Ocimum Biosolutions obtains U.S. patent for gene expression

Bangalore: Ocimum Biosolutions, a provider of comprehensive genomic reference databases, life science lab information management solutions, microarray services and essential research consumables has been issued U.S. patent number 7,558,411 B2 for developing a method and system for managing and querying gene expression data according to quality.

The present invention relates generally to a method and system for managing the quality control process in the analysis of gene expression data from DNA probe arrays. The invention is aimed at providing a centralized application for viewing, masking and passing or failing DNA probe microarrays or 'chips', making use of image processing (IP) metrics and limits, and to provide methods for global and local evaluation within a single microarray and for multiple array evaluation for purposes of quality control.

This system provides enhanced functionality, permits the users to put query on numerous chip parameters, display and arrange results on a flexible grid.

An automated system and method are provided for analyzing gene expression data obtained from a plurality of microarrays having mismatch (MM) probe pairs and perfect match (PM) probe pairs. For a plurality of image data, scanned microarrays is stored in a database along with a set of microarray parameters, which includes one or more image processing metrics for quality control of the microarray and a pass or fail status of the microarray as determined by these metrics."This patent defines our commitment to provide quality integrated solutions through our range of platforms and services," said Anuradha Acharya, CEO, Ocimum Biosolutions.

Database records can be searched according to one or more microarray parameters. The image processing metrics include algorithms for removing local background effects from the probe measurements by determining a model for estimated background using PM probe values. Other image processing metrics utilize a modified Robust Multi-array Averaging (RMA) applied to PM probes to assign weights to probes for determining overall quality of a microarray.