The present invention relates to a method for obtaining yeast proteins comprising the following steps: a) providing a yeast cream; b) exposing this yeast cream to a thermal plasmolysis at a temperature between 70 and 95° C. for a time of between 30 seconds and 4 hours; c) subjecting the whole to the activity of at least one ribonuclease and a glucanase, sequentially or simultaneously, at a temperature between 40 and 65° C. for a period of between 8 and 24 hours; and d) separating the insoluble fraction from the soluble fraction; wherein the insoluble fraction collected in step d) is taste-free, has a nucleotide content less than 3% and a true protein content of at least 72%.

A method for algae disruption includes: a thermal treatment of microalgae belonging to Heterokontophyta at a pH of 3.5 or more and 9.5 or less and a temperature of 40° C. or more and 65° C. or less; and a physical treatment of the microalgae using a high pressure dispersion apparatus, the physical treatment following the thermal treatment.

Lysis devices, methods, and systems are disclosed including a lysis device comprising a sample vessel having an outer surface, a microchannel within the confines of the outer surface, a first port extending through the outer surface to the microchannel, and a second port extending through the outer surface to the microchannel; and an acoustic transducer bonded to the outer surface of the sample vessel to form a monolithic structure, the acoustic transducer configured to emit ultrasonic acoustic waves into and/or to induce shear forces into a blood sample within the microchannel, thereby rupturing the blood cells.

The present disclosure describes a method of treating a sample comprising cells with a process of partial lysing. Cells are exposed to a process such as bead beating that lyses some cells in the mixture. The process generates a resultant sample mixture that is suitable for both cell morphology screening and genetic screening. A first portion of the partially lysed sample can be mounted on a slide and observed for atypical cells and cytologic abnormalities. A second portion of the partially lysed sample can be screened for genetic markers known to correlate with a risk of cervical cancer. The method is particularly useful for cervical screening, where a combination of cytology and genetic screening present a more complete picture of cervical health. The disclosed method streamlines the diagnostic process for protocols that require both types of assays, without compromising screening accuracy.

Devices, systems and methods including a sonicator for sample preparation are provided. A sonicator may be used to mix, resuspend, aerosolize, disperse, disintegrate, or de-gas a solution. A sonicator may be used to disrupt a cell, such as a pathogen cell in a sample. Sample preparation may include exposing pathogen-identifying material by sonication to detect, identify, or measure pathogens. A sonicator may transfer ultrasonic energy to the sample solution by contacting its tip to an exterior wall of a vessel containing the sample. Multipurpose devices including a sonicator also include further components for additional actions and assays. Devices, and systems comprising such devices, may communicate with a laboratory or other devices in a system for sample assay and analysis. Methods utilizing such devices and systems are provided. The improved sample preparation devices, systems and methods are useful for analyzing samples, e.g. for diagnosing patients suffering from infection by pathogens.

Instruments and methods for amplifying nucleic acids in a sample provided in a flexible, self-contained, substantially closed sample container.

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a cell analysis system is described. The cell analysis system includes at least one cell analysis device. Each cell analysis device includes a channel to serially feed individual cells from a volume of cells into a lysing chamber. The cell analysis device also includes at least one feedback-controlled lysing element in the lysing chamber to agitate a cell. The cell analysis system also includes a controller to analyze the cell. The controller includes a lysate analyzer to analyze properties of the lysate and a rupture analyzer to analyze parameters of an agitation when a cell membrane ruptures.

The present invention provides a cartridge for analyzing a fluid sample. The cartridge provides for the efficient separation of cells or viruses in the sample from the remaining sample fluid, lysis of the cells or viruses to release the analyte (e.g., nucleic acid) therefrom, and optionally chemical reaction and/or detection of the analyte. The cartridge is useful in a variety of diagnostic, life science research, environmental, or forensic applications for determining the presence or absence of one or more analytes in a sample.

The present invention relates to containers for holding liquid samples. The containers may be useful for mixing a liquid sample or lysing cells in a liquid sample. The invention also relates to methods of using the containers of the invention.

A method for producing membrane polysaccharides from an organism selected from micro-organisms, unicellular organisms and filamentous fungi, the method including at least one step of extracting the membrane polysaccharides as well as a smaller-scale extraction of the soluble proteins, by mechanical treatment of the organism in a ball mill or by physical treatment of the organism by means of ultrasounds.