1
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Torres-Acosta MA, Olivares-Molina A, Kent R, Leitão N, Gershater M, Parker B, Lye GJ, Dikicioglu D. Practical deployment of automation to expedite aqueous two-phase extraction. J Biotechnol 2024; 387:32-43. [PMID: 38555021 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2024.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
The feasibility of bioprocess development relies heavily on the successful application of primary recovery and purification techniques. Aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE) disrupts the definition of "unit operation" by serving as an integrative and intensive technique that combines different objectives such as the removal of biomass and integrated recovery and purification of the product of interest. The relative simplicity of processing large samples renders this technique an attractive alternative for industrial bioprocessing applications. However, process development is hindered by the lack of easily predictable partition behaviours, the elucidation of which necessitates a large number of experiments to be conducted. Liquid handling devices can assist to address this problem; however, they are configured to operate using low viscosity fluids such as water and water-based solutions as opposed to highly viscous polymeric solutions, which are typically required in ATPE. In this work, an automated high throughput ATPE process development framework is presented by constructing phase diagrams and identifying the binodal curves for PEG6000, PEG3000, and PEG2000. Models were built to determine viscosity- and volume-independent transfer parameters. The framework provided an appropriate strategy to develop a very precise and accurate operation by exploiting the relationship between different liquid transfer parameters and process error. Process accuracy, measured by mean absolute error, and device precision, evaluated by the coefficient of variation, were both shown to be affected by the mechanical properties, particularly viscosity, of the fluids employed. For PEG6000, the mean absolute error improved by six-fold (from 4.82% to 0.75%) and the coefficient of variation improved by three-fold (from 0.027 to 0.008) upon optimisation of the liquid transfer parameters accounting for the viscosity effect on the PEG-salt buffer utilising ATPE operations. As demonstrated here, automated liquid handling devices can serve to streamline process development for APTE enabling wide adoption of this technique in large scale bioprocess applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario A Torres-Acosta
- The Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Science, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur, Monterrey, N.L. 64849, México
| | - Alex Olivares-Molina
- The Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Ross Kent
- Synthace Ltd., The Westworks 4th Floor, 195 Wood Lane, W12 7FQ, United Kingdom
| | - Nuno Leitão
- Synthace Ltd., The Westworks 4th Floor, 195 Wood Lane, W12 7FQ, United Kingdom
| | - Markus Gershater
- Synthace Ltd., The Westworks 4th Floor, 195 Wood Lane, W12 7FQ, United Kingdom
| | - Brenda Parker
- The Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Gary J Lye
- The Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Duygu Dikicioglu
- The Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
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2
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Ashique S, Mishra N, Mohanto S, Garg A, Taghizadeh-Hesary F, Gowda BJ, Chellappan DK. Application of artificial intelligence (AI) to control COVID-19 pandemic: Current status and future prospects. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25754. [PMID: 38370192 PMCID: PMC10869876 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the everyday livelihood of people has been monumental and unparalleled. Although the pandemic has vastly affected the global healthcare system, it has also been a platform to promote and develop pioneering applications based on autonomic artificial intelligence (AI) technology with therapeutic significance in combating the pandemic. Artificial intelligence has successfully demonstrated that it can reduce the probability of human-to-human infectivity of the virus through evaluation, analysis, and triangulation of existing data on the infectivity and spread of the virus. This review talks about the applications and significance of modern robotic and automated systems that may assist in spreading a pandemic. In addition, this study discusses intelligent wearable devices and how they could be helpful throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumel Ashique
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bengal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research, Durgapur, 713212, West Bengal, India
| | - Neeraj Mishra
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Gwalior, 474005, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Sourav Mohanto
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Yenepoya Pharmacy College & Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, 575018, India
| | - Ashish Garg
- Guru Ramdas Khalsa Institute of Science and Technology, Pharmacy, Jabalpur, M.P, 483001, India
| | - Farzad Taghizadeh-Hesary
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and Department, The Five Senses Health Institute, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Clinical Oncology Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - B.H. Jaswanth Gowda
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Yenepoya Pharmacy College & Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, 575018, India
- School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Dinesh Kumar Chellappan
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, 57000, Malaysia
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3
