WESTWOOD, Mass., May 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The BioSciences Group of Fujitsu Computer Systems today announced a new method that nearly doubles the efficiency of cell transformation in difficult-to-transfect cell types, based on the CELLINJECTOR(TM) automated microinjection technology.

Dr. Michael J. McManus, vice president of Business Development for the BioSciences Group of Fujitsu Computer Systems, said, "We are pleased to announce a method leveraging the expertise of Fujitsu in nanotechnology and automation. The CELLINJECTOR vastly improves the efficiency and throughput of cell injections, easily performing thousands of successful injections per day compared to hundreds done manually." He added, "Researchers working on typically difficult-to-transfect cell types including embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells, among others, which have transfection efficiencies as low as 15-20% using standard reagents could benefit greatly from this technology. In a recent study using the CELLINJECTOR technique, overall efficiency of transformation of a mouse cell line was improved to approximately 49%, nearly double the reported averages for transfection for this cell type. This workflow requires less technical proficiency among users than existing manual microinjection systems, but provides throughputs of up to 10 times that of manual systems."

One advantage of the CELLINJECTOR-based workflow is that other techniques such as electroporation can cause substantial cell damage. Another and perhaps even more problematic issue the new technique helps circumvent is the fact that in all bulk transfection approaches, it is impossible to differentiate between cells which successfully admitted the vector but failed to transcribe it from those cells which simply did not allow entry of the vector. As transformed cells are subsequently enriched for further study, it is difficult to ascertain whether the phenotype of the enriched, transfected population is the same as the general population of cells.

Due to a combination of these limitations, the only viable solution has been manual microinjection of such cells -- a low-throughput, and prohibitively time- and labor-intensive method. Automated microinjection technologies such as CELLINJECTOR give researchers direct determination of which cells actually received construct, providing needed control over the process.

CELLINJECTOR consists of an integrated, computer-controlled microscopic stage and microinjector system, a microfluidic handling system and pressure control machinery. The system enables automatic injection of suspended cells and operator-assisted automatic injection of adherent cells. CELLINJECTOR has a throughput several times higher than conventional microinjection, injecting up to 1,043 suspended cells in a single dish in 30 minutes and 500-600 adherent cells in an hour -- whereas manual injection methods can usually only achieve hundreds of injections per day.

For more information, please download the CELLINJECTOR whitepaper at us.fujitsu.com/biosciences.

About The BioSciences Group of Fujitsu Computer Systems

The BioSciences Group of Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation is an established leader in creating innovative and reliable solutions for experimental scientists. BioSciences Group solutions enable researchers to make in silico predictions about leads, targets, and interactions, and to validate these hypotheses experimentally. BioSciences Group offerings include the CELLINJECTOR system for high-throughput, automated cellular injection, and the CAChe(TM) suite of life sciences predictive modeling and automated docking tools, for drug discovery lead-generation. For more information, please see: us.fujitsu.com/biosciences.

About Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation

Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Fujitsu Computer Systems is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu Limited committed to the design, development and delivery of advanced computer systems, application infrastructure software products, and managed services for the business enterprise. Through its TRIOLE strategy, the company offers a complete line of scalable and reliable servers, storage and middleware solutions, high- performance mobile and client computers, as well as professional services. Fujitsu Computer Systems has established itself as a strategic solutions provider to the world's leading organizations by offering technology innovation, customer choice, exceptional product quality and reliability, as well as outstanding customer service. More information on Fujitsu Computer Systems is available at http://us.fujitsu.com/computers .

About Fujitsu

Fujitsu is a leading provider of customer-focused IT and communications solutions for the global marketplace. Pace-setting device technologies, highly reliable computing and communications products, and a worldwide corps of systems and services experts uniquely position Fujitsu to deliver comprehensive solutions that open up infinite possibilities for its customers' success. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited reported consolidated revenues of 4.7 trillion yen (US$44.5 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005. For more information, please see: www.fujitsu.com.

NOTE: Fujitsu, the Fujitsu logo, CAChe and CELLINJECTOR are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fujitsu Limited in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners.

The statements provided herein are for informational purposes only and may be amended or altered by Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation without notice or liability. Product description data represents Fujitsu design objectives and is provided for comparative purposes; actual results may vary based on a variety of factors. Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Source: BioSciences Group of Fujitsu Computer Systems

CONTACT: Joshua Nathan, BioSciences Group of Fujitsu Computer Systems,
+1-781-326-6330, or fax, +1-781-326-7179, or jnathan@us.fujitsu.com ; or Mario
Fante of Aviator PR, +1-617-763-9887, or mario@aviator-pr.com

Web site: http://us.fujitsu.com/biosciences
http://www.fai.fujitsu.com/