A method and an apparatus are provided for enriching pathogen DNA. The method includes adding a selective lysis buffer to a sample, incubating the mixture formed thereby, and filtering the mixture. The apparatus for enriching pathogen DNA includes: a lysis chamber; a reservoir containing selective lysis buffer, connected to the lysis chamber; and a filter connected to the lysis chamber; that achieves a limit of detection of pathogens of 500 cfu/ml or less.

The invention relates to a method for obtaining an aqueous extract of Anethum graveolens, enriched with small RNAs having a maximum length of 150 nucleotides, from a plant material, said method comprising the following steps: a) aerial parts of dill is brought into contact with water; b) tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is added at a pH of between 10.5 and 11; c) the pH of the mixture obtained in b) is then adjusted to a value of between 6 and 8; d) the mixture obtained in c) is purified; and e) the pH is checked and readjusted if necessary to a value of between 6 and 8. The invention also relates to an aqueous extract of Anethum graveolens, enriched with small RNAs having a maximum length of 150 nucleotides, obtained by the method.

The present specification discloses filtration devices for processing a biofluid sample, methods of purifying a biofluid sample using the disclosed filtration devices, and systems comprising components of the filtration devices. The filtration device generally includes a collection container, a quantitative container, a filter, and a plunger slidably inserted through a plunger attachment. In a first configuration, the quantitative container is axially slidably inserted within the collection chamber, with fluid communication between the quantitative chamber and the collection chamber provided through the filter. In a second configuration, the filter and the collection container are separated from the quantitative container, the plunger attachment is fitted to the quantitative chamber open end with at least a portion of the plunger positioned within the quantitative chamber.

A device for analyzing a biological sample which includes a separation and detection chamber into which an injection channel and a discharge channel open, a filter separating the chamber into two distinct spaces so as to define a first space into which the injection channel opens and a second space into which the discharge channel opens, the filter having a porosity suitable for the separation to be carried out, a rough bearing surface having a surface roughness parameter suitable for carrying out a mechanical lysis of the biological species present in the sample, the bearing surface being arranged in the first space, a flexible membrane arranged opposite the rough bearing surface relative to the filter and blocking an opening made through the housing.

Disclosed are methods and systems for analyzing exhaled breath aerosol particles present in the ambient environment using high flowrate aerosol collector systems and sensitive and specific nucleic acid analysis systems to determine if active spreaders of a respiratory disease are present in an indoor space. The disclosed systems and methods provide for a diagnostic test result in less than about 30 minutes.

There is provided a cartridge for nucleic acid extraction comprising: a first body having a plurality of chambers in which ports are formed at the bottom; a second body coupled to a lower region of the first body; and a piston disposed rotatably in the centers of the first body and the second body and having a port formed at the bottom thereof; and characterized in that the cartridge comprises a plurality of flow paths formed on the upper region of the second body, one end overlapping the port of the piston and the other end overlapping the port of the first body.

The present invention provides, among other things, methods for purifying mRNA, which involves removing impurities from a messenger RNA preparation synthesized by large scale in vitro transcription process (IVT), by precipitating the IVT-synthesized mRNA in a buffer comprising a denaturing salt in combination with a reducing agent, followed by capturing the precipitated mRNA and dissolving the captured mRNA into a solution to obtain purified mRNA.

Disclosed herein is a novel method to fabricate magnetic silica nanomembranes using thin polymer cores based on silica deposition and self-wrinkling induced by thermal shrinkage. These micro- and nano-scale structures have vastly enlarged the specific area of silica, thus the magnetic silica nanomembranes can be used for solid phase extraction of nucleic acids. The magnetic silica nanomembranes are suitable for nucleic acid purification and isolation and demonstrated better performance than commercial particles in terms of nucleic acid recovery yield and integrity. In addition, the magnetic silica nanomembranes may have high nucleic acid capacity due to significantly enlarged specific surface area of silica. Methods of use and devices comprising the magnetic silica nanomembranes are also provided herein.

A dissection system has a dissection platform which has a frame, an agitation platform, a tissue section tray, a solution dispenser unit, an airflow drying unit and a waste collection unit and a specimen collector which has a tubular body, a plunger button, a hollow shaft, a piston cylinder, a motor unit, a piston, a piston spring and a piston rod. The agitation platform, the solution dispenser unit, the airflow drying unit and the waste collection unit are disposed on the frame, and the tissue section tray is removably disposed on the agitation platform. The plunger button, the hollow shaft and the piston cylinder are movably inserted in the tubular body. The piston is slidably inserted within the piston cylinder, the piston spring is biased in between the piston cylinder and the motor unit, and the piston rod is connected in between the motor unit and the piston.

The invention provides methods for isolating RNA from the soluble fraction of urine. The methods can be used for detecting the presence or absence of an RNA, or quantifying the amount of an RNA. The methods are useful for diagnosing an individual suspected of having a disease by detecting the level of RNA associated with the disease in the soluble fraction of urine. The methods are also useful for prognosing an individual diagnosed with a disease by detecting the level of RNA associated with the disease in the soluble fraction of urine.