Reference database
View Patent ↗Data acquisition and cataloging are used to classify polypeptides into a reference index or database. The database can be used to identify previously unidentified samples. New polypeptides are characterized and added to the database.
1. A method for processing data in a database contained in a storage medium, comprising the steps of:
collecting a plurality of samples;
separating each sample into proteins and/or polypeptides to provide discrimination and resolution of the proteins and/or polypeptides using one technique selected from the following techniques: chromatography; immunoelectrophoresis, mass spectrometry or electrophoresis;
storing in the database data that includes at least one pattern representing the separated proteins and/or polypeptides, the data based upon a statistically significant number of samples, the data including at least one parameter of each sample;
comparing unknown data with the data stored in the database;
recording differences and similarities.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter is one selected from the group consisting of: molecular weight and isoelectric point.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein parameter is data output from a mass spectrometry analysis.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the samples are selected from one of the group consisting of serum, organ, tissues, cells, organelles and fractions.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the differences and similarities in the database indicate one of the following states: aging, disease, presence of a toxin and presence of a pathogen.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a state is classified, the state selected from the group consisting of: a disease state, the presence of a toxin, the presence of a pathogen and aging.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
classifying a state of a sample by the steps of:
a. detecting a pattern in the sample;
b. comparing the pattern in the sample with the stored patterns in the database to identify differences and similarities; and
c. using the identified differences and similarities to confirm the state thereof.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the state is selected from the group consisting of: a disease state, the presence of a toxin, the presence of a pathogen and aging.
9. The method of claim 1 or 7 , wherein the pattern is a discriminatory pattern.