Patent Description:
Detection and identification of microbial species is important for diagnosing and treating disease, and for identifying source contamination and preventing infection in various clinical, environmental or production contexts. Microbial species can include bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi, algae, amoebas, and slime molds.

Detection and identification of specific microbial species can be useful in the evaluation and treatment of patients and products, as well as facilities and environments, such as medical-related facilities like hospitals or clinics and food production environments like manufacturing plants or kitchens. Detection of specific microbial species is used, for example, in medical offices, in order to determine the presence and identity of pathogens causing infection to a patient, thus allowing for appropriate treatment and remedy. The same methods are used in healthcare, the food industry, and long-term care industry, hospitality industry, homeland security, aerospace and aviation, and even in the private sector.

Unfortunately, detection of microbial species from biological specimens obtained from such clinical, environmental or production contexts differ from detection of microbial species in controlled biological samples that are used in theoretical or research contexts. The raw biological specimens from such clinical, environmental or production contexts are not controlled or refined, and the time and expense that can be spent to obtain useable results from a biological sample in a theoretical or research context are significantly more than can be spent on obtaining results from a biological specimen in a clinical, environmental or production context.

Biological specimens are uniquely complex and can include biological materials that range from urine and feces to whole blood and serum to intact tissue. Biological specimens may comprise lipids, proteins, nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, RNA (i.e. tRNA, rRNA, mRNA), and will contain all of the above macromolecules for both the mammalian source of the specimen as well as any single-celled organisms (i.e. microbial species) that are present in the sample and infecting the host organism. Typically, biomarkers of a pathogen (e.g. DNA and RNA) are present at a significantly lower level than that of the source of the biological specimen, making isolation and detection difficult. Current techniques for microbial detection in the theoretical and research context rely on incubation and/or purification techniques applied to biological specimens in order to form relevant and actionable biological samples suitable for genetic analysis.

Incubation techniques can take up to <NUM> hours before the specimen can be analyzed thereby delaying the ability to act upon the results of detection of specific microbial species to achieve a favorable and timely outcome. Examples of such incubation techniques used to amplify genetic sequences are described, for example, in <CIT> (incubation for <NUM> hours) and <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> (incubation for <NUM>-<NUM> hours), and for the <NUM>™ Molecular Detection System (incubation for up to <NUM> hours as described in links available at https://multimedia. com/mws/media/1353351O/<NUM>-molecular-detection-assay-<NUM>-l-monocytogenes-update. pdf and <CIT>).

Purification techniques to isolate and detect biomarkers of microbial species by filtration, elution, or binding techniques as described, for example, in <CIT> and <CIT>. Chaotropic agents such as DNase have been used to degrade proteins other than RNA in a clinical sample (<NPL>, Turbo Dnase, available from ThermoFisher, <CIT>); however, these methods do not allow for isolation of microbial RNA from non-microbial RNA. Similarly, methods to extract E. coli from human blood using copurification with different lysis buffers have been disclosed (<NPL>), but these methods rely on first extracting the target RNA from the biological specimen, and then degrading and removing any residual DNA. The use of specially prepared sterile plates to isolate specific strains of bacteria have been used in a research context to obtain relevant and actionable biological samples of each bacteria strain suitable for genetic analysis. See, material in links available at https://www. wrightlabs. org/metatranscriptomics_2, https://aac. org/content/<NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM>, https://www. com/articles/s41598-<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>. Unfortunately, these kinds of purification techniques require further processing and manipulation of the biological specimens, which may result in degradation of the genetic biomarkers of interest.

Various methods and systems for the detection of microbial DNA, particularly in the theoretical or research context are also known in the art. However, these techniques rely on detection of microbial DNA and cannot distinguish between the presence of live or dead microbial species. Moreover, because other kinds of DNA in a biological specimen typically overwhelm the relative amount of microbial DNA in that biological specimen, detection of microbial DNA using conventional DNA identification requires incubation or preparation of a biological sample in which sufficient numbers of the microbial species of interest are grown to reliably detect and identify those microbes. <NPL>, discloses a method of isolating retroviral RNA by HPLC.

There exists a need for a technique that can rapidly isolate and detect biomarkers of microbial species from biological specimens without significant, intentional, incubation or purification in order to facilitate more effective, efficient and rapid identification of microbial species in such biological specimens for the evaluation and treatment of patients and products, as well as facilities and environments.

