The Transcriptome (Expression) Analysis Services group offers a full suite of technologies for discovery of differentially expressed genes in animal and plant tissues.The wide range of services offered under this are toxicogenomic profiling of leads in animal studies, development and implementation of genotoxicity assays used specifically to evaluate the mutagenic and carcinogenic potential of drug leads and microarray analysis. Avesthagen's uniqueness lies in its capability to generate expression profiles through cDNA-AFLP and microarrays and to convert it to knowledge. Avesthagen RPO has been able to develop Gene X microrray online analysis/data management platform in conformation with the MIAME standards for high-density microarray analysis service.

In the pharma sector, transcriptome analysis has applications in toxicology, including:

• Toxicogenomic profiling of drug leads in animal studies
• Development and implementation of genotoxicity assays used specifically to evaluate the mutagenic and carcinogenic potential of drug leads
• Microarray analysis

The Unique selling point (USP) of Avesthagen lies in the integration of the wet-lab work with bioinformatics platform to provide a potent solution for the researcher. Microarray experiments generate huge amounts of data which needs to be normalized, clustered, stored and analysed using statistical packages. User specific interfaces are also essential for providing value to the client. Avesthagen's uniqueness lies in the capability to both generate expression profiles through cDNA-AFLP and microarrays and to convert it to knowledge.

Select Projects

• Avesthagen is the custom services partner for BD Biosciences in India for microarray analysis.

• Identification of differentially expressed genes in human kidney and fibroblast cell lines and kidney and liver samples of humans using cDNA-AFLP technology: This work done on contract with a pharmaceutical company involves tissues and cell lines treated with various drugs. The cells and tissues have been collected before and after treatment and the genes differentially expressed under these conditions have been identified using cDNA-AFLP. A number of interesting genes thus identified are being validated.

Technologies / Infrastructure

Gene expression profiling using

• With open platform - cDNA AFLP based expression profiling.
• With closed platforms - Atlas Microarrays from BD Lifesciences.
• High Density Microarray analysis service - Gene X microarray online analysis/data management platform in conformation with the MIAME standards.