The success of all microbiome-based studies are highly dependent on effective sample purification of the target organisms of interest. Characterizing individual organismal components of these metagenomic samples relies heavily upon the ability to separate the individual phylogenetic components, such as removing human cells from the microbiological fraction while preventing samples loss or degradation. This Phase I STTR project aims to significantly advance DNA purification methods of metagenomics / environmental samples (e.g. human and bacteria) using a patent pending simple and inexpensive purification approach aimed at effectively separating and preserving host and microbial DNA. This method will ensure all organismal DNA is preserved (i.e. not “sacrificed” or loss) during initial separation steps, unlike protocols employed by existing DNA purification kit manufacturers. Outcomes should result in higher quality DNA sequence data (i.e. higher sequencing coverage and higher sensitivity) thus providing robust information content, leading to higher confidence in the organismal characterization.Syracuse Biolabs, Inc. (SBL), has teamed with scientists in the Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute (FNSSI) at Syracuse University to further improve and commercialize this novel DNA purification approach. This Phase I project has three aims directed to establish a proof-of-concept of the method leading to initial kit development for fieldable DNA purification modules of metagenomic samples. Our metagenomics DNA purification kit is also applicable to fields outside of the human microbiome research market, including forensic identification and geolocation of biological samples relevant to criminal and intelligence related activities, DNA based ecological research, plant and microbial based geosourcing and defense/homeland security efforts (requiring DNA purification from environmental samples). Public Health Relevance Statement Narrative This Phase I project will further develop and validate a novel, cost effective approach to separate and preserve metagenomics DNA for downstream next-gen DNA sequencing analysis. If successful this technology with be developed into salable DNA purification kits targeting metagenomic DNA analysis applications in forensics and healthcare.
Project Terms: Bacteria ; Blood ; Blood Reticuloendothelial System ; Cells ; Cell Body ; Crime ; Diagnosis ; DNA ; Deoxyribonucleic Acid ; Filtration ; Filtration Fractionation ; Forensic Medicine ; Forensics ; Growth ; Generalized Growth ; Tissue Growth ; ontogeny ; Health ; Human ; Modern Man ; Institutes ; Intelligence ; Market Research ; Methods ; Microbiology ; United States National Institutes of Health ; NIH ; National Institutes of Health ; Nucleic Acids ; Organism ; living system ; Legal patent ; Patents ; Plants ; Reagent ; Research ; Sales ; Saliva ; Science ; Technology ; Tissues ; Body Tissues ; Universities ; Healthcare ; health care ; DNA Sequence ; base ; improved ; DNA analysis ; Phase ; Biological ; Ensure ; Chemicals ; Individual ; Plant DNA ; National Security ; Scientist ; Protocol ; Protocols documentation ; Techniques ; Best Practice Analysis ; Benchmarking ; interest ; success ; microbial ; novel ; Sampling ; DNA purification ; Manufacturer ; Manufacturer Name ; Bio-Informatics ; Bioinformatics ; DNA Packaging ; Lysis ; Cytolysis ; preventing ; prevent ; microbial host ; Data ; Detection ; Phylogenetic Analysis ; Phylogenetics ; Security ; Small Business Technology Transfer Research ; STTR ; Development ; developmental ; microbiome ; Human Microbiome ; human-associated microbiome ; Outcome ; cost effective ; innovation ; innovate ; innovative ; microbial community ; community microbes ; Microbe ; Metagenomics ; Functional Metagenomics ; novel diagnostics ; new diagnostics ; next generation diagnostics ; DNA sequencing ; DNA seq ; DNAseq ; sensor technology ; sensing technology ; microbiome research ; Microbiomics ; microbiome science ; microbiome studies ; preservation ; detection limit ;