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Ramos-Mandujano G, Grünberg R, Zhang Y, Bi C, Guzmán-Vega FJ, Shuaib M, Gorchakov RV, Xu J, Tehseen M, Takahashi M, Takahashi E, Dada A, Ahmad AN, Hamdan SM, Pain A, Arold ST, Li M. An open-source, automated, and cost-effective platform for COVID-19 diagnosis and rapid portable genomic surveillance using nanopore sequencing. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20349. [PMID: 37990068 PMCID: PMC10663496 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47190-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has emphasized the necessity for scalable diagnostic workflows using locally produced reagents and basic laboratory equipment with minimal dependence on global supply chains. We introduce an open-source automated platform for high-throughput RNA extraction and pathogen diagnosis, which uses reagents almost entirely produced in-house. This platform integrates our methods for self-manufacturing magnetic nanoparticles and qRT-PCR reagents-both of which have received regulatory approval for clinical use-with an in-house, open-source robotic extraction protocol. It also incorporates our "Nanopore Sequencing of Isothermal Rapid Viral Amplification for Near Real-time Analysis" (NIRVANA) technology, designed for tracking SARS-CoV-2 mutations and variants. The platform exhibits high reproducibility and consistency without cross-contamination, and its limit of detection, sensitivity, and specificity are comparable to commercial assays. Automated NIRVANA effectively identifies circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. Our in-house, cost-effective reagents, automated diagnostic workflows, and portable genomic surveillance strategies provide a scalable and rapid solution for COVID-19 diagnosis and variant tracking, essential for current and future pandemic responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardo Ramos-Mandujano
- Stem Cell and Regeneration Laboratory, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Raik Grünberg
- Structural Biology and Engineering, Computational Biology Research Center. Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Yingzi Zhang
- Stem Cell and Regeneration Laboratory, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Chongwei Bi
- Stem Cell and Regeneration Laboratory, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Francisco J Guzmán-Vega
- Structural Biology and Engineering, Computational Biology Research Center. Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Shuaib
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Rodion V Gorchakov
- Health, Safety and Environment Department, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Jinna Xu
- Stem Cell and Regeneration Laboratory, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Tehseen
- Laboratory of DNA Replication and Recombination, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Masateru Takahashi
- Laboratory of DNA Replication and Recombination, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Etsuko Takahashi
- Laboratory of DNA Replication and Recombination, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ashraf Dada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Al Faisal University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Adeel Nazir Ahmad
- KAUST Health, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Samir M Hamdan
- Laboratory of DNA Replication and Recombination, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Arnab Pain
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Stefan T Arold
- Structural Biology and Engineering, Computational Biology Research Center. Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mo Li
- Stem Cell and Regeneration Laboratory, Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- Bioengineering Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 23955-6900, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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4
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Goudarzi CC, Woolfork AG, Sengupta A, Weljie AM. Customized Surface Design to Increase Throughput of Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry Lipidomics. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2023; 34:1970-1978. [PMID: 37540625 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.3c00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Increased access to cheap and rapid mass spectrometry testing of biofluids is desirable for the analysis of disorders and diseases that may be linked to alterations in metabolite or lipid levels. The objective of this study is to establish an easily customized high-throughput workflow for the analysis of biological samples using desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (DESI-MS). The guiding principles of this workflow are the use of low-cost, open-source, and readily accessible materials with high-throughput and reproducibility. The design consists of 3 steps: (1) PARAFILM surface customization of size, shape, and depth of features on PARAFILM via 3D printed molds; (2) sample spotting via high-throughput robotics using the relatively inexpensive and open-source Opentrons platform to reduce variability and increase reliability of sample spotting; and (3) an open-source point-and-click graphical user interface (MSI.EAGLE) for data analysis via the R statistical language building on the Cardinal package. Here we describe this workflow and test optimal surface ionization characteristics by comparison of serum extracts spotted on PARAFILM and on PTFE (porous and nonporous). Untargeted analysis across three surfaces suggests that they are all suitable for ionization of a wide range of metabolites and lipids, with 3983 m/z features detected. Differential analysis of polar vs nonpolar serum extracts suggests that ∼80% of ions are desorbed preferentially from different surfaces. PARAFILM is less impacted by the interference of background ions derived from the surface. The developed system allows for a wide range of researchers to access custom surface design workflows and high-throughput analyses in a highly cost-effective manner.
