A key need for modern biology research is to make many quantitative molecular measurements on very small samples. Multiplex assays employing optically encoded microspheres and flow cytometry offers many advantages over flat microarray technology, especially for applications involving a large number of samples or measurements (kinetics, dose response). Over the past 15 years, we have developed these approaches to study mechanisms of DNA repair, interactions between bacterial toxins and their receptors, genetic factors in the susceptibility to virus-induced cancer, and the detection of microbial pathogens. More recently we are applying these approaches to the analysis of antigen-specific antibodies produced in response to vaccination or infection, and to the study of glycan-protein interactions.

Selected References:

Multiplexed and microparticle-based analyses: Quantitative tools for the large-scale analysis of biological systems.
Nolan, J.P., Mandy F. (2006).
Cytometry 69A:318-325.

Molecular analysis using microparticle-based flow cytometry.
Nolan, J.P. (2006).
Reviews in Fluorescence 2006, pp 195-212.

Reagents and instruments and for multiplexed analysis using microparticles.
Nolan, J.P., L. Yang, H.C. van der Heyde (2006).
Current Protocols in Cytometry 13.8.

High throughput screening and characterization of clones selected from phage display libraries.
Yang, L. and J.P. Nolan (2007).
Cytometry 71A: 625-631.

Variation in HLA Class I antigen processing genes and susceptibility to HPV16-associated cervical cancer.
Deshpande, A., C.M. Wheeler, W.C. Hunt, C.L. Peyton, P.S. White, Y.E. Valdez and J.P. Nolan (2008).
Journal of Infectious Disease 197:371-381.