3rd Regional Conference on Biosensor, Biodiagnostics, Biochips and Biotechnology 2016

On April 20-22, 2016, two of RNA-Bio Research Group's members: Ang Kai Cheen and Bakhtiar Affendi Bin Bukari attended the 3rd Regional Conference on Biosensor, Biodiagnostics, Biochips and Biotechnology 2016 (3rdRC4Bs-2016) organized by the AIMST University (Malaysia) in collaboration with King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (Thailand), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (Malaysia) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (Malaysia).

Ms. Ang Kai Cheen presented her poster entitled: An alternative method of screening the M2/ANXA5 haplotype for repeated pregnancy loss (PP44)

Briefly, M2/ANXA5 haplotype, a variant in the proximal core promoter region of the annexin A5 (ANXA5) gene, has been suggested as a risk factor in thrombophilia-associated repeated pregnancy loss impeding embryonic anticoagulation. In the poster, she has developed and validated of a simple, sensitive, time-saving, and inexpensive Allelic specific PCR (AsPCR) for the detection of M2/ANXA5 haplotype. The AsPCR successfully discriminated the M2 and ‘normal’ haplotypes. Sequencing results confirmed and validated the AsPCR with 100% reliability.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bakhtiar Affendi Bin Bukari delivered his oral presentation entitled: Generation of RNA aptamers against Mycobacterium tuberculosis secretory protein ESAT-6 - a preliminary study (OP32)

In brief, aptamers are chemical ligands made up of short nucleotides sequences capable of binding to target proteins with high affinity and specificity. Aptamers have the potential to become very useful diagnostic tools. In his study, ESAT-6 (a secretory protein in Mycobacterium tuberculosis) has been selected as the target to develop RNA aptamers and the results indicated the presence of potential binders. Thus, further study will be carried out to improve the binding and identify the putative aptamer.