The present invention is directed towards an apparatus and methods for a precise, fast and easy to use manipulation of beads. This method is particularly useful to carry out separation between the beads and the remaining supernants present in the fluid, maximizing the collection and purification efficiencies in tips for liquid handling.

This instant disclosure provides methods of processing a sample in an automated sample processing device including devices configured for the automated extraction or isolation of nucleic acids. Also provided are plungers for use in such devices and methods of sample processing. Systems for performing the described methods and employing the described plungers are also provided.

Multi-stage sample-recovery systems, including automated 2-stage and 3-stage sample-recovery systems, are provided. Such systems enable the rapid screening and recovery of samples, including viable cell-based samples, from high-throughput screening systems, including systems utilizing large-scale arrays of microcapillaries. In specific screening systems, each microcapillary comprises a solution containing a variant protein, an immobilized target molecule, and a reporter element. Immobilized target molecules may include any molecule of interest, including proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and other biomolecules. The association of a variant protein with a molecular target is assessed by measuring a signal from the reporter element. The contents of microcapillaries identified in the assays as containing variant proteins of interest can be identified and recovered using the multi-stage systems disclosed herein.

The present disclosure provides a HTP microbial genomic engineering platform that is computationally driven and integrates molecular biology, automation, and advanced machine learning protocols. This integrative platform utilizes a suite of HTP molecular tool sets to create HTP genetic design libraries, which are derived from, inter alia, scientific insight and iterative pattern recognition. The HTP genomic engineering platform described herein is microbial strain host agnostic and therefore can be implemented across taxa. Furthermore, the disclosed platform can be implemented to modulate or improve any microbial host parameter of interest.

A method for aspirating a first liquid medium of two liquid media of different density from a sample container comprises: lowering a pipette of the laboratory automation device into the sample container until a pipette tip of the pipette has passed a lowering distance from the surface of the first liquid medium in the sample container, wherein the lowering distance is chosen, such that the pipette tip passes at least an aspiration volume in the sample container; aspirating liquid from the sample container during the lowering of the pipette by generating an underpressure in the pipette, wherein the first liquid medium is aspirated, and after the interface and the pipette tip pass each other, the second liquid medium of the two liquid media is aspirated; measuring a pressure in the pipette during the lowering of the pipette and detecting a position of the interface, when a slope of the pressure changes; when the lowering distance has been passed and no interface is detected, aspirating the aspiration volume from the first liquid medium and dispensing the aspiration volume of the first liquid medium into a further sample container.

A device for automated or manual group separations of complex biological mixtures and methods of use are described. The device is a gel filtration pipette tip having a size exclusion media therein and held in place by a filter at the distal end of the pipette tip and an optional removable or pierceable barrier at the proximal end of the pipette tip. The size exclusion media is wetted by aspirating a solvent from the bottom of the pipette tip and equilibrating the solvent with the size exclusion media. The solvent is then allowed to gravity drain from the pipette tip, allowing the size exclusion media to settle and reproducibly pack into a homogenous gel. Gel filtration separations can then be performed with the gelled size exclusion media.

The present disclosure provides a HTP microbial genomic engineering platform that is computationally driven and integrates molecular biology, automation, and advanced machine learning protocols. This integrative platform utilizes a suite of HTP molecular tool sets to create HTP genetic design libraries, which are derived from, inter alia, scientific insight and iterative pattern recognition. The HTP genomic engineering platform described herein is microbial strain host agnostic and therefore can be implemented across taxa. Furthermore, the disclosed platform can be implemented to modulate or improve any microbial host parameter of interest.

A method of preparing a measurement specimen according to one or more embodiments may include removing red blood cells from a blood sample using a solid phase substance capable of binding to red blood cells and reacting the blood sample from which the red blood cell is removed with a reagent to immunostain cells. Removing red blood cells may include forming a complex comprising red blood cells and the solid phase substance; and separating the formed complex.

A nucleic acid extracting device includes a reagent containing unit, a mixing unit, and a flow channel unit. The reagent containing unit contains a specimen, a magnetic bead, and a reagent for extracting. The mixing unit includes a mixing chamber and a stirring assembly. The mixing chamber includes a chamber portion and a tube portion. The stirring assembly includes a main body and an extension. The main body is provided in the chamber portion. The tube portion connects the chamber portion. And the extension connects the main body and extends into the tube portion. The extension and an inner wall of the tube portion have first and second gaps therebetween respectively along first and second directions of the tube portion. The first gap is less than the second gap. The flow channel unit is connected between the reagent containing unit and the mixing unit.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for host cell improvement utilizing epistatic effects. The systems and methods described herein are host cell agnostic and therefore can be implemented across taxa. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods can be implemented to modulate or improve any host cell parameter of interest.