BREA, Calif. (January 19, 2010) - Beckman Coulter, Inc. now offers Streptamer technology, providing a novel method for the isolation and characterization of functional antigen-specific T-cells by fluorescence-activated or magnet-assisted cell sorting. Streptamer technology, manufactured by IBA GmbH, includes Ag-specific multimers available in a number of human alleles and mouse models and attached to either magnetic beads or fluorescently labeled 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 characterizing 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 has 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, which is not always possible with conventional antibody staining techniques. This provides for unique research applications and the ability to use targeted cells in their native condition."
The partnership with IBA GmbH provides Beckman Coulter with exclusive distribution rights for the Streptamer technology in North America and co-exclusive distribution rights for the IBA Streptamer technology outside of North America. IBA will continue direct sales and support of the Streptamer technology outside of North America.
"Beckman Coulter has an extensive global footprint for both sales and support, which will allow our Streptamer products to reach a large and diverse customer set," said Lothar Germeroth, CEO of IBA. "With this relationship, we believe that IBA will continue to advance and expand the use of its Streptamer reagents to address the urgent need of modern drug discovery and life science research for the isolation of functional cells that provide novel insights into the biology of the immune system."
About Beckman Coulter Beckman Coulter, Inc., based in Orange County, California, develops, manufactures and markets products that simplify, automate and innovate complex biomedical tests. More than 200,000 Beckman Coulter systems operate in laboratories around the world, supplying critical information for improving patient health and reducing the cost of care. Recurring revenue, consisting of supplies, test kits and operating-type lease payments, represents approximately 78 percent of the company's 2008 annual revenue of $3.1 billion. For more information, visit www.beckmancoulter.com.
About IBA GmbH IBA GmbH, located in Goettingen, Germany, is dedicated to providing high quality tools for life science research. Being the "Tag-company" IBA covers, with its TAGnologies, the entire production of recombinant proteins. As competent partner for the life science industry and academia, IBA is one of the foremost providers of tag-derived products and services for PCR, cloning (StarGate* technology), transfection (MATra technology), protein expression and purification, detection (Strep-tag* technology), immobilization, and cell isolation. IBA´s proprietary Streptamer technology enables the detection and isolation of functional antigen-specific lymphocytes with reversible staining reagents. IBA has created a range of different Streptamer products enabling the functional characterization of immune cells. For more information, visit www.iba-go.com.
Orange County, Calif. (December 11, 2009) - Beckman Coulter, Inc. and CompuCyte Corporation have entered into a five-year global distribution agreement, under the terms of which Beckman Coulter will have the right to distribute CompuCyte laser scanning cytometers in cellular analysis markets worldwide. Beckman Coulter will maintain exclusive distribution rights for CompuCyte iGeneration technology outside of North America, and will share with CompuCyte the right to sell the instrumentation to research institutions and pharmaceutical companies within the U.S., Canada and Mexico. CompuCyte will continue worldwide direct sales of LSC instrumentation for automated tissue analysis.
"This agreement provides us with a sophisticated imaging platform that nicely complements our growing flow cytometry product portfolio," stated Brad Calvin, Beckman Coulter vice president for flow cytometry. "The iGeneration line of imaging cytometers will be an important addition to the range of products we are launching. This will enable us to provide researchers around the world with a broad range of technology for cell-based research from a single service provider, while further demonstrating our commitment to the research market."
Dr. Elena Holden, CompuCyte president and CEO, welcomed the new agreement: "Our distribution alliance is built on a great synergy between the two companies. Beckman Coulter is a renowned leader in flow cytometry instrumentation and CompuCyte is recognized as the first company to introduce solid-phase imaging cytometry technology (LSC) to the marketplace. LSC technology is complementary to flow cytometry and applies similar analysis principles to adherent cellular and tissue specimens, combining the resulting analytic data with high-quality imaging. The agreement with Beckman Coulter furthers CompuCyte´s commitment to the growing quantitative imaging cytometry market by enlarging the LSC technology distribution channel, and by bringing outstanding technical support to our customers worldwide."
About CompuCyte Corp. CompuCyte Corporation, a privately held corporation headquartered in Westwood, Massachusetts, is a pioneer in the field of quantitative imaging cytometry (QIC). The company´s comprehensive line of laser scanning cytometry instrumentation is applied to automated cellular and tissue analysis in life science research, drug safety, toxicology studies and clinical trials. Committed to educational programs and promotion of the science and practice of LSC technology, CompuCyte actively maintains the International QIC Centers of Excellence program (www.imagingcytometrycenter.com) and the annual International QIC Symposium. More information about CompuCyte Corporation and its technology may be found at www.compucyte.com.
Orange County, Calif. (November 17, 2009) - Beckman Coulter Inc. announces the introduction of its Kaluza Flow Cytometry Analysis Software, a package that greatly reduces processing and analysis times, allowing researchers more time to explore their data. Kaluza Software features new tools that simplify the management of multiple complex data sets, allows visualization of high-content data in different spatial dimensions on a single plot, and provides real-time analysis of high-content flow cytometry files.
A dynamic workspace facilitates automatic organization of plots, which combines with a zoom in/zoom out feature to provide an intuitive environment for data exploration. Auto-Layout intelligently reconfigures the workspace and minimizes the clicks required to create and maintain an analysis.
