immunoSEQ®: The Source-Code for Immune Medicine

Presenter:

  • Kellie Howard, Ph.D., Dr. Research & Business Development Manager

CytoFLEX SRT: The CytoFLEX That Sorts

Presenter:

  • James McCracken


Accelerating Detection & Characterization of Biomolecules with Surface Plasmon Resonance to Make Key Immunological Advancement

Presenters:

  • Victor Chanda, Ph.D., PMP, Field Application Scientist
  • Mike Piazza, Ph.D., Systems Integration Manager


Characterization of key target-receptor interactions is vital to therapeutic discovery for immune-mediated diseases, yet current technologies have both limited applications and challenges with instrumentation complexity. Surface plasmon resonance has been increasingly adopted by immunologists as the gold-standard for biomolecular characterization, providing an information-rich and flexible technique for analyzing protein-receptor interactions, viral protein-host protein interactions, and other therapeutic applications that advances our understanding of these diseases. Join us as we discuss how our unique localized SPR technology is empowering infectious disease researchers in accelerating the development of novel therapeutics and diagnostics.

Mapping the COVID-19 T Cell Response at a Single-Cell Level

Presenters:

  • Gemma Figueras


While most COVID-19 patients are asymptomatic or display mild symptoms, some patients develop severe clinical symptoms. The pathogenic basis for this difference in disease severity among patients is poorly understood. Studying the immune response across patient populations is crucial to understanding these differences and developing future vaccines capable of offering protection against novel COVID-19 variants. This webinar will present cutting edge research and provide insights from the intersection of three areas of intense current focus – COVID-19 clinical research, single cell analysis, and the measurement of T cell responses.

PBMC Single-Cell Transcriptomics Reveals Immunoregulation of COVID-19 During Disease Progress and Corticosteroid Treatment

Presenters:

  • Margaret Nakamoto, Ph.D., Manager, Single-Cell Multioic Analyses
  • Hyun-Woo, Ph.D., CEO einocle Inc.

Analysis of the PDL1 landscape using Single Cell Approaches for Profiling Patient Response

Presenters:

  • Dr Moshe Feldman, Director of Translational Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, The Broad Institute
  • Dr Deena Soni, Global Marketing Manager, Sony Biotechnology Inc
  • Dr Nicole Abreu, Science and Technology Advisor, 10x Genomics


Immune-based therapies targeting the inhibitory receptors (PD-L1, PD1, and CTLA4) are proven to be effective to treat malignancies ranging from non-small cell lung cancer to Merkel cell carcinoma. But some patients do not respond or stop responding within the first year of therapy. Identifying the underlying mechanisms associated with these variable response rates remains an important open research challenge in clinical oncology.

Join our commercial tutorial to learn how a team of researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital are using combinatorial approaches to analyze single cells from patients to explore the mechanisms of PD-L1 resistance in cancer and treatment response. Technologies from Sony and 10x Genomics used for single cell isolation and analysis of immune cells in this study will also be discussed.

Ultrahigh-Content Imaging Helps to Identify CAR Target Candidates Against Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Presenter:

  • Daniel Schäfer, Team Coordinator R&D


Join Dr. Daniel Schäfer, Team Coordinator R&D at Miltenyi Biotec, as he talks us through a recent and exciting development in the fight to make cancer history. Making use of the innovative MICS (MACSima™ Imaging Cyclic Staining) technology, Dr. Schäfer has bypassed a major roadblock prohibiting effective cellular immunotherapy of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a lack of suitable tumor-specific antigens. This research has allowed the positive identification of four target candidates from among 371 candidate antigens, and the subsequent generation of 32 chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to evaluate for therapeutic impact. Dr. Schäfer will explain how this was accomplished, how CAR T cell activity was evaluated in vitro, and promising constructs in vivo with efficacies ranging from stabilized disease to complete tumor eradication! Dr. Schäfer’s approach offers a tantalizing glimpse at the new possibilities allowed by the introduction of the MACSima Imaging Platform.

