Beckman Coulter now offers Streptamer technology, a method for the isolation and characterisation of functional antigen-specific T-cells by fluorescence-activated or magnet-assisted cell sorting.
Streptamer technology, manufactured by IBA, includes Ag-specific multimers available in a number of human alleles and mouse models, and attached to either magnetic beads or fluorescently labelled Strep-Tactin.
The addition of the Streptamer technology to Beckman Coulter's Itag MHC Tetramer and Itopia immune monitoring product lines provides researchers with a comprehensive range of methods for sorting and characterising cells.
Combined with current Tetramer and Itopia reagents, Streptamer technology allows researchers to expand their use of tetramers to include in vivo experimentation.
The reversible, antigen-specific staining of T-cells enabled by Streptamers leaves the isolated T-cells phenotypically and functionally indistinguishable from untreated cells.
The technology is said to have the potential to advance basic T-cell research as an essential prerequisite for novel immunological medicines.
'Streptamer technologies expand the range of tools available for immunologists,' said Brad Calvin, vice-president of Beckman Coulter's Flow Cytometry Business Center.
''The reversible binding capability of the Streptamer technology allows researchers to sort and study cells in their natural state.
'This provides the ability to use targeted cells in their native condition,' he added.