Data replay is made quick and easy with automatic loading of the original plots, gates, and colors from files with embedded analysis protocols. A radial menu provides fast access to all plot and region editing features.
Tree plots easily represent data that typically requires dozens of plots, gates and regions. Each phenotype can be used as a gate for further data exploration. Radar plots provide a multi-dimensional view of data without drawing a single gate. These plots reveal relevant and rare populations that are typically not seen using traditional bi-variate plots and gating strategies.
Sharlene Wright, flow cytometry strategic marketing manager with Beckman Coulter, noted, "Cytometrists can spend hours, days and even weeks formatting data to get the right information and presentation. With Kaluza Software, this can now be done in minutes, giving researchers the opportunity to spend more time in discovery and to get more information from their data."
Kaluza Flow Cytometry Analysis Software will readily scale to meet the expanding requirements of future instrumentation. Patented technology enables remarkably fast refresh rates for even large, complex data sets. The package works with the majority of FCS-compliant files and with most cytometers. It can be used with both network and stand-alone computers and is offered for research use only. Functional examples of Kaluza data analysis can be viewed at www.kaluzasoftware.com, where a free, fully functional trial version of the software is available.
Beckman Coulter and the stylized logo are registered trademarks of Beckman Coulter, Inc. Kaluza is a trademark of Beckman Coulter, Inc
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. (September 3, 2009) - Beckman Coulter, Inc. and Propel Labs, LLC., have entered into a new strategic alliance for flow cytometry. As part of this alliance, Propel will support Beckman Coulter with field upgrades of MoFlo instruments to the specifications associated with the more recent XDP version.
"Customers that have MoFlo systems are extremely loyal to the product and have been for many years," said Brad Calvin, vice president of Beckman Coulter's Flow Cytometry Business Center. "This alliance demonstrates our continued support for these customers and a product that has become central to their research applications."
"We're very pleased to provide the XDP upgrade to MoFlo customers and to be aligned with Beckman Coulter, said Matt Ottenberg, CEO and founder of Propel Labs. "This reinforces the vision of a modular, scalable and upgradeable MoFlo platform."
About Propel Labs Propel Labs, LLC, based in Fort Collins, Colorado is a privately held bio-instrumentation development company with in-depth expertise in flow cytometry. Propel Labs delivers rapid time to market bio-instrumentation systems to ensure maximum return on investment for our customers. For more information, visit www.propel-labs.com.
Beckman Coulter and the stylized logo are registered trademarks of Beckman Coulter, Inc. MoFlo is a trademark of Beckman Coulter, Inc.
Fullerton, Calif. (March 9, 2009) - Beckman Coulter, Inc. introduces the Gallios Flow Cytometry system, an instrument that delivers analytical excellence, coupling extraordinary sensitivity, resolution and dynamic range with high-speed data collection. The instrument's unprecedented detection capabilities and easy-to-use software, combined with new dyes -- some with proprietary tandem dye technology -- facilitates superior performance of multi-color flow cytometry assays.
Developed for the research and biopharmaceutical markets, with input from a number of investigators, the multi-color, multi-laser Gallios is the first in a series of key flow cytometry instrument, software and reagent releases that Beckman Coulter plans to announce this year.
A particular emphasis on optical and electronics design, combined with powerful automation and software tools, allows Gallios to greatly enhance the efficiency and analytical capabilities of flow cytometry laboratories. Patented electronics provide accurate and efficient digital signal processing at high event rates over a wide dynamic range of fluorescence intensities. These benefits are packaged in a compact analyzer that delivers stable performance over long periods of time and across a wide range of operating temperatures.
The Gallios houses up to three highly reliable, solid-state lasers in standard red and blue, with violet available as an option. Easily interchanged optical filters facilitate detection of a variety of dyes and wavelengths.
An innovative forward-scatter detector provides up to three measurements of cell size and visualization of particles down to 0.404µm in diameter. A side-scatter detector incorporates an independently focused, high-performance photodiode with electronic attenuation. Six fluorescence detectors provide simultaneous acquisition of up to six fluorescence signals. Up to four fluorescence detectors can be added to the system, enabling concurrent reading of up to 10 colors. Simultaneous measurements of integral, peak and width are available for all parameters, including scatter and fluorescence signals. A selection of up to 62 parameters can be processed per analysis, at acquisition rates of 25,000 events-per-second, with high yield. Three scaleable configurations allow for the future addition of more lasers and fluorescence detectors as the applications for complex multi-color flow cytometry expand.
According to Brad Calvin, vice president of Beckman Coulter's Flow Cytometry Business Center, "Every aspect of Gallios' optics design increases application performance, sensitivity and resolution. Our systems have the potential to enhance flow laboratory efficiency by increasing productivity and improving the reliability and reproducibility of results, thus reducing the cost of flow cytometry testing."
Beckman Coulter is also launching www.coulterflow.com -- a web portal that will enrich cytometry research. Features of this resource include a variety of specially designed interactive tools, such as cell signaling maps, a fluorochrome spectral overlap viewer and an experimental design tool to help cytometrists set up applications. Users will be able to access the latest flow cytometry product information, view extensive reference resources and order reagents.
*For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. Product in development.