  • How MICS technology with the MACSima Imaging Platform enables ultrahigh-content imaging
  • How ultrahigh-content imaging helps to identify CAR targets
  • How this technology can be combined with flow cytometry and bioinformatic expression analyses
  • How this approach was used to identify 4 target candidates for CAR T cell-based immunotherapy of PDAC

Spectral Cytometry Software Workflows and Tools that Enable Multiparametric Flow Cytometry

Presenter:

  • Angela Beal, Global Product Marketing Manager


The ID7000™ Spectral Analyzer delivers an advanced optics design with an unparalleled number of lasers and detectors to deliver the highest quality data without compromise. Along with a best-in-class hardware design, the system software has been developed to include the capabilities for high parameter data acquisition and analysis that are critical to eliminate repetitive workflow steps, improve efficiency, and reduce training needs. Software tools support guided workflows and advanced features for streamlining experiment setup as well as acquisition and analysis of data from high-complexity panels to enable scientific discoveries. In our commercial tutorial we will provide an overview of the ID7000™ Spectral Analyzer software with an in-depth review of how to setup a high parameter experiment. Built-in software tools that enable automation and standardization of multiparameter experiments and simplifying experiment setup and analysis to get high quality results will also be discussed.

From Cancer to COVID: Dissecting Human Immunology with Emergent Technology

Presenter:

  • Anthony R. Cillo, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow, Vignali Lab, Dept. of Immunology and Tumor Microenvironment Center, University of Pittsburgh


The widespread adoption of single-cell transcriptomic technology coupled with the development of a robust bioinformatics ecosystem has enabled new biological insights across disciplines. This workshop will illustrate how to leverage the inherent complexity in single-cell datasets to arrive at biological conclusions. We will utilize human immunologic single-cell datasets to highlight automated cell type identification, characterization of putative intercellular communication networks, and applications of machine learning-based approaches across patient samples to extract biological insight. Following this workshop attendees will have a better understanding of the ways in which immunology can be understood through analysis of single-cell transcriptomic datasets.

Veritas se revelet: Computational Population Discovery and Sorting for Multi-Omics Analysis

Presenter:

  • Tim Crawford, Ph.D.

Microfluidic Gentle Cell Sorting for Immunology Applications

Presenters:

  • Lindsey Wolf, Product Manager


The WOLF Cell Sorter from NanoCellect Biomedical was designed to provide an affordable microfluidic benchtop solution to sort cells easily and gently using sterile microfluidic cartridges. NanoCellect is launching the WOLF G2 cell sorter, a 2-laser system with up to 9 fluorescent channels to enable a broader range of applications. During this workshop we will review several case studies highlighting how the WOLF can use intuitive multi-color sorting strategy to isolate sensitive cells such as neutrophils and improve sample preparation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells for 10x Genomics single-cell RNA-Seq.

Using Integrated Plasma and Single-Cell Proteomics to Identify Biological Signatures of COVID-19 Severity

Presenters:

  • Dorien Feyaerts
  • Julien Hedou

The biological determinants of the wide spectrum of COVID-19 clinical manifestations are not fully understood. In the presented study, over 1,400 plasma proteins were assessed with Olink Proteomics in a cohort of 97 patients with mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19 symptoms, and 40 uninfected controls. Plasma proteomics were complemented with 2,600 single-cell immune features comprising cell phenotype, basal signaling activity, and signaling responses to inflammatory ligands, measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells using mass cytometry. By using an integrated computational approach to analyze the combined plasma and single-cell proteomic data, we identified and independently validated a multivariate model classifying COVID-19 severity (multi-class AUCtraining = 0.799, p-value = 4.2e-6; multi-class AUCvalidation = 0.773, p-value = 7.7e-6). Features of this high-dimensional model recapitulated recent COVID-19 related observations of immune perturbations and revealed novel biological signatures of severity, including the mobilization of elements of the renin-angiotensin system and primary hemostasis, as well as dysregulation of JAK/STAT, MAPK/mTOR, and NF-κB immune signaling networks. These results contribute clinically relevant insights into patient’s immune responses during SARS-CoV-2 infection and provide promising severity-specific biological markers that may be targeted therapeutically for the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Spatial Profiling Reveals Distinct Immune Microenvironments in Leukemia-Infiltrated Organs and COVID-19-Infected Tissues

Presenters:

  • Kit Fuhrman, Ph.D., Sr. Product Manager, GeoMx RNA Assays,
  • Todd A. Triplett, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin
  • Joe Poh Sheng Yeong, MBBS, Ph.D. Mmed (Path), Associate Faculty, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (A*STAR) Singapore


Join NanoString’s Spatial Biology workshop to learn more about GeoMx® Digital Spatial Profiler. Dr. Triplett will discuss the use of spatial profiling to evaluate T cell multiple organs in a T-ALL mouse model that revealed a striking expansion of chronically activated T cells expressing PD-1, indicative of a fully functional leukemia-specific response in different locations. Dr. Yeong will discuss interesting cases of cancer patients also diagnosed with COVID-19 and the differences between the immune infiltrate in these biopsy samples compared to those taken from COVID-19 decedents.

