization of extracellular vesicles. In this presentation, Dr. Paul gives an overview of exosomes from various well-characterized ATCC cell lines and shows data indicating that these extracellular vesicles can be used as reference materials in biological research and assay development.

• There is an unmet need for well-characterized exosome reference materials.
• Exosomes from ATCC cells can serve as consistent, natural standards for molecular assay development or utilized to develop novel drug delivery systems.
• ATCC experts generated characterization and application data indicating that exosomes can be implemented in multiple functional assays.

Elevating biological models of metastasis

In this webinar, ATCC epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition expert and Senior Biologist Diana Douglas will cover the following key points:

• CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing technology was applied to develop a number of RFP- or GFP-tagged reporter cell lines to study EMT and MET phenomena.
• The EMT/MET reporter cell lines can be used to monitor cellular changes in real time or as a platform for drug screening.
• In depth transition data were generated including morphology change, intrinsic reporter expression, marker expression, and invasion upon stimulation with EMT/MET agonists.

In this webinar, ATCC molecular standard development expert Kyle Young will cover the following key points:

• Assay accuracy and precision depends heavily on using faithful standards in the development process. 
• The use of molecular standards reduces the required cost and labor involved with culture, extraction, and quantitation processes.
• ATCC validated molecular standards cover a broad range of organisms, from human pathogens to microbiome components.

Balsam Shawky, MS, and Brian Shapiro, PhD, are experts in the authentication and characterization of cell lines. Join this webinar to explore how ATCC is raising credibility in science by pioneering cutting-edge solutions that support cell line verification.

Key points:

• Cell line authentication is a critical requirement to receive funding for research, publish papers in scientific journals, and validate in vitro studies for preclinical testing
• ATCC offers human and mouse STR profiling services for cell line authentication
• The mouse STR profiling method was developed by NIST in collaboration with ATCC and 10 independent laboratories

Briana Benton, BS, has significant experience in the design and development of mock microbial communities for microbiome research. Join the webinar to uncover the current challenges in this field of research and to discover how microbiome standards can be used in assay optimization.

• Optimization at each step of the analytical process is essential to the validity and reproducibility of experimental data.
• The consistent use of controls during each step of a workflow allows users to understand where biases are introduced.
• ATCC has developed a wide range of fully sequenced and quantitative mock microbial communities that support the development and optimization of microbiome research workflows.

Robert Molestina, PhD, is ATCC’s expert in developing multiphasic standards and methods for the detection of tick-borne diseases. Join this webinar to hear Dr. Molestina cover the following key points:

• The most common TBDs in the United States are Lyme disease, caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, and babesiosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Babesia microti.
• The accurate diagnosis of TBD can be complicated by the possibility of co-infection, which exacerbates disease symptomatology; therefore, more accurate detection methods are required.
• ATCC scientists are working toward improving the diagnosis of babesiosis via cutting-edge technologies.

Steve Budd, MBA, and Kevin Grady, BS, have extensive experience with culturing hard-to-grow cell lines and primary cells. Watch this webinar to hear these ATCC experts cover the following key points:

• Using misidentified or cross-contaminated cell lines in experiments can invalidate research efforts; therefore, authenticating cell lines should be part of your cell culture work flow.
• When culturing specialty cells, such as stem cells or primary cells, certain considerations regarding the choice of media and reagents must be taken.
• Cryopreserving cells under optimal conditions is critical for maintaining cell viability. 

After the webinar, join the discussion as a panel of ATCC cell culture experts answer your questions!

Expand Your Cell-based Assays With an Unlimited, Biologically Relevant Resource

Yalin Firinci, M.B.A., is adept at developing next generation biological models that incorporate primary cells. Join this webinar to hear this ATCC expert cover the following key points:

• Differentiated iPSCs lend the ability to run large toxicity studies and drug screens on highly biologically relevant cells.
• ATCC iPSCs were used as the source for three types of differentiated cells: CD34+ progenitors, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and monocytes.
• ATCC R&D scientists have generated in-depth data showing the iPSC-derived cells can be incorporated into immunoassays and further differentiated into cell types such as osteocytes, chondrocytes, and adipocytes.

Dr. James Clinton is an expert at developing advanced cell biology models for the scientific community. Watch his presentation to gain an overview of the Human Cancer Models Initiative (HCMI), and of the technologies driving the development of these “next-generation” models that hold promise to transform in vitro cancer research.

• There is an unmet need for novel preclinical cancer models that better reflect the genotype and phenotype across the spectrum of cancer found in the patient population.
• The HCMI is funded by the National Cancer Institute, Cancer Research UK, Wellcome Sanger Institute, and the foundation Hubrecht Organoid Technology, and seeks to generate 1000 novel cancer models that will be manufactured and distributed by ATCC.
• A wide variety of patient-derived in vitro cancer models are offered, including 3D organoids and neurospheres, as well as conditionally reprogrammed cells and other 2D models.