TraqBio - Flexible Progress Tracking for Core Unit Projects - Fig 1

<p>A) Tracking view of TraqBio of a typical proteomics work flow. B) Illustration of sequential work packages (green boxes) as typical for a qualitative analysis of a non-complex protein sample [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0162857#pone.0162857.ref001" target="_blank">1</a>] with pictograms for the individual work packages on the left and methodological remarks, created via the free text function, on the right (blue boxes). Project steps created in the corresponding TraqBio workflow are shown in green and information related to the sample owner via the step description or the free text field is shown in blue. C) Timeline view for core unit staff indicating current status of one project created and updated and one template created from the new project.</p

Characterization of Lipid-Based Hexosomes as Versatile Vaccine Carriers

Subunit vaccines typically show insufficient immunogenicity. To address this issue, we developed a novel self-adjuvanting particulate carrier system based upon the lipids phytantriol (Phy) and mannide monooleate (MaMo). Phy is a lipid known to form nonlamellar phases in fully hydrated systems, whereas MaMo has been found to promote immune responses in emulsion form. A bulk phase composition of Phy/MaMo (14 wt %) showed hexagonal (HII) phase behavior over a practical temperature range (including room and body temperature), and was therefore used for particle development. Hexosomes stabilized with different concentrations of either poloxamer 407, Myrj 59, or Pluronic F108 were successfully prepared. To demonstrate the versatile nature of these systems, the particles were further modified with either positively or negatively charged lipids and loaded with model antigens, while maintaining the HII structure. These hexosomes are structurally robust and amenable to customization, rendering them suitable as antigen delivery carriers

TraqBio - Flexible Progress Tracking for Core Unit Projects

<div><p>Motivation</p><p>Core service units have become an organisational hallmark in many research institutions world wide. Such service cores provide complex state-of-the-art technologies and expertise to the research community. Typically, a user delivers material or raw data to a core. The core defines work packages for ensuing analysis and returns results back to the user. This core activity can be quite complex and time consuming and usually does not communicate itself to the outside. Naturally, the user is highly interested to follow the progress of a project once handed over to the core unit. This generates a time-intensive direct communication activity back and forth. A more effective, convenient and less disruptive way to track the status of a given project by the researcher, but also by core managers, appears highly desirable. Hence, we developed a lightweight and readily implementable web application that allows efficient progress tracking of core unit projects.</p><p>Results</p><p>The web application TraqBio allows for the convenient tracking of projects. Following project set-up by the core, the user receives an e-mail containing links for tracking the project status. Examples are provided for three common core units, namely genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics units. TraqBio is a secure lightweight web application that can be either used in a standalone setup or incorporated into an existing web server infrastructure. Being accessible not only from classical desktop computers but also from mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, TraqBio offers easy integration into every day work.</p></div

Typical workflow for a bioinformatics consulting service.

<p>After submission of a contact form, a meeting for the first consulting is scheduled. In this meeting, the researcher’s questions are discussed with the bioinformatics experts. After the data analysis has been carried out by the bioinformatics team, results are submitted to the researcher.</p

Example of a typical workflow in Next Generation Sequencing projects.

<p>Example of a typical workflow in Next Generation Sequencing projects.</p

TraqBio is also well accessible on mobile devices like tablets (left screenshot) and smartphones (right screenshot) due to its responsive design.

<p>TraqBio is also well accessible on mobile devices like tablets (left screenshot) and smartphones (right screenshot) due to its responsive design.</p

Total Synthesis of Dynobactin A

The first total synthesis of the potent antimicrobial agent dynobactin A is disclosed. This synthesis enlists a singular aziridine ring opening strategy to access the two disparate β-aryl-branched amino acids present within this complex decapeptide. Featuring a number of unique maneuvers to navigate inherently sensitive and epimerizable functional groups, this convergent approach proceeds in only 16 steps (LLS) from commercial materials and should facilitate the synthesis of numerous analogues for medicinal chemistry studies