Flow and Imaging Cytometry Applications in COVID-19 Research

Presenters:

  • Kamala Tyagarajan, Ph.D., Director, Flow Cytometry Assays and Applications,
  • Haley Pugsley, Ph.D., Manager, Senior Scientist


The COVID-19 outbreak has highlighted the need for rapid and sensitive methods to understand the clinical manifestations, mechanisms, and epidemiology of the disease, and advance drug and vaccine development. Simplified solutions that target cellular and protein biomarkers have been critical for managing limitations of both resources and laboratory access. Flow and imaging cytometry methods have offered advantages in these areas of COVID-19 research. These methods have given researchers insight into the mechanisms that underlie COVID-19, the immune response, the role of sub-cellular components and their effects on COVID-19, and more.  

The detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody isotypes has been important in understanding both the immune response to and recovery from the virus and monitoring the vaccine response. The new Guava® SARS-CoV-2 Multi-Antigen Antibody Assay is a multiplex, high-sensitivity bead assay that can detect the presence of IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies against three SARS-CoV-2 antigens—the receptor binding domain of spike protein, nucleocapsid protein, and the S1 subunit of spike protein. The assay can be analyzed using any flow cytometer and was optimized on the Guava® Muse® Cell Analyzer and Guava® easyCyte Systems.

Cellular analysis provides critical information regarding the immune status of the patient and the determination of immune response mechanisms. The combination of accurate cell counting and multiparametric phenotyping can provide important information in COVID-19 research. This presentation will review strategies for cellular-based assays including accurate count and viability determination of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, characterization of T, B, and NK cell subsets, and dissection of naïve and memory sub-populations. Examples of multiparametric cellular health assays and how they provide insights to the cellular response will also be discussed.

Evaluation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) has enabled the study of sub-cellular components and their effects on COVID-19. EVs are membrane-derived structures that include exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies. Quantifying and characterizing EVs in a reproducible and reliable manner is challenging due to their small size—exosomes range from 30 to 100 nm in diameter. Here, we describe the use of High Gain mode on the Amnis® ImageStream® Imaging Flow Cytometer to address the challenges of measuring small particles. In the new High Gain mode, the charge-coupled device (CCD) camera is manually adjusted to higher gain settings, increasing the signal obtained from the EVs. Object thresholds and masking have also been adjusted to better identify and detect small particles.

Given that SARS-CoV-2 research studies responses in both cells and serum, the ability to obtain antibody isotype information on flow cytometry platforms that enable analysis of both can benefit many researchers. Further, sensitive small particle analysis provides researchers with deeper insights into subcellular contributions.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Meet xMAP® INTELLIFLEX: Technology You Trust. Versatility You Want.

Presenters:

  • Josh Jenkins, MS, Sales Development Manager, Licensed Technologies Group,
  • Sherry A. Dunbar, Ph.D., MBA, Senior Director, Global Scientific Affairs


Meet xMAP® Technology all over again. Over the past 25 years, Luminex’s xMAP Technology has emerged as the worldwide leader in bead-based multiplexing. The new xMAP® INTELLIFLEX provides all of the benefits of xMAP with additional features and capabilities that will allow users to expand their research even further.

INTELLIFLEX is the only compact, flow-based, multiplex platform that combines the proven performance of xMAP Technology with modern features to enhance performance and empower assay development and innovation while simplifying the user experience. No other multiplex platform combines low- and high-plex capabilities, quick time to reliable results, and the ability to acquire data for two parameters per analyte simultaneously.

In this presentation two Luminex experts will discuss some of the exciting applications made possible by this new xMAP system. They will also provide an overview of the latest research currently using this robust platform, including recent work in immunogenicity where xMAP Technology enabled the simultaneous screening of anti-drug-antibodies and isotyping in a single multiplex assay.

Additionally, our speakers will highlight the innovative features of INTELLIFLEX, including the new second reporter channel, which allows users to acquire double the data for each analyte saving time and precious sample. For more information visit luminexcorp.com/INTELLIFLEX.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Advancing Scientific Discovery with FCS Express™

Presenters:

  • Sean Burke, Director of Research Marketing and Business Development
  • Yasha Talaga, Global Commercialization PM, Flow and Antibody Business


Move from basic to advanced high dimensional data reduction with ease using data from the ZE5 Cell Analyzer and new tools from FCS Express designed to make analysis more efficient. Move into the world of higher dimensional data reduction algorithms without the need of R, scripting, or programming knowledge. Learn how to get most out of your data.

