High-Sensitivity, Cost-Effective BioTrove Technology Enables Exploration of Pathogen Detection and Antibiotic Resistance Related Projects
Woburn, MA, May 22, 2007 - BioTrove, Inc. today announced that researchers at the Center for Microbial Ecology and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan State University will use BioTrove OpenArray™ technology to explore key issues related to pathogen detection, genetic screening, and microbial community analysis.
Led by Syed Hashsham, Ph.D., Edwin Willits Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering and James Tiedje, Ph.D., University Distinguished Professor and Director, Center for Microbial Ecology, the research group at Michigan State University is particularly interested in investigating mixed microbial systems.
"With technology superior to many traditional approaches, the OpenArray platform enables us to study mixed microbial systems in a manner that is not possible by any other technology," said Dr. Hashsham. "In terms of quantitation, sample throughput, number of target genes to be analyzed, specificity, amount of biological material needed, cost, robustness, ruggedness, and sensitivity, OpenArray truly represents the next generation of real-time PCR and SNP genotyping technology," he added.
Drs. Hashsham and Tiedje and their research team are using the technology platform to develop high-throughput screening assays for pathogens and antibiotic-resistant genes, allowing researchers to identify particular pathogens and confirm or refute their presence in environments such as the water supply. Additionally, by studying the dynamics of functional genes and key microbial populations in environmental systems such as wastewater treatment plants and contaminant remediation sites, researchers will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of such treatment facilities. The OpenArray platform also enables researchers to explore the relationship between indicator organisms and pathogens using genetic markers.
"Enabling research that impacts public health is not only gratifying, but part of our company mission," said Al Luderer, Ph.D., president and CEO, BioTrove. "We are especially pleased to collaborate with Drs. Hashsham and Tiedje and their colleagues on this important work to maintain the health of our water supply."
About BioTrove, Inc.
BioTrove, Inc. offers two innovative technology platforms: RapidFire™, which enables the acceleration of drug discovery and pipeline decisions, and OpenArray™, which advances genomic research in a wide range of life science fields, including agriculture, disease research, bio-defense, and public health. With more than half of the world's ten largest pharmaceutical companies as clients, and partnerships with prestigious research and public health centers around the world, BioTrove's products and services ensure that an industry committed to accuracy and speed can meet business goals.
RapidFire™ Mass Spectrometry (RFMS) uses an innovative microfluidic technology to facilitate analysis at faster than 10 seconds per sample, eliminating the bottleneck created by traditional mass spectrometry throughput. RFMS is routinely used in many applications including the high-throughput screening of previously intractable drug targets, cytochrome P450 inhibition and other ADME assays and directed evolution studies.
The OpenArray™ Platform enables genomics researchers to generate SNP and real time qPCR data in the hundreds of thousands of data points per day, significantly increasing the number of samples analyzed while significantly decreasing the time and cost required. The flexible format and nanoliter scale of the OpenArray™ system allows for easy adjustment of sample and assay numbers, achieving economical, high-throughput genomics.
For more information, please visit www.biotrove.com or contact:
Dr. Albert Luderer, President and CEO
BioTrove, Inc.
781-721-3648
info@biotrove.com
Arielle Bernstein
Makovsky + Company
212-508-9643
abernstein@makovsky.com
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