About Myriad Genetics, Inc.

Myriad Genetics, Inc. is an integrated biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutic and diagnostic products based on proteomic and genomic technologies. Myriad is developing proprietary compounds in the therapeutic fields of dementia, oncology, and viral diseases. Myriad also develops and markets proprietary predictive medicine and personalized medicine products.

A primary focus of Myriad Genetics' research is in understanding the relationships of genes with proteins and between proteins. The company has successfully combined human genetics, high-throughput DNA sequencing, industrial-scale protein-protein interactions technology, and automated cell-based functional assays to create a powerful platform for discovery and validation.

Myriad Genetics has developed a unique yeast two-hybrid technology platform that facilitates large-scale discovery of protein-protein interactions. The system's high-throughput capacity enables both initial and subsequent rounds of protein searches in short periods of time. Interactors discovered in any search are used as baits for subsequent searches. This iterative approach is a powerful component of Myriad's ability to generate high-quality, comprehensive protein interaction maps.

Goals & Objectives | Presentations | Key Players

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Goals and Objectives

Comprehensively survey protein interactions between Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis and appropriate human tissues using a random yeast two-hybrid approach
Conduct initial validation experiments that independently establish the relative importance of the highlighted pathogen-host interaction with a view to selecting target interactions for the development of preventative or therapeutic vaccines and small molecule drugs
Complete random searches of B. anthracis
Begin random searches of Y. pestis and F. tularensis
Acquire 15 identified Variola proteins not represented in Vaccinia and perform directed searched
Nominate additional pathogen proteins to search using a directed approach
Select B. anthracis host protein-protein interactions
Conduct initial validation experiments that establish the relative importance of the highlighted pathogen-host interactions in order to better select targets for intervention in the future

Presentations

NIAID Biodefense Proteomics Research Centers 2nd Programmatic Meeting [7/7/05, PPT, 25 slides/3.62MB]
ProNet Yeast Two-Hybrid Technology and Protein Interaction Database [5/12/05, PPT, 47 slides/9.6MB]

Key Players

Max Dufford (IWG member)

Jerry S. Lanchbury, Ph.D. (Principal Investigator and IWG member)
Senior Vice President of Research and Development

Chris Neff

Donna Shattuck (Principal Investigator)