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 period between 30 seconds and 4 hours, preferably between 1 minute and 3 hours, more preferably between 40 minutes and 2 hours; b) separating the insoluble fraction and the soluble fraction; c) subjecting the insoluble fraction to the activity of at least one ribonuclease and a glucanase, sequentially or simultaneously, at a temperature between 40 and 65° C., preferably 60° C., for a period between 8 and 24 hours, preferably 18 hours; d) separating the insoluble fraction from the soluble fraction; wherein the insoluble fraction collected in step d) has no taste, having a nucleotide content less than 3% and a true protein content of at least 72%. Step b′) is optional. In this case, the entirety of the composition obtained after thermal plasmolysis of the yeast cream is subjected to enzymatic activity.

The present disclosure provides improved methods for bead beating and a bead beating system useful therefor. The present disclosure further provides methods of using the bead beating system to extract nucleic acids from cells containing the nucleic acids.

An integrated sample purification system includes a housing, a sample container rack, a filter holder, and a cylindrical magnet. The sample container rack and the filter device holder are disposed in the housing. The sample container rack is configured to hold one or more sample containers, the filter device holder is configured to hold one or more filter devices. The cylindrical magnet is adjacent to and external to the sample container rack, and is rotated about a central, longitudinal axis of the magnet by an electric motor disposed in the housing to lyse cells. Molecules of interest in the lysed cells are purified using filters that bind specifically to the molecules of interest. The system is readily amenable to automation and rapid purification and analysis of molecules of interest, such as nucleic acids and proteins.

The present invention relates to a method for separating larvae into a pulp fraction and a liquid fraction, including the steps of introducing living larvae into a grinding apparatus whist adding water, grinding the larvae by means of counter-rotating screws and separating the ground biomass of larvae into a pulp and liquid fraction. In particular, the invention is applicable to the larvae of the black soldier fly and produces a chitin-rich pulp and a fat-and-protein-rich liquid fraction.

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

Disclosed herein are an apparatus, system, and methods related to a portable microfluidic system for biological and analytical testing of biological fluids. In particular, the system comprises the use of a rotating microfluidic platform technology to manipulate and perform sample-to-answer assays on biological fluids. More particularly, the system described herein may be capable of performing bacteria identification/quantification (IDQ) and/or antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST).

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a conductivity-based lysis monitor is described. The lysis monitoring device includes a lysing chamber to receive a cell to be lysed and at least one lysing device to rupture a cell membrane. At least one pair of electrodes are disposed in the lysing chamber to detect a level of conductivity in the lysing chamber. A controller of the device determines when the cell membrane has ruptured based on detected levels of conductivity in the lysing chamber.

External sonication, which is a technique by which ultrasonic energy is applied externally to a cartridge containing the sample, is contemplated herein. External sonication can be performed by a sonicator external to a sample contained within a cartridge. The cartridge can include sonication particles to enhance sonication or cavitation within the sample. A sonication algorithm can also be used to increase sonication efficiency.

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.

A method of decellularizing a tissue includes disposing the tissue within a device, the device. The device includes a container, first and second electrodes disposed within the container and defining a space between the first and second electrodes to receive the tissue, a perfusion pump, and a conduit connected to the perfusion pump to transport a decellularization composition from the pump into the tissue. The method further includes disposing the decellularization composition within the container to surround the tissue and contact the first and second electrodes, applying an electric potential across the first and second electrodes, and perfusing the decullarization composition into the tissue.