Instrument-free nucleic acid diagnostic platform for plant cell detection
Multi-channel, instrument-free diagnostic platform using RPA amplification and CRISPR/Cas12a detection to identify SNPs and transgenes in plant cells. Produces visible color or light signals without electricity, ideal for field use in agriculture.
Overview
This diagnostic platform offers a rapid, instrument-free method for detecting specific DNA and RNA sequences in plant cells. Originally developed for human pathogens, the technology combines isothermal amplification with CRISPR-based detection to produce visible signals upon contact with target nucleic acids. The platform is designed to be adapted for agricultural applications, including the detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and transgenes in plant tissue. By eliminating the need for electricity or specialized instruments, the system is well suited for field deployment, low-resource environments, and on-site agricultural diagnostics.
Technical specifications
- Multi-channel device controls the flow of reagents through sequential diagnostic steps
- Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) amplifies 4-10 copies of target DNA to over 100 ng in approximately 10 minutes at temperatures between 25 and 37°C
- CRISPR/Cas12a detection provides specificity by activating non-specific nuclease activity that degrades detector molecules
- Visible readouts through colorimetric change or light emission, with no electronic instrumentation required
- Optional hand warmer can raise reaction temperature in cold field conditions
- Validated targets include CoV2, HPV16, Leishmania, and human gene sequences, with collaborator validation on African Swine Fever Virus
- Patent application filed covering the multi-channel diagnostic device for use with RPA and CRISPR diagnostics
Technology readiness level
The core components have been validated through multiple peer-reviewed publications demonstrating sensitive and specific detection of viral and human gene targets. The RPA and CRISPR/Cas12a components are proven in published applications. Adaptation to plant cell detection requires additional development, including designing RPA primers for plant gene targets, optimizing lysis buffers for plant tissue, and validating single nucleotide change detection specificity. Preliminary development would proceed through a structured collaboration with a sponsor to define diagnostic requirements, design assays, optimize sensitivity and specificity, and establish appropriate readouts for agricultural use cases.
About Biological Mimetics
Biological Mimetics, Inc. (BMI) is a Frederick, Maryland-based biomedical company founded in 1996 that integrates biology and engineering to develop solutions for emerging and resistant infectious diseases. Its core technology platforms include Immune Refocusing Technology (IRT), which uses bioinformatic analysis to direct the immune system toward conserved, less antigenic sites on pathogens, and an ultra-inactivation vaccine platform that utilizes a manganese-decapeptide-phosphate (MDP) system combined with UVC irradiation for cost-effective vaccine production. Additionally, the company has developed the FAST diagnostic tool, a multi-chambered, instrument-free system designed for sensitive, CRISPR-based nucleic acid detection in resource-limited environments.
BMI collaborates extensively with academic, military, and governmental organizations to advance its vaccine and diagnostic candidates toward commercialization and regulatory approval. These efforts address a wide range of global health challenges, including viral pathogens like Influenza and COVID-19, as well as antibiotic-resistant bacteria and parasitic diseases. By providing tools that are reproducible, easy to manufacture, and deployable in the field, BMI aims to improve public health outcomes in both low-income regions and developed medical settings. The company sustains its development pipeline through research grants and strategic partnerships with entities such as the NIH and the Department of Defense.
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