The present invention provides a method for enhancing the gene sequencing of microbial RNA molecules from a biological specimen, the method comprising:.

Preferred features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims herein.

One aspect of the present disclosure is a method for rapidly transforming a biological specimen into a microbial RNA filtered sample by bulk filtration without degrading microbial RNA that are biomarkers of pathogenic organisms by using the void volume in a liquid chromatography process in order to enhance the efficiency by which the presence of such pathogenic organisms may be detected by subsequent genetic sequencing techniques.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for rapidly filtering a test sample obtained from a biological specimen to isolate and collect microbial RNA, a biomarker of live or viable microbial species, in which the method is substantially free of a step designed to intentionally grow genetic material. In various embodiments, the present disclosure comprises the steps of obtaining a biological specimen, digesting or preparing the biological specimen to create a test sample to allow for liquid chromatography, and using bulk filtration by liquid chromatography to isolate and collect microbial RNA molecules from the test sample.

In some aspects of the present invention, the method for rapidly filtering a test sample obtained from a biological specimen to isolate and collect microbial RNA eliminates a step of incubating or purifying genetic material by using liquid chromatography to bulk filter microbial RNA molecules from a mixture of RNA molecules that includes host RNA molecules by only using the void volume output of the liquid chromatography in order to effectively amplify the microbial RNA molecules from the test sample relative to the host RNA molecules.

In one embodiment, a method for filtering microbial RNA molecules from a biological specimen to isolate microbial RNA includes the steps of: (a) obtaining the biological specimen; (b) digesting the biological specimen to create a test sample by interacting a reagent with the specimen; and (c) using liquid chromatography to bulk filter microbial RNA molecules from a mixture of RNA molecules in the test sample to isolate and collect the microbial RNA molecules from the test sample.

In one embodiment, a method of filtering a microbial single-stranded nucleic acid sequence from a mixture of one of at least a mammalian single-stranded nucleic acid sequence and a microbial single-stranded nucleic acid sequence is performed by collecting microbial RNA molecules from a void volume of a liquid chromatography method, wherein the microbial single-stranded nucleic acid sequence is a catalyst for synthesis of a protein.

In one embodiment, a method for filtering microbial RNA molecules from a biological specimen to isolate microbial RNA comprises obtaining the biological specimen; preparing the biological specimen to create a test sample by interacting a reagent with the specimen; and using a liquid chromatography instrument to bulk filter microbial RNA molecules from a mixture of RNA molecules in the test sample to isolate and collect the microbial RNA molecules from the test sample a void volume of the liquid chromatography instrument.

In some aspects, a flow rate of the liquid mobile phase is about <NUM>/min. to about <NUM>/min. , in some aspects about <NUM>µL/min. to about <NUM>/min. , in some aspects about <NUM>µL/min. to about <NUM>/min. , and in some other aspects about <NUM>µL/min. to about <NUM>µL/min.

In some aspects, the void volume has a retention time of between greater than <NUM> seconds and less than about <NUM> minutes, in some aspects less than about <NUM> minutes, in some aspects less than about <NUM> minutes, in some aspects less than about <NUM> minutes, and in some other aspects less than about <NUM> minutes.

In some aspects, a plurality of fractions of mobile phase with any filtered sample material are eluted using liquid chromatography and collected for a period of time between about <NUM> seconds and about <NUM> minute, in some aspects between about <NUM> seconds and about <NUM> seconds, and in some aspects about <NUM> seconds and about <NUM> seconds, wherein each aliquot comprises between about <NUM>µL to about <NUM>, in some aspects between about <NUM>µL to about <NUM>µL, in some aspects between about <NUM>µL to about <NUM>µL, and in some aspects between about <NUM>µL
to about <NUM>µL.

In one embodiment, microbial RNA is detected from one or more fractions eluted using liquid chromatography, wherein the microbial RNA is detected using gene sequencing on one or more of the fractions. In some aspects, the one or more fractions comprises one or more fractions of the void volume eluted using liquid chromatography, wherein the microbial RNA is detected using gene sequencing on one or more fractions comprising the void volume.

In some aspects, each fraction is subjected to dehydration prior to gene sequencing, wherein each aliquot is dehydrated to a volume between about <NUM>µL and about <NUM>µL, in some aspects between about <NUM>µL and about <NUM>µL, in some aspects between about <NUM>µL and about <NUM>µL, and in some preferred aspects between about <NUM>µL and about <NUM>µL.

