A method for reducing heterogeneity of a virus preparation may include generating virus ions from the virus preparation, repeatedly increasing at least one of a temperature and an incubation period at the increased temperature of at least one of the virus preparation and the generated virus ions, measuring mass-to-charge ratios and charge magnitudes of at least some of the generated virus ions at each increase of the at least one of the temperature and the incubation period, determining a mass spectrum at each increase of the at least one of the temperature and the incubation period based on values of the respective mass-to-charge ratios and charge magnitudes, and determining, based on the mass spectrums, optimum ones of the temperature and the incubation period which together minimize, or at least reduce, a heterogeneity of the virus preparation without aggregation of virus capsids in the virus preparation.

A method for reducing heterogeneity of a virus preparation may include generating virus ions from the virus preparation, repeatedly increasing at least one of a temperature and an incubation period at the increased temperature of at least one of the virus preparation and the generated virus ions, measuring mass-to-charge ratios and charge magnitudes of at least some of the generated virus ions at each increase of the at least one of the temperature and the incubation period, determining a mass spectrum at each increase of the at least one of the temperature and the incubation period based on values of the respective mass-to-charge ratios and charge magnitudes, and determining, based on the mass spectrums, optimum ones of the temperature and the incubation period which together minimize, or at least reduce, a heterogeneity of the virus preparation without aggregation of virus capsids in the virus preparation.

Compositions and methods are described that are directed to specific and sensitive methods of target nucleic acid detection and more specifically detecting target nucleic acids directly from biological samples. The compositions and methods were developed to be easy to use involving a minimum number of steps and giving rapid and consistent results either at point of care or in high throughput situations. The compositions and methods are directed to labelled probes and their uses in Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) diagnostic tests to detect target DNA from the environment or from an individual and also to detect specific variants of the target DNA, both with similar sensitivity. The compositions and methods may use any single improvement or combination of improvements selected from thermolabile enzyme variants, poloxamers, various salts, indicators and one or more LAMP primer sets for detecting single and/or multiple targets, probes for detecting variants of the targets including SARS-CoV-2 variants and lateral flow devices.

Compositions and methods are described that are directed to specific and sensitive methods of target nucleic acid detection and more specifically detecting target nucleic acids directly from biological samples. The compositions and methods were developed to be easy to use involving a minimum number of steps and giving rapid and consistent results either at point of care or in high throughput situations. The compositions and methods are directed to labelled probes and their uses in Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) diagnostic tests to detect target DNA from the environment or from an individual and also to detect specific variants of the target DNA, both with similar sensitivity. The compositions and methods may use any single improvement or combination of improvements selected from thermolabile enzyme variants, poloxamers, various salts, indicators and one or more LAMP primer sets for detecting single and/or multiple targets, probes for detecting variants of the targets including SARS-CoV-2 variants and lateral flow devices.

This invention relates to a method for the purification of nucleic acids, preferably DNA, from biological samples, comprising the steps (a) optional lysis of said sample, (b) optional heat incubation of said sample, (c) enzymatic digestion of non-nucleic acid components in the product of step (a) or (b), (d) heat inactivation of one or more enzyme(s) used in step (c), (e) transfer of the product of step (d) onto a resin capable of retaining non-nucleic acid components, while the nucleic acids pass through the resin, thereby purifying the nucleic acids.

This invention relates to a method for the purification of nucleic acids, preferably DNA, from biological samples, comprising the steps (a) optional lysis of said sample, (b) optional heat incubation of said sample, (c) enzymatic digestion of non-nucleic acid components in the product of step (a) or (b), (d) heat inactivation of one or more enzyme(s) used in step (c), (e) transfer of the product of step (d) onto a resin capable of retaining non-nucleic acid components, while the nucleic acids pass through the resin, thereby purifying the nucleic acids.

An example system includes an array of retaining features in a microfluidic cavity, an array of thermally controlled releasing features, and a controller coupled to each releasing feature in the array of releasing feature. Each retaining feature in the array of retaining features is to position capsules at a predetermined location, the capsules having a thermally degradable shell enclosing a biological reagent therein. Each releasing feature in the array of releasing features corresponds to a retaining feature and is to selectively cause degradation of the shell of a capsule. Each releasing feature is to generate thermal energy to facilitate degradation of the shell. The controller is to selectively activate at least one releasing feature in the array of thermally controlled releasing features to release the biological reagent in the capsules positioned at the retaining feature corresponding to the activated releasing feature.

An example system includes an array of retaining features in a microfluidic cavity, an array of thermally controlled releasing features, and a controller coupled to each releasing feature in the array of releasing feature. Each retaining feature in the array of retaining features is to position capsules at a predetermined location, the capsules having a thermally degradable shell enclosing a biological reagent therein. Each releasing feature in the array of releasing features corresponds to a retaining feature and is to selectively cause degradation of the shell of a capsule. Each releasing feature is to generate thermal energy to facilitate degradation of the shell. The controller is to selectively activate at least one releasing feature in the array of thermally controlled releasing features to release the biological reagent in the capsules positioned at the retaining feature corresponding to the activated releasing feature.

Novel methods of generating a localized population of immobilized clonal amplicons on a support are provided.

Novel methods of generating a localized population of immobilized clonal amplicons on a support are provided.