Abstract:
High throughput methods are used that combine the features of using a matrix-type microfluidic device, labeled nucleic acid probes, and homogenous assays to detect and/or quantify nucleic acid analytes. The high throughput methods are capable of detecting nucleic acid analyes with high PCR and probe specificity, producing a low fluorescence background and therefore, a high signal to noise ratio. Additionally, the high throughput methods are capable of detecting low copy number nucleic acid analyte per cell.
Abstract:
An integrated fluidic circuit includes a substrate layer and a first structure coupled to the substrate layer and including a plurality of channels. The first structure is configured to provide for flow of one or more materials through the plurality of channels. The integrated fluidic circuit also includes a second structure coupled to the substrate layer. The second structure includes a plurality of control channels configured to receive an actuation pressure. The integrated fluidic circuit is characterized by a thickness of less than 1.5 mm.
Abstract:
New microfluidic devices, useful for carrying out chemical reactions, are provided. The devices are adapted for on-chip solvent exchange, chemical processes requiring multiple chemical reactions, and rapid concentration of reagents.
Abstract:
The invention provides systems, including apparatus, methods, and kits, for the microfluidic manipulation and/or detection of particles, such as cells and/or beads. The invention provides systems, including apparatus, methods, and kits, for the microfluidic manipulation and/or analysis of particles, such as cells, viruses, organelles, beads, and/or vesicles. The invention also provides microfluidic mechanisms for carrying out these manipulations and analyses. These mechanisms may enable controlled input, movement/positioning, retention/localization, treatment, measurement, release, and/or output of particles. Furthermore, these mechanisms may be combined in any suitable order and/or employed for any suitable number of times within a system. Accordingly, these combinations may allow particles to be sorted, cultured, mixed, treated, and/or assayed, among others, as single particles, mixed groups of particles, arrays of particles, heterogeneous particle sets, and/or homogeneous particle sets, among others, in series and/or in parallel. In addition, these combinations may enable microfluidic systems to be reused. Furthermore, these combinations may allow the response of particles to treatment to be measured on a shorter time scale than was previously possible. Therefore, systems of the invention may allow a broad range of cell and particle assays, such as drug screens, cell characterizations, research studies, and/or clinical analyses, among others, to be scaled down to microfluidic size. Such scaled-down assays may use less sample and reagent, may be less labor intensive, and/or may be more informative than comparable macrofluidic assays.
Abstract:
Described herein are methods for preparing DNA templates for single-cell transcript sequencing of RNA from a population of cells. The methods entail distributing cells from the population into separate reaction volumes so that a plurality of separate reaction volumes each contain a single, isolated cell, wherein the cells have been treated with a fixative prior to distribution. The isolated cells are then permeabilized or disrupted, and cDNA is prepared by reverse transcript, followed by amplification. Also provided is a novel chemistry for efficient production of DNA templates from T-cell receptors or immunoglobulins in single cells.
Abstract:
In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a way of "digitally" marking different the alleles of different chromosomes by using a transposase to insert differently barcoded transposons into genomic DNA before further analysis. According to this method, each allele becomes marked with a unique pattern of transposon barcodes. Because each unique pattern of transposon barcodes identifies a particular allele, the method facilitates determinations of ploidy and copy number variation, improves the ability to discriminate among homozygotes, heterozygotes, and patterns arising from sequencing errors, and allows loci separated by uninformative stretches of DNA to be identified as linked loci, thereby facilitating haplotype determinations. Also provided is a novel artificial transposon end that includes a barcode sequence in two or more positions that are not essential for transposition.
Abstract:
Methods and reagents for detection and analysis of nucleic acids are provided. The methods employ proximity extension assays for detection of a target nucleic acids of interest, e.g., a target RNA. The method can additionally be used in multiplex assays with a protein proximity extension assay to detect protein.
Abstract:
The invention provides a method for detecting a target nucleotide sequence by tagging the nucleotide sequence with a nucleotide tag, providing a probe oligonucleotide with a melting temperature Tm1, comprising a regulatory sequence and a nucleotide tag recognition sequence; incorporating the probe oligonucleotide into the tagged polynucleotide in a polynucleotide amplification reaction, providing a regulatory oligonucleotide with a melting temperature Tm2, comprising a sequence segment that complementary to the regulatory sequence and a tail segment that does not hybridize to the probe nucleotide when the sequence segment and the regulatory sequence are annealed, amplifying the tagged target nucleic acid sequence in a PCR amplification reaction using the probe oligonucleotide as a primer, and using a DNA polymerase with high strand displacement activity and low 5-nuclease activity, and detecting the amplification product; wherein Tm1 and Tm2 are higher than the annealing temperature associated with the polynucleotide amplification reaction.
Abstract:
Methods and reagents for detection and analysis of nucleic acids are provided. Certain methods involves an encoding amplification in which a target sequence is associated with probe-binding sequences and optionally with indexing sequences, (2) an optional distribution step in which the product of the encoding amplification is split into multiple aliquots, and (3) a decoding and detection step in which the presence, absence, quantity, or relative amount of the target sequence in the aliquots is determined. The detection step makes use of a multifunctional "self-digesting" molecular probe comprising a primer polynucleotide and a probe oligonucleotide, linked in a 5'-5' orientation.