Subject matter hereof may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying figures, in which:.

While various embodiments are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the claimed inventions to the particular embodiments described.

In describing the various embodiments set forth in this disclosure, the following definitions and conventions are used in understanding the disclosure of the various embodiments. In understanding this disclosure, it will be recognized that the disclosure describes various embodiments that integrate or combine certain techniques and equipment used by microbiologists with those used by analytical chemists. The following definitions and convention provide a common set of terminology that is useful and helpful in understanding the disclosure because these two areas of microbiologists and analytical chemists may not have consistent understandings or usages of terminology.

The terms "mammalian", "non-microbial species", or "non-microbial population" are understood to encompass all species that are not bacterial, viral, fungal, or yeast populations or combinations thereof or any mixture thereof in a laboratory or natural setting, and that are comprised of multi-cellular organisms.

The terms "microbial", "microbial population", or "microbial species" are understood to encompass bacterial, viral, fungal, or yeast populations or combinations thereof or any mixture thereof in a laboratory or natural setting, and that are comprised of single-celled organisms.

The term "biological specimen" refers to raw biological specimens that are untreated and sourced from mammalian species, including whole blood, plasma, mucus, serum, urine, feces, intact tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid; environmental swabs; food sources; and unknown powders obtained from a surface. Thus, reference to a biological specimen may include reference to one or more of the aforementioned sources.

The term "test sample" refers to a biological specimen following preparation or pretreatment for introduction to a liquid chromatography instrument, that may include execution of steps that remove proteins, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), lipids, and other macromolecules.

The term "double stranded nucleic acid sequence" refers to DNA.

The term "single stranded nucleic acid sequence" refers to "ribonucleic acid", or "RNA", and is understood to encompass transfer RNA (tRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), large RNA, small RNA, denatured and non-denatured RNA, fragmented and intact RNA.

The term "liquid chromatography", "HPLC", "HPLC instrument", and the like are synonyms that refer to the machine, instrument and/or techniques used to isolate and collect microbial RNA from non-microbial RNA in accordance with various embodiments.

The terms percent (%), weight percent (%w/w), weight-volume percent (%w/v), % by weight, % by volume, and the like are synonyms that refer to the concentration of a substance as the weight of that substance divided by the total weight or volume at standard room temperature and pressure, multiplied by <NUM>.

The term "about" modifying the quantity of an ingredient in the compositions of the disclosure, or times employed in the method of the disclosure refers to the variation in the numerical quantity that can occur, for example, through typical measuring and handling procedures for making concentrates or solutions in the real world; through inadvertent errors in procedures; through differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of the ingredients employed to make these compositions and methods; through differences in instrument (machine) settings.

The term "about" also encompasses amounts that differ due to different equilibrium conditions for a composition resulting from a particular initial mixture. Other than in the operating examples, or otherwise whereas indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients or reaction conditions used herein are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about".

The central dogma of molecular biology explains that information may be passed from nucleic acid to nucleic acid, or from nucleic acid to protein, but information transfer from protein to protein, or from protein to nucleic acid, is not possible. Within both mammalian and microbial systems, RNA is a nucleic acid sequence that is responsible for either synthesizing proteins, transporting amino acids for synthesis, or catalyzing the synthesis of proteins. The present disclosure capitalizes on the fact that RNA is a transitional molecule between DNA and proteins and makes use of bulk filtration of microbial RNA as a means of identifying species of interest and function of proteins within a biological sample.

RNA comes in three "types", referred to as mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA. mRNA is responsible for protein synthesis, tRNA is responsible for transporting amino acids for synthesis, and rRNA is responsible for catalyzing, or initiating, protein synthesis. mRNA is often studied because it is comparatively larger than fragments of rRNA, and is directly responsible for coding proteins. From an information perspective, mRNA has historically been viewed as being most meaningful to scientific study.

Despite interest in RNA, this class of molecules is difficult to analyze. Unlike DNA, which can last for millions of years in ideal conditions, RNA typically degrades within minutes of the death of an organism. However, because of its short half-life, the detection of RNA typically indicates the presence of an organism that, at the time of analysis, was viable.

