Instructional Leadership, emphasis: K-12 School Leadership (MEd)
Molecular structure and liquids used in research labs
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  6. BioThreatSeq: an Amplicon Sequencing Assay for Detection and Characterization of Microbial Pathogens in Complex Environmental and Clinical Samples

BioThreatSeq: an Amplicon Sequencing Assay for Detection and Characterization of Microbial Pathogens in Complex Environmental and Clinical Samples

Description

The amplicon sequencing assay is highly multiplexed and detects the presence, absence, and/or clinically important characteristics of nucleic acids from one or more microbial pathogens without a live culturing step. The assay is based upon very discriminating genetic regions, bioinformatically identified using public and private genome sequences from microbial pathogens. Additionally, the analytical platform has been demonstrated on several complex environmental and clinical specimen types such as urine, wound swabs, sputum, air, soil, and water samples.

Additional information

Patent number and inventor

PCT/US20/15395

James M. Schupp, Jason Sahl, Paul S. Keim, David Engelthaler, David M. Wagner, and Viacheslav Fofanov.

Potential applications

This invention has clinical, environmental, and forensic applications.

Benefits and advantages

The amplicon sequencing assay is highly adaptable to new content and flexible to detect new biothreat agents and signatures. In addition, it can be used to screen environmental samples for the presence of target agent DNA, as well as civilian and military patients for target agent carriage in the event of suspected exposure. Due to its high sensitivity and specificity, the assay can detect the difference between target and neighboring strains. Finally, the amplicon sequencing assay is a cost-effective alternative to individual polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods.

Case number and licensing status

2019-012

This invention is available for licensing.