High Resolution Characterization of the Immune System with Single Cell Immune Profiling

Presenter:

  • Rea Dabelic, Ph.D., Manager, Immunology Segment Marketing


The immune system is incredibly dynamic and made up of many complex cell types. It uses innumerable methods to respond to infections, injuries, and inflammation. Single cell transcriptional profiling is a powerful tool for studying the immune system, but to truly understand its complexity we need multiomic approaches that can measure a single cell’s protein expression, antigen specificity, and clonal diversity. With Chromium Single Cell Immune Profiling, you can perform multiomic phenotyping in thousands of cells by assessing cell surface proteins, T and B cell repertoire diversity, antigen specificity, and gene expression at high resolution. Discover new cell types and states of activation and differentiation using whole transcriptome analysis or focus your search with custom or pre-designed gene expression panels.

Join us to hear how you can gain a clear, holistic view of the immune system and tackle complex questions that have not been addressed by traditional technologies. Explore how you can leverage the sensitivity improvements and superior sequencing quality of Single Cell Immune Profiling with Feature Barcode technology for comprehensive immune profiling.

Multiomic Analysis of T Cell Development

Presenter:

  • Aaron Streets, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Bioengineering, UC Berkeley
  • Miguel Tam, Ph.D., Director, Strategic Marketing, BioLegend

Dr. Aaron Streets of UC Berkeley will introduce a new computational tool that was used to map T cell development in the thymus with single-cell multiomic analysis, as recently published in Nature Methods.

Investigating COVID-19 Immune Response with the Cytek® Aurora

Presenters:

  • Maria Jaimes, Vice President of Applications
  • Geoff Kraker, Global Data Analyst

Inside the COVID-SeroIndex™ Assay Design and Performance

Presenters:

  • Greta Wagner, Ph.D., Senior Director, ELISAs
  • Mandy Kubik, Manager, Assay Development
  • Anthony Person, Ph.D., Senior Director, Proteins


Understanding immune responses to COVID-19 and vaccines to SARS-CoV-2 is essential when profiling disease progression or vaccine efficacy. Bio-Techne and our partner, Kantaro Biosciences – a Mount Sinai Venture, have developed the COVID-SeroIndex™, a quantitative ELISA kit that enables an objective measurement of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. Join us as our panel of experts discuss procedure and performance that leads to the fast acquisition of the accurate and proven results required in today’s market.

Enabling New Insights in Viral Immunology through Ultra-Sensitive Biomarker Analysis

Presenter:

  • Andrew Ball, Ph.D.


In this workshop, Andrew Ball Ph.D., VP of Assay R&D at Quanterix, will describe the latest advances in the development of ultra-sensitive Simoa immunoassays and their application towards enabling insights into viral immunology, with a particular focus on COVID-19. This workshop will include data on SARS-CoV-2 viral antigen detection in multiple biofluids, quantitative assessment of the innate and adaptive immune responses to SARS-CoV-2, and multiparametric longitudinal proteomic analysis of cytokine and chemokine responses in individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2.

A Single Regulatory T Cell Pool Patrols the Tissues

Presenters:

  • Oliver Burton, Ph.D.
  • Mike Blundell, Ph.D.


Recent studies have identified Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in several non-lymphoid tissues. Using high parameter flow cytometry and StarBright Dyes, we profiled and quantified murine Tregs throughout the body and revealed shared phenotypes in this tiny population of cells. We find that Tregs isolated from non-lymphoid tissues display little or no homing preference for their tissue of origin, and exhibit TCR activation in their new locations. We conclude that a single pool of broadly self-reactive activated Tregs patrols non-lymphoid tissues.

JEM's 125th Anniversary: Over a Century of Novel Conceptual Insights

Presenter:

  • Akiko Iwasaki, Ph.D.
  • Joseph Sun, Ph.D.
  • Gwen Randolph, Ph.D.
  • Stephanie Eisenbarth, MD, Ph.D
  • Ali Ellebedy, Ph.D.


Since its inception in 1896, Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM) has been a leader in publishing outstanding and enduring studies in medical biology, and has greatly contributed to the fields of immunology, cancer biology, vascular biology, microbial pathogenesis, neuroscience, and stem cell biology. Join us for our Wednesday Workshop for presentations by guest speakers on exciting research featured in JEM and to learn about publishing from scientific editors.

Diagnosis, Treatment, and Immunopathogenesis of Chronic COVID-19 (PASC)

Presenters:

  • Bruce K. Patterson, MD, CEO & Founder of InCellDX
  • Miguel Tam, Ph.D., Director, Strategic Marketing


Some people with COVID-19 experience lingering symptoms for weeks or months, known as post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). Dr. Bruce Patterson, CEO & Founder of InCellDX, will share the story of 3,000 “long haulers” in his group’s Chronic COVID Treatment Center™ program, a collaboration between research facilities, clinicians, and medical laboratories. He will discuss novel tools developed with BioLegend to diagnose, treat, and discover the possible underlying immunologic mechanisms in PASC and the debilitating effects on those suffering from these sequelae even a year later.

