Open Biosystems Launches Decode RNAi Viral Screening Pools for Low-Cost Genome-Scale RN...( HUNTSVILLE Ala. April 15 /- Open ...),Health

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Open Biosystems, Inc., focused on the commercialization of leading-edge life science research tools for drug discovery, today announced the availability of new Decode(TM) RNAi viral screening pools for multiplexed RNAi screens. This novel offering allows researchers access to genome-scale RNAi screens and the ability to rapidly screen through thousands of genes at a time utilizing PCR and traditional sequencing.

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The first Decode RNAi viral screening set has been created using Open Biosystems' GIPZ lentiviral shRNAmir library validated in its ability to produce effective knockdown even when expressed from a single integration event in target cells. This pooled screening set targets the entire human genome in a ready-to-use lentiviral pool format, extending RNAi screening to primary and non-dividing cells. The Decode RNAi product will be expanded to include shRNAmir pools providing choices in promoters, fluorescent markers and type of viral vector increasing the ability to perform genome scale RNAi screening in all cell types and assays.

Two recent publications from Dr. Greg Hannon and Dr. Steve Elledge, developers of the shRNAmir technology for RNAi, display the power of multiplexed RNAi screening using shRNAmir pools. They were able to identify genes that are selectively required by certain cancer cells but not by normal cells. Identification of selective vulnerabilities in specific cancer cells is key to the development of alternative cancer therapeutics.

Dr. Ricky Johnstone, Group Leader of Gene Regulation at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center said, "As beta users of the Open Biosystems' Decode RNAi viral pools, we are very happy with its convenient format, knockdown performance in multiplexed RNAi screens, as well as, its ability to transduc
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