The Biospecimen Research Database

Welcome to the Biospecimen Research Database (BRD)!

Article Curations on COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2

SOPs on COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2

The BRD is a free and publicly accessible database that contains peer-reviewed primary and review articles as well as SOPs in the field of human Biospecimen Science.

Each literature curation has been created by a Ph.D.-level scientist to capture the following: (1) relevant parameters that include the biospecimen investigated (type and location, patient diagnosis), preservation method, analyte(s) of interest and technology platform(s) used for analysis; (2) the pre-analytical factors investigated, including those relating to pre-acquisition, acquisition, preservation, processing, storage, and analysis; and (3) an original summary of relevant results. Browse literature curations or submit specific queries using the Advanced Search page with keyword search for specific biomakers or genes, PubMed ID, or pre-analytical factor values (anticoagulant, fixative, reagent, etc).

SOPs are organized in a hierarchy system consisting of two tiers: (1) SOPs, established protocols; and (2) Biospecimen Evidence-based Practices (BEBP), procedural guidelines developed using literature evidence. SOP-tiered documents are a product of the Source organization specified. SOPs shared by external organizations are done so only with their consent, and have not been vetted by BBRB. SOP documents are searchable by keyword, or by curated fields (source organization, tier, applicable biospecimens, and topic) on the Search SOPs page. Related SOP documents are assembled in Compendiums, which are viewable on the SOP Compendiums page. You can also create your own Compendium and download SOPs together rather than individually.

We encourage you to submit SOPs from your lab or institution for inclusion in the BRD by clicking on the Submit an SOP tab or at biospecimens@mail.nih.gov. Individuals and organizations that suggest articles for inclusion in the BRD will receive acknowledgement on the paper's curation page. Articles may be submitted by clicking on the Suggest a New Paper tab or via the email above. Feedback is also welcome.

The BRD is an initiative of the NCI Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research Branch (BBRB).

Featured Paper

Impact of Long-Term Cryopreservation on Blood Immune Cell Markers in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Implications for Biomarker Discovery.

Author(s): Gómez-Mora E, Carrillo J, Urrea V, Rigau J, Alegre J, Cabrera C, Oltra E, Castro-Marrero J, Blanco J

Publication: Front Immunol, 2020, Vol. 11, Page 582330

PubMed

1 study(s)

The purpose of this study was to assess the stability of immune markers during prolonged frozen storage and cytokine production in subsets of immune cells after prolonged frozen storage. Whole blood was collected from 22 patients with ME/CFS into tubes containing EDTA that also had case-matched biobanked PBMC specimens. Two different cohorts of healthy controls were used for freshly processed PBMCs and those that had been cryopreserved for ≥3 y (n=18 and 12, respectively); controls were age- and sex-matched but were not the same individuals. PBMCs were isolated by density gradient centrifugation with Ficoll, washed and either analyzed immediately or resuspended in a cryomedium that contained fetal bovine serum and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Aliquots (1 mL) containing 1x10⁷ cells per mL were frozen gradually at -80°C in a Mr. Frosty device over 48 h, and then transferred to liquid nitrogen until analysis. Frozen PBMCs were thawed in a 37°C water bath for 5 min prior to cell viability analysis. Immune cell population analysis was limited to viable cells. Cell viability was defined as the percentage of living cells relative to total cell count and was determined by exclusion of the eFluor stain and analysis by flow cytometry. Viable cells (that did not uptake the eFluor stain) were washed and incubated with corresponding antibodies for immunophenotyping by cell cytometry. Cytokine production was measured by antibody staining and flow cytometry analysis after stimulation and induction of production of the following cytokines: IFN-ɣ, IL-17, IL-4, TGF-β1.
Biospecimens
- Fluid - Blood
- Cell - White Cells
- Fluid - Plasma
Platform:

Technology Platform Analyte

Flow cytometry Cell count/volume