Antibiotics & Microbiome Dysbiosis

Participate in development of tools to study microbiome dysbiosis resulting from massive use of antibiotics.  Establish if there is any relationship between extent of dysbiosis from the antibiotics used to treat CDI and relapse observed in certain cases.  Establish what counter measures can be used to mitigate such outcomes.  It is particularly crucial to establish such a relationship on the effects of Clofazimine on microbiome dysbiosis especially since preliminary data shows narrow spectrum of activity against Clostridium difficile and sparing the rest of the gut microbiome and lack of relapse from its use. This is expected to be achieved by adopting metagenomic NextGen sequencing along with well-established microbiological, molecular biology and biorepository protocols established at KamTek and collaborative arrangements with experts in relative areas of scientific inquiry...

Cell Line Authentication and Microbial Genotyping

Over the years, it has become clear that identification and biological materials such as Cell line authentication and genotyping of microbes is crucial for success of any biomedical research. Such an efforts can save millions of research funds going to waste -- Hence NIH mandate to evaluate, identify and authenticate biological research material before use with NIH funds.   Cell line authentication and microbial genotyping requires careful systematic evaluation of source of the materials with appropriate choice of tests that can be performed to reach consensus.  KamTek offers  some of the tools and participate with research community in tackling this problem...

Support HarmonyTM Prenatal Screening Test Kits Development

KamTek is supporting the development of HarmonyTM Prenatal Test Kits for screening of chromosomal abnormalities in fetal DNA circulating in mother’s blood.  This is accomplished by applying NextGen sequencing techniques detecting DNA sequences specific for each of the abnormality in fetal DNA. The diagnostic kits are being developed by Roche with clinical tests performed at Ariosa diagnostics, the inventor of the technique.  Control DNAs used in these test kits come from specific EBV transformed cell lines developed at KamTek, Inc....