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5
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Kates PA, Cook JN, Ghan R, Nguyen HJ, Sitasuwan P, Lee LA. Incorporation of automated buffer exchange empowers high-throughput protein and plasmid purification for downstream uses. SLAS Technol 2023; 28:243-250. [PMID: 36736961 DOI: 10.1016/j.slast.2023.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The continued acceleration of time-to-market product development and rising demand for biotherapeutics have hastened the need for higher throughput within the biopharmaceutical industry. Automated liquid handlers (ALH) are increasingly popular due to flexible programming that enables processing of multiple samples with an array of functions. This flexibility is useful in streamlining research that requires chromatographic procedures to achieve product purity for downstream analysis. However, purification of biologics often requires additional off-deck buffer exchange steps due to undesirable elution conditions such as high acid or high salt content. Expanding the capability of ALHs to perform purification in sequence with buffer exchange would, therefore, increase workflow efficiency by eliminating the need for manual intervention, thus expediting sample preparation. Here we demonstrate two different automated purifications using pipet-based dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE). The first is an affinity purification of His-tagged proteins from bacterial lysate. The second is an anion-exchange purification of plasmid DNA. Both methods are followed by buffer exchange performed by an ALH. Percent recoveries for the three purified recombinant proteins ranged from 51 ± 1.2 to 86 ± 10%. The yields were inversely correlated to starting sample load and protein molecular weight. Yields for plasmid purification ranged between 11.4 ± 0.8 and 13.7 ± 0.9 µg, with the largest plasmid providing the highest yield. Both programs were rapid, with protein purification taking <80 min and plasmid purification <60 min. Our results demonstrate that high-quality, ready-to-use biologics can be obtained rapidly from a crude sample after two separate chromatographic processes without manual intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick A Kates
- Integrated Micro-Chromatography Systems, Inc., 110 Centrum Drive, Irmo, SC 29063, United States
| | - Jordan N Cook
- Integrated Micro-Chromatography Systems, Inc., 110 Centrum Drive, Irmo, SC 29063, United States
| | - Ryan Ghan
- Hamilton Company, Inc., Reno, NV, United States
| | - Huey J Nguyen
- Integrated Micro-Chromatography Systems, Inc., 110 Centrum Drive, Irmo, SC 29063, United States
| | - Pongkwan Sitasuwan
- Integrated Micro-Chromatography Systems, Inc., 110 Centrum Drive, Irmo, SC 29063, United States
| | - L Andrew Lee
- Integrated Micro-Chromatography Systems, Inc., 110 Centrum Drive, Irmo, SC 29063, United States.