Key Considerations when Selecting an Immunoassay for Your Research 

Millipore Sigma logo

Presenters:

  • Lawrence Rentoul, Segment Lead, ELISAs and Specialty Assays
  • Alex Ko, Global Product Manager, SMC™
  • Brooke Gilliam, Global Product Manager, MILLIPLEX®


Researchers rely on immunoassays to study biomarker expression in a variety of sample types. We are committed to delivering the best possible immunoassays for your research needs. Whether you need ultrasensitive detection offered by Single Molecule Counting (SMC™) technology, highly verified Conferma™ ELISAs, or industry-leading MILLIPLEX® multiplex kits using Luminex® xMAP® technology, you can expect reliable measurements, intuitive user experience, and knowledgeable scientific partners to drive your biomarker project from hypothesis to publication. This workshop will detail the history of our immunoassay platforms and advantages of using each one in biomarker research.

New Dye Technology: Unlock the Full Potential of Your Flow Cytometry Experiment

Presenter:

  • Seddon Thomas, Ph.D., Staff Scientist


Fluorescent dye performance heavily impacts both the quality and the dimensionality of flow cytometry experiments. For example, PE-based tandems, although bright, are notoriously cross-excited by multiple laser lines and introduce substantial fluorescence into off-target channels, compromising the full potential of blue and yellow-green lasers. New Invitrogen™ NovaFluor™ dyes use the Invitrogen™ Phiton™ DNA Platform to engineer excitation and emission spectra. The spectral cleanliness of the Nova Fluor technology simplifies and expands future panel design. 

Introducing RoboSep™-C: Closed, Automated Cell Separation for Faster and Easier Large-Scale Human Immune Cell Isolation 

Stemcell Technologies logo

Presenters:

  • Vesna Posarac, MSc, Senior Scientist 


Current methods for large-scale cell isolation can be a major operational bottleneck for many labs. Large-scale cell isolation often requires a full day to process a single leukapheresis sample and multiple instruments for higher sample throughput. This workshop will introduce RoboSep™-C, a new instrument for efficient, automated cell isolation in a closed system that takes less than 90 minutes. By automating sample processing, and easily integrating upstream of existing cell expansion, genome editing, and cryopreservation protocols, RoboSep™-C enables researchers to simultaneously scale up and streamline their operations.

Multiplex Base Editing of Primary Human NK Cells to Enhance Cancer Immunotherapy

Stemcell Technologies logo

Presenters:

  • Amanda Vanden Hoek
  • Minjing (Molly) Wang
  • Sneha Balani, Ph.D.


NK cells are an attractive cancer immunotherapy candidate. Optimizing their function while minimizing safety concerns is a focus of current research. This workshop highlights base editor technology in multiplex engineering of NK cells.  Wang et al. recently used a panel of seven genes critical to NK cell therapeutic function and achieved both high editing efficiency and enhanced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. These findings suggest that multiplex base editing in CAR-expressing NK cells may serve as a powerful platform to improve NK cell activity and toxicity for cancer immunotherapy.

Detecting Low-Abundance Proteins in a Western Blot: Overcoming Challenges for Improved Signal-to-Noise of Low-Expression and Scarce Sample Targets

Presenters:

  • Caleb Shearrow, Product Manager, Protein Biology
  • Bea Dworecki, R&D Scientist, Protein Biology


Detection of low-abundance proteins or detection of proteins from scarce samples can be a major challenge when performing western blotting. In this workshop, we will discuss specific methods from sample preparation through immunodetection that can help overcome challenges and improve signal-to-noise of low-abundance proteins for more successful western blot detection.

Latest Developments for Enriching and Analyzing Antigen- and Virus-Specific T Cells

Presenter:

  • Lorenz Fuelle


The COVID-19 pandemic has placed an urgent need for the analysis of rare virus-specific T cells. In this workshop you will learn about Miltenyi Biotec's complete workflow for isolation, stimulation, sorting, and analysis of virus-specific T cells. Detailed analysis of these rare cells is vital in determining if long-term protection is gained after infection or vaccination. However, critically low cell frequencies, non-specific labeling, and high background often hamper reliable analysis. Our workflow is optimized at every step to address these key challenges and we are confident that we can assist you and your work on viral threats such as COVID-19, in even the most challenging research projects.