Traditional molecular biology or biochemical techniques rely on strategies including, but not limited to: Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Acid Guanidinium Thiocyanate-Phenol-Chloroform extraction (AGPC), and liquid-liquid extraction to isolate RNA molecules from a complex biological system. However, a key limitation of these techniques is that RNAase present in the samples may degrade RNA molecules of interest. Moreover, prior knowledge of the target RNA structure is needed to leverage both ELISA and PCR techniques. While AGPC and liquid-liquid extraction may isolate RNA molecules, these techniques isolate all RNA, regardless of type or species of interest.

In contrast to traditional molecular biology or biochemical techniques, traditional analytical chemistry techniques were developed to be applied to the analysis of small molecules and have not traditionally been suitable to the analysis of nucleic acids or other biopolymers. (Bioanalytical Chemistry, <NUM>nd ed, Manz et al, Imperial College Press, <NUM>).

A hybrid technology arena has developed, namely bioanalytical chemistry, that addresses the unique challenges of the analysis of large, complex, biological molecules, which include RNA. The use of <NUM>-Dimensional Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) gels, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization - Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF), capillary electrophoresis, and biosensors, have all allowed for quantitation, structural elucidation, and qualitative analysis and isolation of biological molecules of interest with a higher degree of specificity and speed than traditionally found in molecular biology and biochemical strategies.

With these bioanalytical methods, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) has been adapted to allow for analysis of large biological molecules. HPLC relies on chemical separation of mixtures based on an interaction between a column (referred to as the stationary phase) and a liquid (referred to as a mobile phase). Typical HPLC columns are made of a steel outer shell packed with polystyrene or silanol microbeads and, as mobile phase containing a sample of interest is pumped through the column, the components of the sample (a mixture) partition into and out of the stationary phase. The more the components "like" the stationary phase, the more these components are retained and the longer the components take to exit, or elute from, the column. As components are detected, each is assigned a "retention time" on a plot referred to as a "chromatogram". Each column has a "t<NUM>", which refers to all molecules that are not retained by the column in what is referred to as the "void volume". The void volume is largely regarded by chromatographers as informatically irrelevant; because this region of a chromatogram contains mixtures of molecules that were not chemically separated, this region of a chromatogram is traditionally unutilized, and molecules found in this region are traditionally not studied or of interest.

In some aspects of the present invention, the void volume represents a time from when the sample is introduced in the column using liquid chromatography up to a period of time of about <NUM> minutes, in some aspects up to about <NUM> minutes, in some aspects up to about <NUM> minutes, in some aspects up to about <NUM> minutes, and in some other aspects up to about <NUM> minutes, wherein the flow rate of the mobile phase is between about <NUM>/min. to about <NUM>/min. , in some aspects between about <NUM>µL/min. to about <NUM>/min. , in some aspects between about <NUM>µL/min. to about <NUM>/min. , and in some other aspects between about <NUM>µL/min. to about <NUM>µL/min.

Within bioanalysis, there are two modes of HPLC that are common: Reverse Phase Liquid Chromatography (RPLC) and Ion Exchange Liquid Chromatography (IE-LC). RPLC has a column that is packed with a hydrophobic stationary phase, and molecules elute from the column according to both size and polarity. Hydrophobic molecules are retained for extended periods of time, and hydrophilic molecules are largely unretained. The most hydrophobic molecules elute in the void volume of the column. Within RPLC, the void volume is made of a mixture of one or more hydrophilic molecules of various sizes that failed to interact with the column stationary phase.

Unlike RPLC, IE-LC chemically separates molecules according to a net, overall, charge. The column stationary phase is made of microspheres with a net positive charge, and molecules are adsorbed onto the column stationary phase, and desorbed from it, when there is an increase in salt content or pH for the mobile phase. Molecules elute from the column and are detected. Using IE-LC, molecules with an increasing size or increasing negative charge are retained the longest and take the longest to elute from the column; in contrast, electrically neutral molecules or those with a positive charge elute in the void volume. This approach has been used previously to chemically separate mRNA from a mixture of total RNA; this approach, however, has never investigated or leveraged the void volume as a means of RNA collection.

Traditionally, mRNA has been most studied because it is comparatively larger than fragments of rRNA, which allows scientists to obtain information more accurately and quickly. Such traditional approaches for analysis of mRNA have removed and discarded rRNA and tRNA, rather than reserving these types of RNA for subsequent analysis. Unlike such traditional approaches, the various embodiments of the present disclosure capitalize on the central dogma of molecular biology to rapidly filter and isolate, rather than chemically separate, microbial RNA, with particular emphasis on rRNA for further bioinformatic study by collecting all RNA fragments found in the void volume of a liquid chromatography process.

