A method for recovering polyhydroxyalkanoates from a biomass is disclosed. According to the method, polynucleotide chains are cleaved by addition of an endonuclease. A lysing agent is used to disrupt cell walls of the microorganism cells and release the intracellular polyhydroxyalkanoates from the cells. Proteins are also degraded by addition of a peptidase. The polyhydroxyalkanoates are then separated from cellular debris of the cells. According to the present disclosure, this method is carried out without the use of organic solvents in the cleaving, lysing, and degrading steps.

A system and method for automated single cell capture and processing is described, where the system includes a deck supporting and positioning a set of sample processing elements; a gantry for actuating tools for interactions with the set of sample processing elements supported by the deck; and a base supporting various processing subsystems and a control subsystems in communication with the processing subsystems. The system can automatically execute workflows associated with single cell processing, including mRNA capture, cDNA synthesis, protein-associated assays, and library preparation, for next generation sequencing.

A system and method for automated single cell capture and processing is described, where the system includes a deck supporting and positioning a set of sample processing elements; a gantry for actuating tools for interactions with the set of sample processing elements supported by the deck; and a base supporting various processing subsystems and a control subsystems in communication with the processing subsystems. The system can automatically execute workflows associated with single cell processing, including mRNA capture, cDNA synthesis, protein-associated assays, and library preparation, for next generation sequencing.

The present disclosure relates to a method for determining the susceptibility of a microorganism to an antimicrobial agent. In particular, to a method for testing the antimicrobial susceptibility of blood samples in patients with a suspected bloodstream infection. In one aspect, for example, the method comprises the steps of: (a) incubating a first blood culture derived from the blood sample; (b) terminating the incubation of the first blood culture after a period of up to about 20 hours from commencement of Step (a) to produce an incubated culture; and (c) performing a molecular phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) assay on the incubated culture to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of a microorganism.

The present disclosure relates to a method for determining the susceptibility of a microorganism to an antimicrobial agent. In particular, to a method for testing the antimicrobial susceptibility of blood samples in patients with a suspected bloodstream infection. In one aspect, for example, the method comprises the steps of: (a) incubating a first blood culture derived from the blood sample; (b) terminating the incubation of the first blood culture after a period of up to about 20 hours from commencement of Step (a) to produce an incubated culture; and (c) performing a molecular phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) assay on the incubated culture to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of a microorganism.

The present invention relates to a method for extracting nucleic acids from a biological sample, and the extraction method presents a novel method for effectively extracting nucleic acids. When nucleic acids are extracted from biological samples in the related art, various impurities present in the biological samples are not properly removed, such that the purification rate is low, but the present invention provides a method for extracting nucleic acids from a biological sample of which the bacteria, virus and nucleic acid recovery rates are enhanced, by adding a surfactant and a sodium sulfate (Na.sub.2SO.sub.4) solution in a biological sample disruption step and a purification step, thereby enabling pathogens to be detected more sensitively and accurately.

A system, methods, and apparatus are described to collect and prepare single cells, nuclei, subcellular components, and biomolecules from specimens including tissues and in some embodiments use the single cells to form organoids or microtissues. The system can perform enzymatic and/or physical disruption of the tissue to dissociate it into single-cells and then use a hanging droplet method to form organoids or microtissues.

Lysis apparatus including a chamber for receiving a sample and at least one magnetic actuator located within the chamber as well as at least two magnetic elements arranged outside the chamber. Above that, such a lysis apparatus includes a driving unit for effecting a rotational relative movement between the chamber and the at least two magnetic elements arranged outside the chamber, wherein the polarity of the magnetic elements is opposite with respect to the circular path of the rotational relative movement and hence, for example, the chamber, such that the magnetic actuator arranged within the chamber is moved both translationally and rotationally to effect lysis of the sample. Here, the chamber is configured, e.g., by its dimensioning or a flexible outer shell, to enable the at least one magnetic actuator located within the chamber to move both translationally and rotationally.

A method of preparing a porous sheet includes mixing a matrix material dispersion including a matrix material dispersed in a first dispersion medium with a microorganism dispersion including microorganisms in a second dispersion medium, to form a mixture. The first and the second dispersion media are removed from the mixture to form a matrix sheet, and the microorganisms are decomposed from the matrix sheet to form the porous sheet.

A method of preparing a porous sheet includes mixing a matrix material dispersion including a matrix material dispersed in a first dispersion medium with a microorganism dispersion including microorganisms in a second dispersion medium, to form a mixture. The first and the second dispersion media are removed from the mixture to form a matrix sheet, and the microorganisms are decomposed from the matrix sheet to form the porous sheet.