Vector

A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. Parasites of humans include protozoans, helminths, and ecto-parasites (organisms that live on the external surface of a host). They are responsible for many diseases and are transmitted to their hosts most often through the ingestion of contaminated food, water or through the bite of an arthropod (e.g., a fly or tick), which can act as an intermediate host and as a vector. Parasitic diseases of humans are a major global health problem causing significant morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. Each year there are hundreds of millions of people infected with disease-causing parasites, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, resulting in an estimated one million deaths. Therefore, there is a dire need of novel anti-parasitic drugs.

MCE has a unique collection of 529 compounds with validated anti-parasitic activity which offer researchers an opportunity to screen novel anti-parasitic targets.

Techniques for reprogramming somatic cells create new opportunities for drug screening, disease modeling, artificial organ development, and cell therapy. The development of reprogramming techniques has grown exponentially since Yamanaka reprogrammed somatic cells to become induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using four transcription factors, OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC in 2006. Despite the development of efficient reprogramming methods, most methods are inappropriate for clinical applications because they carry the risk of integrating exogenous genetic factors or use oncogenes. Alternative approaches, such as those based on miRNA, non-viral genes, non-integrative vectors, and small molecules, have been studied as possible solutions to the problems. Among these alternatives, small molecules are attractive options for clinical applications. Reprogramming using small molecules is inexpensive and easy to control in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. It offers a high level of cell permeability, ease of synthesis and standardization, and it is appropriate for mass-producing cells.

MCE Reprogramming Compound Library contains a unique collection of 2,566 compounds that act on reprogramming signaling pathways. These compounds are potential stimulators for reprogramming. This library is a useful tool for researching reprogramming and regenerative medicine.