The present disclosure relates to a method for rapidly filtering a test sample obtained from a biological specimen to isolate and collect microbial RNA, a biomarker of live or viable microbial species, in which the method is substantially free of a step designed to intentionally grow genetic material. In various embodiments, the present disclosure comprises the steps of obtaining a biological specimen, digesting or preparing the biological specimen to create a test sample to allow for chromatography, and using bulk filtration by liquid chromatography to isolate and collect microbial RNA molecules from the test sample.

In some aspects of the present invention, the method of the present invention eliminates the need to incubate or purify genetic material by using liquid chromatography to bulk filter microbial RNA molecules from a mixture of RNA molecules, such as RNA molecules from the host from which the biological sample is obtained, in order to amplify the microbial RNA molecules from the test sample. As such, in some aspects, the method of the present invention is devoid of the step of incubating the test sample to grow genetic material by only using the void volume output of the liquid chromatography in order to effectively amplify the microbial RNA molecules. In some aspects, the method of the present invention is devoid of the step of purifying the test sample by only using the void volume output of the liquid chromatography in order to effectively amplify the microbial RNA molecules.

As described in <FIG>, a clinical specimen <NUM> is obtained. In one embodiment, a clinical specimen is an environmental swab from a hard surface, wherein the swab is extracted in a buffered solution in a test vial. Buffered solutions may be comprised of <NUM>. 1X to <NUM>. 5X phosphate buffered saline (PBS), <NUM> to <NUM> Peptone water, or <NUM>% to <NUM>% guanidine hydrochloride with <NUM>% to <NUM>% maleic acid.

In another embodiment, a biological specimen is a tissue or excretion from a mammalian species, including but not limited to humans and domesticated animal species. The biological specimen includes, but is not limited to, whole blood, plasma, mucus, serum, urine, feces, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, and intact tissue. Clinical specimens may be obtained by blood draw, punch biopsy, stool culture, nasal swab, saliva sample, urinalysis, dermatology scraping, in addition to any other established protocol for collecting a specific form of biological specimen. Biological specimens contain large RNA molecules, small RNA molecules, tRNA molecules, rRNA molecules, mRNA molecules, denatured and non-denatured RNA molecules, microbial RNA molecules, non-microbial RNA molecules, genomic DNA molecules, protein molecules, and other macromolecules.

The biological specimen may be mechanically homogenized, cavitated by nitrogen, or sonicated, as appropriate using methods known in the art to prepare the specimen for the subsequent step of digesting in order to create a test sample. The biological specimen then undergoes the step of digesting <NUM>. Digesting the clinical specimen may include enzymes, chaotropes, surfactants, detergents, and other additives known in the art. The process of digesting the biological specimen removes genomic DNA molecules, protein molecules and non-RNA macromolecules, and may occur at low temperatures to prevent degradation of the biological specimen and may optionally include additives known to preserve target molecules, as described in Table <NUM>.

In one embodiment, digesting the biological specimen begins by lysing the clinical specimen by interacting the biological specimen with Guainidinium thiocyanate, N-Lauroylsarcosine, and ethanol. In one embodiment, a buffer solution of <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium thiocyanate and <NUM>% to <NUM>% N-Lauroylsarcosine is mixed in equal volumes with a solution of <NUM>% to <NUM>% ethanol. In one embodiment, a buffer solution of <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium thiocyanate and <NUM>% to <NUM>% N-Lauroylsarcosine is mixed in equal volumes with a solution of <NUM>% to <NUM>% ethanol. In still another embodiment, a buffer solution of <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium thiocyanate and <NUM>% to <NUM>% N-Lauroylsarcosine is mixed in equal volumes with a solution of <NUM>% to <NUM>% ethanol.

In one embodiment, digesting the biological specimen by lysing the specimen continues by adding <NUM> to <NUM> volumes of a buffer solution and ethanol mixture to a volume of a clinical specimen. In one embodiment, <NUM> volumes of the buffer solution and ethanol mixture are added to a volume of a clinical specimen. In another embodiment, <NUM>µL to <NUM>µL of a buffer solution and ethanol mixture are added to a volume of a clinical specimen. In one embodiment, <NUM>µL to <NUM>µL of a buffer solution and ethanol mixture are added to a volume of a clinical specimen.