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6
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del Olmo Lianes I, Yubero P, Gómez-Luengo Á, Nogales J, Espeso DR. Technical upgrade of an open-source liquid handler to support bacterial colony screening. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1202836. [PMID: 37404684 PMCID: PMC10315574 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1202836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The optimization of genetically engineered biological constructs is a key step to deliver high-impact biotechnological applications. The use of high-throughput DNA assembly methods allows the construction of enough genotypic variants to successfully cover the target design space. This, however, entails extra workload for researchers during the screening stage of candidate variants. Despite the existence of commercial colony pickers, their high price excludes small research laboratories and budget-adjusted institutions from accessing such extensive screening capability. In this work we present COPICK, a technical solution to automatize colony picking in an open-source liquid handler Opentrons OT-2. COPICK relies on a mounted camera to capture images of regular Petri dishes and detect microbial colonies for automated screening. COPICK's software can then automatically select the best colonies according to different criteria (size, color and fluorescence) and execute a protocol to pick them for further analysis. Benchmark tests performed for E. coli and P. putida colonies delivers a raw picking performance over pickable colonies of 82% with an accuracy of 73.4% at an estimated rate of 240 colonies/h. These results validate the utility of COPICK, and highlight the importance of ongoing technical improvements in open-source laboratory equipment to support smaller research teams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene del Olmo Lianes
- Department of Systems Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología—Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Yubero
- Department of Systems Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología—Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Álvaro Gómez-Luengo
- Department of Systems Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología—Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
- Interdisciplinary Platform for Sustainable Plastics Towards a Circular Economy—Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, SusPlast-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Nogales
- Department of Systems Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología—Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
- Interdisciplinary Platform for Sustainable Plastics Towards a Circular Economy—Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, SusPlast-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - David R. Espeso
- Department of Systems Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología—Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
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7
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Cerda A, Rivera M, Armijo G, Ibarra-Henriquez C, Reyes J, Blázquez-Sánchez P, Avilés J, Arce A, Seguel A, Brown AJ, Vásquez Y, Cortez-San Martín M, Cubillos FA, García P, Ferres M, Ramírez-Sarmiento CA, Federici F, Gutiérrez RA. An Open One-Step RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2 detection. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2021.11.29.21267000. [PMID: 34909786 PMCID: PMC8669853 DOI: 10.1101/2021.11.29.21267000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in millions of deaths globally, and while several diagnostic systems were proposed, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) remains the gold standard. However, diagnostic reagents, including enzymes used in RT-PCR, are subject to centralized production models and intellectual property restrictions, which present a challenge for less developed countries. With the aim of generating a standardized One-Step open RT-qPCR protocol to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in clinical samples, we purified and tested recombinant enzymes and a non-proprietary buffer. The protocol utilized M-MLV RT and Taq DNA pol enzymes to perform a Taqman probe-based assay. Synthetic RNA samples were used to validate the One-Step RT-qPCR components, and the kit showed comparable sensitivity to approved commercial kits. The One-Step RT-qPCR was then tested on clinical samples and demonstrated similar performance to commercial kits in terms of positive and negative calls. This study represents a proof of concept for an open approach to developing diagnostic kits for viral infections and diseases, which could provide a cost-effective and accessible solution for less developed countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Cerda
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation. Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, 8331150, Chile
| | - Maira Rivera
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Grace Armijo
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation. Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, 8331150, Chile
| | - Catalina Ibarra-Henriquez
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation. Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, 8331150, Chile
| | - Javiera Reyes
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paula Blázquez-Sánchez
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Javiera Avilés
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
| | - Aníbal Arce
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
| | - Aldo Seguel
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
| | - Alexander J. Brown
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
- Department of Immunology & Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Yesseny Vásquez
- Escuela de Ciencias Médicas. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Santiago de Chile. USACH, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marcelo Cortez-San Martín
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, USACH, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco A. Cubillos
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, USACH, Santiago, Chile
| | - Patricia García
- Departamento de Laboratorios Clínicos. Escuela de Medicina. Facultad de Medicina. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marcela Ferres
- Departamento de Laboratorios Clínicos. Escuela de Medicina. Facultad de Medicina. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - César A. Ramírez-Sarmiento
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Fernán Federici
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation. Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, 8331150, Chile
- Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo A. Gutiérrez
- ANID - Millennium Science Initiative Program - Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBio)
- FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation. Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, 8331150, Chile
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8
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Ong'era EM, Mohammed KS, Makori TO, Bejon P, Ocholla-Oyier LI, Nokes DJ, Agoti CN, Githinji G. High-throughput sequencing approaches applied to SARS-CoV-2. Wellcome Open Res 2023. [DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.18701.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
High-throughput sequencing is crucial for surveillance and control of viral outbreaks. During the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, advances in the high-throughput sequencing technology resources have enhanced diagnosis, surveillance, and vaccine discovery. From the onset of the pandemic in December 2019, several genome-sequencing approaches have been developed and supported across the major sequencing platforms such as Illumina, Oxford Nanopore, PacBio, MGI DNBSEQTM and Ion Torrent. Here, we share insights from the sequencing approaches developed for sequencing of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) between December 2019 and October 2022.
