New product offers the entire expressed genome of both the mosquito host and the malaria parasite on a single array
Affymetrix has announced the launch of a plasmodium/anopheles genome GeneChip array, the first commercial array that can be used to simultaneously study the entire expressed genomes of both the host mosquito, anopheles gambiae, and the malaria parasite, plasmodium falciparum.
The plasmodium/anopheles genome GeneChip array interrogates over 22,000 transcripts and empowers scientists to understand the molecular dynamics of the parasite-host relationship, potentially leading to new interventions for malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases.
The array was developed in collaboration with the Malaria Research Institute at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "This concomitant analysis of host-parasite gene expression will aid in our basic understanding of the complex relationship between the parasite and its insect vector," said Alan Scott of Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, who collaborated with the Affymetrix team on the array design.
Through a program sponsored by NIAID/NIH, the new array will be available to qualified, registered users of the Malaria Research and Reference Reagent Resource Center (MR4) located at ATCC.
The centre was established in 1998 to provide quality malaria-related reagents, information and other critical resources to the international malaria research community.
Announcements about the application procedure and number of arrays provided by MR4 will be sent to registered users and posted on MR4's home page.
The array will also be available for direct purchase from Affymetrix. "The power of Affymetrix technology to package the entire expressed genomes of multiple organisms on a single array - host and pathogen in this case - affords scientists the unique ability to ask new biological questions," said Lianne McLean, Affymetrix's director of expression marketing.
"It also underscores the value of GeneChip arrays in situations that would otherwise require two separate designs on two separate arrays".
The new array will enable researchers to study the molecular networks required for plasmodium parasite development and reveal unique targets and approaches for chemotherapeutic and immunological intervention.
The array will also help researchers better understand many plasmodium genes which have no known function, possibly generating novel targets for intervention.
The plasmodium/anopheles genome GeneChip array ill also help scientists understand the patterns of gene expression in the mosquito vector and identify unique pathways that can be exploited to break transmission of malaria.
By revealing these pathways, the array may also help researchers understand the spread of other mosquito-born pathogens, such as the dengue and West Nile viruses, and lead to new methods of manipulating or controlling mosquito populations.