The aforementioned mixture with the biological specimen is mixed either through manual inversion, vortexing, or other means known in the art, then transferred through a silica or polypropylene filter by centrifugation at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds. In one embodiment, <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds of centrifugation are used. The material that passes through the filter is discarded, and the DNA and RNA remaining on the filter are subjected to further preparative steps.

Once the biological specimen is digested, the next step of preparing and washing the biological specimen may include interacting the clinical specimen with one of at least Guanidinium chloride, ethanol, <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-(hydroxymethyl)-propane-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydrochloride, and edetate disodium. In one embodiment, a mixture of <NUM>% to <NUM>% ethanol containing <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanindinium chloride is added to the same silica or polypropylene filter at a volume of <NUM>µL to <NUM>µL and centrifuged at <NUM> g to <NUM> g for <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds. The material that passes through the filter is discarded. In another embodiment, a mixture of <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>/m<NUM> <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-(hydroxymethyl) propane-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydrochloride, and <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>/m<NUM> edetate disodium, is prepared and added to the same silica or polypropylene filter at a volume of <NUM>µL to <NUM>µL and centrifuged at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds. The material that passes through the filter is discarded. In yet another embodiment, a second mixture of <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>/m<NUM> <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-(hydroxymethyl) propane-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydrochloride, and <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>/m<NUM> edetate disodium, is prepared and added to the same silica or polypropylene filter at a volume of <NUM>µL to <NUM>µL and centrifuged at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds. In another embodiment, water is added to the same silica or polypropylene filter and centrifuged at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds. The material that passes through the filter is the biological specimen and is retained.

In one embodiment, a mixture of <NUM>% to <NUM>% ethanol containing <NUM> to <NUM>% Guanindinium chloride is added to the same silica or polypropylene filter and centrifuged at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds. In yet another embodiment, a mixture of <NUM>% to <NUM>% ethanol containing <NUM> to <NUM>% Guanindinium chloride is added to the same silica or polypropylene filter and centrifuged at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds. The material that passes through the filter is the biological specimen and is retained.

In another embodiment, a mixture of <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>/m<NUM> <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-(hydroxymethyl) propane-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydrochloride, and <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>/m<NUM> edetate disodium, is prepared and added to the same silica or polypropylene filter at a volume of <NUM>µL to <NUM>µL and centrifuged at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds. In yet another embodiment, a mixture of <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>/m<NUM> <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-(hydroxymethyl) propane-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydrochloride, and <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>/m<NUM> edetate disodium, is prepared and added to the same silica or polypropylene filter at a volume of <NUM>µL to <NUM>µL and centrifuged at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds. In yet another embodiment, a mixture of <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>/m<NUM> <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-(hydroxymethyl) propane-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydrochloride, and <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>/m<NUM> edetate disodium, is prepared and added to the same silica or polypropylene filter at a volume of <NUM>µL to <NUM>µL and centrifuged at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds.

In another embodiment, a second mixture of <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>/m<NUM> <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-(hydroxymethyl) propane-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydrochloride, and <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>/m<NUM> edetate disodium, is prepared and added to the same silica or polypropylene filter at a volume of <NUM>µL to <NUM>µL and centrifuged at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds. In yet another embodiment, a second mixture of <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>/m<NUM> <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-(hydroxymethyl) propane-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydrochloride, and <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>/m<NUM> edetate disodium, is prepared and added to the same silica or polypropylene filter at a volume of <NUM>µL to <NUM>µL and centrifuged at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds. In yet another embodiment, a second mixture of <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>/m<NUM> <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-(hydroxymethyl) propane-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydrochloride, and <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>/m<NUM> edetate disodium, is prepared and added to the same silica or polypropylene filter at a volume of <NUM>µL to <NUM>µL and centrifuged at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds.

In another embodiment, water is added to the same silica or polypropylene filter and centrifuged at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds. In yet another embodiment, water is added to the same silica or polypropylene filter and centrifuged at <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM> for <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds. In yet another embodiment, water is DNase/RNase-free water.