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9
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Rong G, Zheng Y, Li X, Guo M, Su Y, Bian S, Dang B, Chen Y, Zhang Y, Shen L, Jin H, Yan R, Wen L, Zhu P, Sawan M. A high-throughput fully automatic biosensing platform for efficient COVID-19 detection. Biosens Bioelectron 2022; 220:114861. [PMCID: PMC9630290 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2022.114861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
We propose a label-free biosensor based on a porous silicon resonant microcavity and localized surface plasmon resonance. The biosensor detects SARS-CoV-2 antigen based on engineered trimeric angiotensin converting enzyme-2 binding protein, which is conserved across different variants. Robotic arms run the detection process including sample loading, incubation, sensor surface rinsing, and optical measurements using a portable spectrometer. Both the biosensor and the optical measurement system are readily scalable to accommodate testing a wide range of sample numbers. The limit of detection is 100 TCID50/ml. The detection time is 5 min, and the throughput of one single robotic site is up to 384 specimens in 30 min. The measurement interface requires little training, has standard operation, and therefore is suitable for widespread use in rapid and onsite COVID-19 screening or surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoguang Rong
- CenBRAIN Neurotech, School of Engineering, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China,School of Engineering, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China,Institute of Advanced Study, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310024, China
| | - Yuqiao Zheng
- CenBRAIN Neurotech, School of Engineering, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China,School of Engineering, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China,Institute of Advanced Study, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310024, China
| | - Xiangqing Li
- School of Engineering, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China,Institute of Advanced Study, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310024, China
| | - Mengzhun Guo
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake, University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China,Center for Infectious Disease Research, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China,Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China
| | - Yi Su
- CenBRAIN Neurotech, School of Engineering, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China,School of Engineering, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China,Institute of Advanced Study, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310024, China
| | - Sumin Bian
- CenBRAIN Neurotech, School of Engineering, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China,School of Engineering, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China,Institute of Advanced Study, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310024, China
| | - Bobo Dang
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake, University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China,Center for Infectious Disease Research, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China,Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China
| | - Yin Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Binsheng Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310051, China
| | - Yanjun Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Binsheng Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310051, China
| | - Linhai Shen
- Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 568 Mingshi Road, Jianggan District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310021, China
| | - Hui Jin
- Hangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 568 Mingshi Road, Jianggan District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310021, China
| | - Renhong Yan
- Key Laboratory of Structural Biology of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake, University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China,Center for Infectious Disease Research, Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China
| | - Liaoyong Wen
- School of Engineering, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China,Institute of Advanced Study, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310024, China
| | - Peixi Zhu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, China
| | - Mohamad Sawan
- CenBRAIN Neurotech, School of Engineering, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China,School of Engineering, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China,Institute of Advanced Study, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310024, China,Corresponding author. CenBRAIN Neurotech, School of Engineering, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310030, China
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10
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Torres-Acosta MA, Lye GJ, Dikicioglu D. Automated liquid-handling operations for robust, resilient, and efficient bio-based laboratory practices. Biochem Eng J 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2022.108713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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11
