A Portable, Accurate, and Cost-Effective Strategy for Rapid On-Site Authentication and Characterization of Commercially Important Species and Pathogens Using Bio Molecular Systems’ MIC qPCR Cycler

Abstract
PROBLEM: In the seafood industry, mislabeled products disguising lesser-value/lower-quality species unfairly compete for profits, harm brands/consumer trust, and prevent proper safety tests for species-specific hazards and pathogens. In agriculture, invasive/destructive species continuously threaten crops and farmers’ livelihoods. Routine large-scale species testing imperative for these and many other industries is currently not possible due to the high-cost and complexities of species DNA sequencing and the complications of using a different DNA test for each species.
SOLUTION: In response, ThermaGenix developed a broadly-applicable strategy for rapid and cost-effective identification of up to hundreds of species and pathogens in a single-tube test. One set of reagents in the test identifies multiple species individually without sequencing. ThermaGenix’s universal species DNA tests run on the MIC qPCR Cycler, a highly accurate, portable, and affordable instrument from Bio Molecular Systems for field applications.
TECHNOLOGY: ThermaGenix’s High Precision PCR (based on ThermaStop™, a proprietary reagent for error-free DNA amplification) coupled with paired sets of positive/negative Nielsen hybridization probes convert any species-specific DNA sequences into highly accurate fluorescent signatures. Sequence-specific fluorescent signatures are then automatically compared against a reference library for immediate species identification. APPLICATIONS: FASTFISH-ID™, ThermaGenix’s first product for the MIC qPCR Cycler, provides rapid on-site DNA authentication of >700 individual species in commercial fish products in a single-tube test in about two hours. Another ThermaGenix test identifies any of 17 bacterial and fungi pathogens associated with sepsis in a single-tube.
SIGNIFICANCE: ThermaGenix’sHigh-Precision PCR reagents and platform technology together with the high accuracy, reproducibility, and portability of Bio Molecular Systems’MIC qPCR Cycler provides an innovative turnkey solution for rapid on-site identification of large numbers of species and pathogens in a single-tube using a single set of reagents. Application target areas include on-site food integrity and safety testing, detection of invasive pest species and their pathogens, environmental bioassessment programs; additional uses include point-of-care diagnostics for cancer, infectious diseases, and other fields.