Digesting the biological specimen proceeds to the step of cleaning the biological specimen by interacting the biological specimen with one of at least Proteinase K, Guanidinium thiocyanate, N-Lauroylsarcosine, ethanol, <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-(hydroxymethyl) propane-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydrochloride, and edetate disodium. In one embodiment, 4U to 12U Proteinase K is added to the washed biological specimen and held at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes. In one embodiment, 4U to 8U Proteinase K is added to the washed biological specimen and held at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes. In yet another embodiment, 4U to 8U Proteinase K is added to the washed biological specimen and held at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes. In yet another embodiment, 4U to 8U Proteinase K is added to the washed biological specimen and held at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes. In another embodiment, for solid tissue or complex matrices, incubation proceeds for <NUM> to <NUM> hours. In another embodiment, <NUM> to <NUM> volumes of a mixture of <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium thiocyanate and <NUM>% to <NUM>% N-Lauroylsarcosine is added to the held biological specimen. In a preferred embodiment, <NUM> to <NUM> volumes of <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium thiocyanate and <NUM>% to <NUM>% N-Lauroylsarcosine is added to the held biological specimen. In yet another preferred embodiment, <NUM> to <NUM> volumes of <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium thiocyanate and <NUM>% to <NUM>% N-Lauroylsarcosine is added to the held biological specimen.

In one embodiment, a buffer solution of <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium thiocyanate and <NUM>% to <NUM>% N-Lauroylsarcosine is mixed in equal volumes with a solution of <NUM>% to <NUM>% ethanol. In one embodiment, a buffer solution of <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium thiocyanate and <NUM>% to <NUM>% N-Lauroylsarcosine is mixed in equal volumes with a solution of <NUM>% to <NUM>% ethanol. In still another embodiment, a buffer solution of <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium thiocyanate and <NUM>% to <NUM>% N-Lauroylsarcosine is mixed in equal volumes with a solution of <NUM>% to <NUM>% ethanol. In the embodiments, the biological specimen is now cleaned and ready to digest and isolate a test sample from the biological specimen.

Digesting the biological specimen proceeds to the step of isolating a test sample from the biological specimen by interacting the biological specimen with one of at least <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium thiocyanate, <NUM>% to <NUM>% N-Lauroylsarcosine, <NUM>% to <NUM>% ethanol, DNase I, <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-(hydroxymethyl)-propane-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydrochloride, and edetate disodium. In one embodiment, the biological specimen is first centrifuged at ≥<NUM>,<NUM> for <NUM> minute. In another embodiment, the supernatant of the centrifuged biological specimen is transferred to a new silica or polypropylene filter and centrifuged at ≥<NUM>,<NUM> for <NUM> minute. The material that passes through the filter is the biological specimen and is retained.

In another embodiment, <NUM> to <NUM> volumes of <NUM>% to <NUM>% ethanol are added to the biological specimen in a mixture of <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium thiocyanate and <NUM>% to <NUM>% N-Lauroylsarcosine; the resulting solution is mixed well, either through manual inversion or vortexing, or other methods known in the art. In a preferred embodiment, <NUM> to <NUM> volumes of <NUM>% to <NUM>% ethanol are added to the clinical specimen in a mixture of <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium thiocyanate and <NUM>% to <NUM>% N-Lauroylsarcosine, and the resulting solution is mixed well.

In another embodiment, the resulting solution is transferred to a silica or polypropylene filter and centrifuged at <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM> for <NUM> to <NUM> seconds. In a preferred embodiment, the resulting solution is centrifuged for <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds. The material that passes through the filter is discarded.

In another embodiment, <NUM>µL to <NUM>µL of a mixture of <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium thiocyanate and <NUM>% to <NUM>% N-Lauroylsarcosine is added to the silica or polypropylene filter, and the filter is centrifuged for at <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM> for <NUM> to <NUM> seconds. In a preferred embodiment, <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium thiocyanate and <NUM>% to <NUM>% N-Lauroylsarcosine is added to the silica or polypropylene filter, and the filter is centrifuged for at <NUM>,<NUM> g to <NUM>,<NUM> for <NUM> to <NUM> seconds. The material that passes through the filter is discarded.