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Jonguitud-Borrego N, Malcı K, Anand M, Baluku E, Webb C, Liang L, Barba-Ostria C, Guaman LP, Hui L, Rios-Solis L. High—throughput and automated screening for COVID-19. FRONTIERS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY 2022; 4:969203. [PMID: 36188187 PMCID: PMC9521367 DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2022.969203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has become a global challenge for the healthcare systems of many countries with 6 million people having lost their lives and 530 million more having tested positive for the virus. Robust testing and a comprehensive track and trace process for positive patients are essential for effective pandemic control, leading to high demand for diagnostic testing. In order to comply with demand and increase testing capacity worldwide, automated workflows have come into prominence as they enable high-throughput screening, faster processing, exclusion of human error, repeatability, reproducibility and diagnostic precision. The gold standard for COVID-19 testing so far has been RT-qPCR, however, different SARS-CoV-2 testing methods have been developed to be combined with high throughput testing to improve diagnosis. Case studies in China, Spain and the United Kingdom have been reviewed and automation has been proven to be promising for mass testing. Free and Open Source scientific and medical Hardware (FOSH) plays a vital role in this matter but there are some challenges to be overcome before automation can be fully implemented. This review discusses the importance of automated high-throughput testing, the different equipment available, the bottlenecks of its implementation and key selected case studies that due to their high effectiveness are already in use in hospitals and research centres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nestor Jonguitud-Borrego
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology (SynthSys), The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Koray Malcı
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology (SynthSys), The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mihir Anand
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology BHU, Varanasi, India
| | - Erikan Baluku
- School of Bio-Security, Biotechnical and Laboratory Sciences Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Calum Webb
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lungang Liang
- BGI Clinical Laboratories, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Carlos Barba-Ostria
- Escuela de Medicina, Colegio de Ciencias de la Salud Quito, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Linda P. Guaman
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CENBIO), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Universidad UTE, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Liu Hui
- BGI Clinical Laboratories, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Leonardo Rios-Solis
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology (SynthSys), The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Correspondence: Leonardo Rios-Solis
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12
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Malcı K, Walls LE, Rios-Solis L. Rational Design of CRISPR/Cas12a-RPA Based One-Pot COVID-19 Detection with Design of Experiments. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:1555-1567. [PMID: 35363475 PMCID: PMC9016756 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Simple
and effective molecular diagnostic methods have gained importance
due to the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Various isothermal
one-pot COVID-19 detection methods have been proposed as favorable
alternatives to standard RT-qPCR methods as they do not require sophisticated
and/or expensive devices. However, as one-pot reactions are highly
complex with a large number of variables, determining the optimum
conditions to maximize sensitivity while minimizing diagnostic cost
can be cumbersome. Here, statistical design of experiments (DoE) was
employed to accelerate the development and optimization of a CRISPR/Cas12a-RPA-based
one-pot detection method for the first time. Using a definitive screening
design, factors with a significant effect on performance were elucidated
and optimized, facilitating the detection of two copies/μL of
full-length SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) genome using simple instrumentation.
The screening revealed that the addition of a reverse transcription
buffer and an RNase inhibitor, components generally omitted in one-pot
reactions, improved performance significantly, and optimization of
reverse transcription had a critical impact on the method’s
sensitivity. This strategic method was also applied in a second approach
involving a DNA sequence of the N gene from the COVID-19 genome. The
slight differences in optimal conditions for the methods using RNA
and DNA templates highlight the importance of reaction-specific optimization
in ensuring robust and efficient diagnostic performance. The proposed
detection method is automation-compatible, rendering it suitable for
high-throughput testing. This study demonstrated the benefits of DoE
for the optimization of complex one-pot molecular diagnostics methods
to increase detection sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koray Malcı
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, United Kingdom
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology (SynthSys), University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3BD, United Kingdom
| | - Laura E. Walls
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, United Kingdom
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology (SynthSys), University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3BD, United Kingdom
| | - Leonardo Rios-Solis
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, United Kingdom
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology (SynthSys), University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3BD, United Kingdom
