Mix of biological models

[tiedyeddog]

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I have sort of a strange question.

There seem to be many labs that do a half/half mix of using molecular biology techniques(cloning in yeast or bacteria, protein-protein interaction studies, protein stability assays, etc.,) and organic synthesis. It seems many labs like this have a select few post-docs or grad students that do the synthesis and many more members who do the the molecular biology experiments, and usually both techniques complement each other.

Every heard of a lab or labs that do drug discovery or protein-protein interact study in bacteria but also use murine models to further investigate experiments carried out in bacteria/yeast? I guess it would use a methodology similar to the synthesis/molecular biology scenario I described above?

I know it's a strange question. Do most labs just pick one model or the other and seek out collaborations with other labs if the other model must be used?

 

[URHere]

Ever heard of a lab or labs that do drug discovery or protein-protein interact study in bacteria but also use murine models to further investigate experiments carried out in bacteria/yeast?

My lab does something similar to what you are suggesting. We work with multiple strains of malaria - about one third of our studies are carried out in RBC culture and another third are carried out in mice (the other portion of our stuff involves additional studies on volume of distribution, half life, and drug synergy...not to mention the actual synthesis). Each of these realms of study is headed by its own specific PI - our lab is somewhat unusual in the fact that it is really just several faculty members (and me) working together and actually doing their own research (at the moment, we are a tech-free lab).

Personally, I am very fond of my lab's system. Working with mice has given us a heads up on several drugs that seemed ideal in culture but proved too harsh or unmanagable for the animals. However, there is a big downside when it comes to the mouse work vs. the culture work though - the strain of malaria that is endemic to mice is not the same strain that is culturable on a plate. I imagine many other fields have this same problem and choose to stick with one model or the other rather than trying to make sense of results that are not really very comparable.

 

[tiedyeddog]

Personally, I am very fond of my lab's system. Working with mice has given us a heads up on several drugs that seemed ideal in culture but proved too harsh or unmanagable for the animals.

This is EXACTLY what I am looking for! Just wanted to know if such a lab exsisted! thanks.

 

[JLC]

if you want to find a lab, look for labs that use mouse models or fish, etc As it is more rare for labs to use anmal models while almost most labs have access to molec tools.

Another way is to focus on journals like Nature Med, or Journal of Exp Med, both which focus on the application of anmal models to study disease state or drugs. If you can find a lab at your school that publishes in journals like mentioned above, they are both exceptional and prob in line with your interest

 

[Neuronix]

Each of these realms of study is headed by its own specific PI - our lab is somewhat unusual in the fact that it is really just several faculty members (and me) working together and actually doing their own research (at the moment, we are a tech-free lab).

In this kind of situation, be careful about stacking your thesis committee with people from or closely related to that group. You may think they're your friends now, but if conflicts arise over project or graduation time, there may not be anyone to take your side later.