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Detect and quantify low level pathogens at the POC
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PLATFORM FOR DIFFICULT-TO-DETECT PATHOGENS
Guanine is a development company and has invented a quadruplex detection tag that allows bacteria and viruses to be measured electrically, with PCR accuracy, using a sensor and potentiostat. Electrical tags allow bound analytes to be detected in a rapid, simple and inexpensive test cartridge like a glucose meter for pathgoens. Here is how the technology is applied:
- Single optical labels are replaced with millions of quadruplex oligonucleotide tags bound to a magnetic microparticle conjugate. Lower detection limit is attained with a bigger microparticle that delivers more tags per analyte and a stronger detection signal.
- Capture ligands are bound to the magnetic microparticle conjugates and recognition ligands are bound to individual sensor electrodes to form signal-amplified hybridization assays for genetic analytes and signal-amplified sandwich immunoassays for protein analytes. Sensors provide 6 working electrodes for individual analytes or groups of analytes along with controls.
- Samples are purified in a single use cartridge with magnetic separation to reduce the incidence of false test results.
- Detection signals are produced with an inexpensive mobile potentiostat that can display test results at the POC and transmit results to the cloud or user file.
- Detection signals can be integrated with AI medical algorithms to interpret test results and along with symptoms to provide a preliminary diagnosis for patients and an objective second opinion for clinicians.
LYME DISEASE BACTERIA POC TEST WITH AI DIAGNOSIS
Lyme disease is the leading vector-borne illness in the US with 476,000 new cases per year and a 16-fold increase in the past two decades. Many patients do not respond to the recommended antibiotic treatment and incur severe symptoms including arthralgia, arthritis, cardiac and neurologic that last an average 4.7 years. The prevalence of post-treatment or chronic Lyme disease patients is estimated to be 20% and was found to be as high as 62% in an area endemic for Lyme disease. A systematic review of 48 studies found Lyme disease test sensitivity or True Positive Rates to be:
Erythema migrans (EM) skin rashes are also used to diagnose Lyme disease. EM is present in 50% to 80% of Lyme disease cases, and could appear as a range of presentations beyond the classic bulls eye. EMs can also mimic other common rashes including a spider bite, ringworm, or cellulitis making Lyme disease very difficult to diagnose.
- 46% for 2-tiered antibody testing in acute Lyme disease
- 34% to 62% for Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAAT)
- 27% to 94% for cultures
Erythema migrans (EM) skin rashes are also used to diagnose Lyme disease. EM is present in 50% to 80% of Lyme disease cases, and could appear as a range of presentations beyond the classic bulls eye. EMs can also mimic other common rashes including a spider bite, ringworm, or cellulitis making Lyme disease very difficult to diagnose.
CARBAPENEM-RESISTANT ENTEROBACTERIACEAE RAPID POC TEST
Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections are becoming a public health crisis in the United States and worldwide. In the United States alone, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are responsible for at least 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths annually. CDC actions have succeeded in reducing illnesses and deaths across all antibiotic-resistant bacteria, except for Enterobacteriaceae such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Of particular concern are infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) since carbapenems are considered the drug of last resort with limited new treatments on the horizon. The current turnaround time for detecting carbapenemase-producing CRE using approved antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) assays for CRE, is 2 to 4 days. Virtually all CP-CRE detection methods require a time-intensive bacteria culture to isolate and produce a measurable quantity of bacteria for testing as the minimum threshold of detection is well above concentrations found in human samples. CP-CRE detection tests also vary by their availability in clinical labs, accuracy, ease of use, cost, and need for specialized equipment. Based on the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant CRE infections, the rise of new resistance strains and the lack of new antimicrobials planned for the market, the best defense against antibiotic-resistant CRE would be a rapid, simple, inexpensive, and accurate test that could be used in essentially any healthcare setting.
HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM REAL-TIME SENSOR
Understanding the drivers of aquatic ecosystems and the services they provide is a key challenge for ecologists and limnologists and nowhere is this challenge larger than harmful algal blooms (HABs). HABs involve the proliferation of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) to the point where they dominate freshwater lakes, with several species producing harmful toxins that impact the ecosystem. Despite decades of research, ecologists and limnologists still have a very difficult time predicting when, where, and to what extent HABs will occur in freshwater lakes due to the lack of real-time data in such highly dynamic systems. While there has been a growing deployment of sensors to monitor physical and chemical parameters in real time, the ability to detect HAB dynamics in real time has been limited to general characterizations, such as total algae (using Chl a sensors), total cyanobacteria (using phycocyanin sensors), or broad categories of algae (using fluoroprobe sensors). There is an unmet need to target particular HABs species and their toxins in real time in order to protect water systems and the communities they serve.
ABOUT
Our platform evolved from the convergence of nanotech, biotech, and infotech
Guanine's founder Neil Gordon was one the first business consultants in the nanotechnology sector and worked with many of the nanotechnology pioneers through his boutique consulting practice, the NanoBusiness Alliance, and the NASA-led CANEUS consortium for micro and nano technologies in the aerospace and industries. Guanine’s predecessor company was spun out of NASA’s Ames Research Center and adapted NASA’s carbon nanotube sensor to detect guanine oxidation signals from bacterial and viral RNA. Neil and his team re-engineered the NASA sensor and produced guanine oxidation from synthetic DNA comprising guanine nucleotides. When a string of nucleotides was fabricated into a quadruplex by coiling guanine molecules around sodium cations the structure produced a stronger electrical signal from 8-oxoguanine that detected lower concentrations of targets. Guanine had integrated the electronic sensor signals with artificial intelligence tools to diagnose infections from test results and symptoms.
TEAM
Neil Gordon B.Eng, MBA
President & CEO email LinkedIn Neil is a business executive specializing in managing advanced technology products and ventures. He was one of the one of first business consultants in nanotechnology. He headed commercialization for the NASA-led CANEUS and spun out a company from NASA’s Ames Research Center to commercialize NASA’s carbon nanotube sensor. He co-developed a testing instrument for detecting RNA from bacteria and viruses. He subsequently invented and patented the quadruplex detection tag, the electronic sensor, and AI diagnosis platform. |
Garry Palmateer M.Sc.
Vice President, Assays Garry is a microbiologist with over 40 years experience in detecting bacteria and viruses. Garry previously operated pathogen testing labs in the private sector and for the Ontario Government. He oversaw remediation of the Walkerton E.coli outbreak. Garry co-developed the pathogen sensor and inline testing instrument at Guanine's predecessor NASA spin-off company. He developed assay protocols for various pathogens including a rapid test for carbapenem resistance using the electronic sensor. |
Raj Bawa PhD
VP and Chief IP Officer Raj is a microbiologist and a pioneer in nanomedicine with over 100 publications. He is also a patent agent and formerly worked at the USPTO. Raj is involved in strategic projects, and intellectual property activities. |
Ara Altounian B.Eng, MBA
Vice President, Operations Ara is an engineer with diverse experience in engineering, retail, software design and instruments. His career spans many aspects of management, operations, and administration. |
CONTACT
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