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, U.K
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13
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Ham RE, Smothers AR, King KL, Napolitano JM, Swann TJ, Pekarek LG, Blenner MA, Dean D. Efficient SARS-CoV-2 Quantitative Reverse Transcriptase PCR Saliva Diagnostic Strategy utilizing Open-Source Pipetting Robots. J Vis Exp 2022:10.3791/63395. [PMID: 35225290 PMCID: PMC9199378 DOI: 10.3791/63395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of the recent SARS-CoV-2 global health crisis introduced key challenges for epidemiological research and clinical testing. Characterized by a high rate of transmission and low mortality, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated accurate and efficient diagnostic testing, particularly in closed populations such as residential universities. Initial availability of nucleic acid testing, like nasopharyngeal swabs, was limited due to supply chain pressure which also delayed reporting of test results. Saliva-based reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) testing has shown to be comparable in sensitivity and specificity to other testing methods, and saliva collection is less physically invasive to participants. Consequently, we developed a multiplex RT-qPCR diagnostic assay for population surveillance of Clemson University and the surrounding community. The assay utilized open-source liquid handling robots and thermocyclers instead of complex clinical automation systems to optimize workflow and system flexibility. Automation of saliva-based RT-qPCR enables rapid and accurate detection of a wide range of viral RNA concentrations for both large- and small-scale testing demands. The average turnaround for the automated system was < 9 h for 95% of samples and < 24 h for 99% of samples. The cost for a single test was $2.80 when all reagents were purchased in bulk quantities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E Ham
- Center for Innovative Medical Devices and Sensors (REDDI Lab), Clemson University
| | - Austin R Smothers
- Center for Innovative Medical Devices and Sensors (REDDI Lab), Clemson University; Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University
| | - Kylie L King
- Center for Innovative Medical Devices and Sensors (REDDI Lab), Clemson University
| | - Justin M Napolitano
- Center for Innovative Medical Devices and Sensors (REDDI Lab), Clemson University
| | | | | | - Mark A Blenner
- Center for Innovative Medical Devices and Sensors (REDDI Lab), Clemson University; Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University; Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware
| | - Delphine Dean
- Center for Innovative Medical Devices and Sensors (REDDI Lab), Clemson University; Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University;
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14
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Martínez MJ, Basile L, Sisó-Almirall A, Cristino V, Cuesta G, Hurtado JC, Fernandez-Pittol M, Mosquera MM, Soriano A, Martínez A, Marcos MA, Vila J, Casals-Pascual C. Lack of Prognostic Value of SARS-CoV2 RT-PCR Cycle Threshold in the Community. Infect Dis Ther 2021; 11:587-593. [PMID: 34762246 PMCID: PMC8582337 DOI: 10.1007/s40121-021-00561-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The immense impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health systems has motivated the scientific community to search for clinical prognostic factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Low cycle threshold values (Ct) of diagnostic real-time RT-PCR assays in hospitalized patients have been associated with a poor prognosis in several studies, whereas other studies did not find this association. We explored whether SARS-CoV-2 Ct values at diagnosis were associated with a poor outcome (admission to hospital and death) in 604 community patients diagnosed at primary health centers. Although lower Ct values were found in patients who died of COVID-19, the Ct value was not significantly associated with a worse outcome in a multivariate analysis, while age remained an independent prognostic factor. We did not find evidence to support the role of Ct values as a prognostic factor of COVID-19 in community cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel J Martínez
- Department of Microbiology, CDB, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luca Basile
- Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Generalitat of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antoni Sisó-Almirall
- Consorci d'Atenció Primària de Salut Barcelona Esquerra (CAPSBE), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Victor Cristino
- Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Generalitat of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Genoveva Cuesta
- Department of Microbiology, CDB, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Hurtado
- Department of Microbiology, CDB, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - María Mar Mosquera
- Department of Microbiology, CDB, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alex Soriano
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona-IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Martínez
- Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Generalitat of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mª Angeles Marcos
- Department of Microbiology, CDB, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Vila
- Department of Microbiology, CDB, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Climent Casals-Pascual
- Department of Microbiology, CDB, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. .,Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain.
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