BC Platforms BC|RQUEST

Ubiquitome has launched the Liberty16, a quantitative PCR system designed for personal and mobile DNA quantitation and testing. The Liberty16 has dimensions of 21.2 cm long (closed) by 11 cm wide by 11.5 cm tall, and weighs about 3.2 kg. It runs on a light, small, and rechargeable lithium battery for two to three hours of cord-free run time. The instrument can be Bluetooth paired with an iPhone app for laptop-free standalone operation. It is compatible with standard consumables and chemistries including Taqman and SYBR, and uses the industry-standard eight-strip PCR tube and cap format.

The instrument starts at $1,500 and Ubiquitome is taking pre-orders from researchers on a 'first-come, first-served" basis.

Bionano Genomics and Genoox have launched the Genoox Integrated Platform for identification of structural variants. The companies said in April that they had partnered to develop a genome informatics workflow, which would integrate and annotate Bionano's structural variant calls with sequencing data within the Genoox platform.

Bionano said that the Saphyr system, combined with the firm's new DLS labeling chemistry and analysis tools, calls structural variants better than sequencing-based methods. By applying Genoox's variant classification technology to align short read sequence data to its structural variant calls, the high sensitivity of Bionano calls would be combined with the base-pair precision of NGS. The Genoox Integrated Platform further automatically validates and confirms structural variant calls, in addition to integrating and annotating structural variants with smaller sequence variants in the same genome, the firms said. The tool provides sensitive, accurate detection of structural variation and genetic mutations, helping to speed genetic diagnosis.

The new platform combines raw NGS read data with Bionano-based structural variant calls from a single patient. Researchers then use Bionano's structural variant data to guide the alignment of NGS reads. Detected structural variants, copy number variants, indels, and single nucleotide variants are then annotated by aggregating data from multiple clinical and population frequency databases, and automated AI-based classification according to ACMG guidelines, the companies said. The platform then generates a customized clinical report on all variants, including Bionano-only and NGS-only calls. Genoox and Bionano will co-sell and co-market the integrated platform.

DNAnexus has released its DNAnexus Apollo platform for clinico-genomic data science exploration, analysis, and discovery. The platform provides a scalable cloud environment, flexible data models, as well as intuitive analysis and visualization tools for research and development teams. According to DNAnexus, pharmaceutical research and development teams can use the platform in their translational informatics research to quickly tests hypotheses and learn more about the mechanisms of action, biomarkers and targets. 

Emiprical Bioscience has launched its EB Pure Total RNA kit and the EB Pure DNase 1 Digestion kit to quickly and reliably purify RNA from cells or soft tissue. 

The firm's EB Pure Total RNA Kit reversibly binds RNA under optimized conditions, allowing researchers to remove proteins and other contaminants from the sample. The tool also allows RNA binding in high-salt and elution in a low-salt buffer. Each column can bind up to 100 microliters and does not need organic extractions or additional precipitations. The tool produces high and stable recovery rates within 20 minutes. The EB Pure DNase 1 Digestion kit can be used alongside the EB Pure Total RNA Kit in order for further DNA removal, the firm said.  

Cellecta has launched the CloneTracker XP Expressed Lentiviral Barcode Library and CloneTracker XP Barcoded CRISPR Library product lines. The new CloneTracker XP Barcode Libraries differ from Cellecta's standard CloneTracker Barcode Library in that the unique DNA sequence is designed to express on an RNA transcript in the cells. The libraries can therefore be detected by either DNA or RNA sequencing. Researchers can use these libraries to label several million cells each with a unique barcode, subsequently performing NGS to sort out sub-populations of progeny cells derived from the original progenitors at any point during the experiment.

Additionally, a variation of the new CloneTracker XP barcode labeling product introduces a gene effector, in this case CRISPR sgRNA, into the barcode library. Each effector targets and disrupts a specific gene in each of the cells that pick up a barcode. In combination with cell-specific barcode tracking, this knockout helps researchers see how specific genetic disruptions change the cells' characteristics while simultaneously identifying the genetic pathways that are activated to produce them. The firm offers two small, pre-made CloneTracker XP Barcoded CRISPR knockout libraries targeting 27 human and mouse anti-cancer genes, as well as custom library development services for CloneTracker XP Barcoded CRISPR Libraries. The CloneTracker XP Expressed Barcode Libraries are available with barcodes expressed in the 3′- or 5′-UTR of an RNA transcript, and with fluorescent or chemiluminescent reporters.

Oxford Nanopore Technologies has released a new version of the flow cell for the MinIon and GridIon sequencers that include the 'Rev D' ASIC. The new flow cells can be used for a longer time and yield up to 30 gigabases of data.

L7 Informatics, formerly known as Lab7 Systems, has introduced version 2.0 of its Enterprise Science Platform, featuring a validated, pre-built connection to the Microsoft Genomics service so users can run bioinformatics pipelines on the Microsoft Azure cloud. The release also includes workflow chaining to support multivariable processes, as well as support for next-generation sequencing, translational research, and cell therapy applications, plus a new user interface.