Provided herein are mutant single-chain Mycobacterium smegmatis porin (Msp) and uses thereof.

An applicator having a body and a series of teeth extending in a first direction from said body, the teeth spaced apart from each other in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, each tooth having a base, a tip, and opposed sides, in which at least one tooth includes a series of serrations spaced apart from each other, each serration having a tip, and a base, and opposed sides and preferably being of generally trapezoidal shape. A method for depositing a liquid sample on a substrate using the applicator.

A method of handling a fluidic sample includes taking fluidic sample from a sample source by a sample shaping tool so that a pre-shaped planar fluidic sample is held by the sample shaping tool with at least one main surface, or both opposing main surfaces, of the pre-shaped planar fluidic sample being exposed, and processing the pre-shaped planar fluidic sample such as by separating the pre-shaped planar fluidic sample in a sample separation device.

A nucleic acid detection kit includes a kit body, a detection chip, an electrophoresis box, and a connector. The detection chip includes a channel for carrying a microbead sample of the acid. The detection chip is connected to the electrophoresis box. The connector is electrically connected to the detection chip and the electrophoresis box. The microbead undergoes a PCR amplification reaction to obtain a mixed microbead in the channel. The mixed microbead undergoes an electrophoretic detection in the electrophoresis box. A nucleic acid detection device includes the nucleic acid detection kit is also disclosed. The nucleic acid detection device has a simple structure, which is portable, flexible, and convenient, and can be used at home.

A nucleic acid detection kit includes a detection chip, an electrophoresis box, and a barrier unit. The detection chip includes a channel and an outlet. The outlet is connected to the channel. The temperature-dependent barrier unit may be in a first state or a second state. The barrier unit is disposed on a side of the outlet close to the channel when the barrier unit is in the first state, so that the channel is disconnected from the electrophoresis box. The barrier unit is away from the outlet when the barrier unit is in the second state, so that the channel is connected to the electrophoresis box. A nucleic acid detection device including the nucleic acid detection kit is also disclosed. The nucleic acid detection device has a simple structure, which is portable, flexible, and convenient, and can be used at home.

A diagnostic and prognostic method and system for sequentially analyzing in a biological fluid or tissue extract the presence of an antigenic infectious agent, infectious organism or its toxic product; an antibody response to the antigenic infectious agent, infectious organism or its toxic product; one or more biomarkers formed during infection in response to a communicable disease; and one or more biomarkers to assess the severity of the disease and to monitor the effectiveness of drug therapy or vaccination.

A heating structure includes a substrate, a heating layer, a heat conducting layer, and a heat sensing layer. The heating layer includes at least one heating area. The heat conducting layer corresponds to the heating area. The heat sensing layer is disposed on the at least one heating area and electrically connected to the heating layer. The heating layer is used to heat the heat conducting layer. The heat sensing layer is used to sense a temperature of the heating area. A detection chip with the heating structure, and a nucleic acid detection device with the nucleic acid detection chip are also disclosed. The heating structure can make the heating temperature of the heating area more uniform and stable. The heating area of the heating structure has a lower heat loss and a higher heating efficiency.

A nucleic acid detection host includes a host body, a detection kit installation area, a sample heating area, a sampling area, and an image collection unit. The detection kit installation area is configured to detachably install a nucleic acid detection kit. The sampling area is disposed above the detection kit installation area and is connected to the detection kit installation area. The sampling area is configured to add a detection solution into the nucleic acid detection kit. The image collection unit is configured to collect an image of the nucleic acid detection kit. A nucleic acid detection device including the nucleic acid detection host is also disclosed. The nucleic acid detection device has a simple structure, which is portable, flexible, and convenient, and can be used at home.

A method of analyzing a molecule in a nanopore is disclosed. A voltage is applied across a nanopore that is inserted in a membrane by coupling the nanopore to a voltage source. The nanopore is decoupled from the voltage source. After the decoupling, a rate of decay of the voltage across the nanopore is determined. A molecule in the nanopore is distinguished from other possible molecules based on the determined rate of decay of the voltage across the nanopore.

Apparatus and techniques for electrokinetic loading of samples of interest into sub-micron-scale reaction chambers are described. Embodiments include an integrated device and related apparatus for analyzing samples in parallel. The integrated device may include at least one reaction chamber formed through a surface of the integrated device and configured to receive a sample of interest, such as a molecule of nucleic acid. The integrated device may further include electrodes patterned adjacent to the reaction chamber that produce one or more electric fields that assist loading the sample into the reaction chamber. The apparatus may further include a sample reservoir having a fluid seal with the surface of the integrated device and configured to hold a suspension containing the samples.