In another embodiment, 1U to 15U DNaseI is added to the silica or polypropylene filter and is held at room temperature for <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes. In a preferred embodiment, 3U to 8U DNaseI is added to the silica or polypropylene filter and is held at room temperature for <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes. In yet another preferred embodiment, 3U to 8U DNaseI is added to the silica or polypropylene filter and is held at room temperature for <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes. In another embodiment, <NUM>µL to <NUM>µL of a mixture of <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium chloride and <NUM>% to <NUM>% ethanol is added to the silica or polypropylene filter and centrifuged at <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM> for <NUM> to <NUM> seconds. In a preferred embodiment, <NUM>µL to <NUM>µL of a mixture of <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium chloride and <NUM>% to <NUM>% ethanol is added to the silica or polypropylene filter and centrifuged at <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM> for <NUM> to <NUM> seconds. In another embodiment, <NUM>µL to <NUM>µL of a mixture of <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>/m<NUM> <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-(hydroxymethyl) propane-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydrochloride, and <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>/m<NUM> edetate disodium is added to the silica or polypropylene filter and centrifuged at <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM> for <NUM> to <NUM> seconds. In one embodiment, <NUM>µL to <NUM>µL of a mixture of <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>/m<NUM> <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-(hydroxymethyl) propane-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydrochloride, and <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>/m<NUM> edetate disodium is added to the silica or polypropylene filter and centrifuged at <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM> for <NUM> to <NUM> seconds. In another embodiment, a second mixture of <NUM>µL to <NUM>µL of a mixture of <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>/m<NUM> <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-(hydroxymethyl) propane-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydrochloride, and <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>/m<NUM> edetate disodium is added to the silica or polypropylene filter and centrifuged at <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM> for <NUM> to <NUM> seconds. In one embodiment, a second mixture of <NUM>µL to <NUM>µL of a mixture of <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>/m<NUM> <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-(hydroxymethyl) propane-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydrochloride, and <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>/m<NUM> edetate disodium is added to the silica or polypropylene filter and centrifuged at <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM> for <NUM> to <NUM> seconds. In another embodiment, water is added to the same silica or polypropylene filter and centrifuged at <NUM>,<NUM> g to <NUM>,<NUM> for <NUM> seconds to <NUM> seconds. The material that passes through the filter is the test sample and is retained.

The test sample from the biological specimen may optionally be further completed by boiling, treating with a denaturant, or storing at -<NUM>. In one embodiment, the test sample may be completed by boiling at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes; in another embodiment, the test sample may be completed by boiling at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes. In another embodiment, the test sample may be completed by treating the test sample with a denaturant with <NUM>% to <NUM>% of one of at least polysorbate <NUM>; polysorbate <NUM>; (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-Tetramethylbutyl)phenyl-polyethylene glycol, Polyethylene glycol tert-octylphenyl ether; and <NUM>-(<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-Tetramethylbutyl)phenyl-polyethylene glycol, t-Octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol, Polyethylene glycol tert-octylphenyl ether.

In another embodiment, the test sample may be completed by storing at -<NUM>. The test sample contains large RNA molecules, small RNA molecules, tRNA molecules, rRNA molecules, mRNA molecules, denatured and non-denatured RNA molecules, microbial RNA molecules, non-microbial RNA molecules, and is now ready to undergo the step of using liquid chromatography <NUM> to isolate and collect microbial RNA molecules from the test sample.

Using liquid chromatography to bulk filter microbial RNA molecules from the test sample proceeds by injecting the test sample into a sample port of a liquid chromatography instrument <NUM>. In one embodiment, injection volumes are <NUM> to <NUM>. In one embodiment, injection volumes are <NUM> to <NUM>. Within the liquid chromatography instrument <NUM>, the test sample is carried by pumps at a prescribed flow rate over a porous stationary phase column using a liquid mixture referred to as a mobile phase. The process is controlled by a computer <NUM>. The test sample is traditionally processed by the liquid chromatography instrument <NUM> to separate into components with similar properties, and the component of interest. Typically, all components of the test sample travel through the liquid chromatography instrument <NUM> to a waste line. However, in various embodiments of the present disclosure, either automatically or manually, regions with components of interest <NUM> are diverted to a collection container for further identification. In various embodiments, components of interest <NUM> in the form of microbial RNA are detected using either a diode array, UV-Vis, or a refractive index detector. Regions without components of interest <NUM> are detected as a flat line ("baseline").

The liquid chromatography instrument filters the microbial RNA molecules from non-microbial RNA molecules to isolate and collect these molecules by decreasing and then increasing the amount of an organic buffer in a mobile phase in relation to an aqueous buffer in said mobile phase. In one embodiment, the amount of organic buffer in the mobile phase varies between <NUM>% and <NUM>%, as shown in Table <NUM>.

In one embodiment, amount of organic buffer in the mobile phase varies between <NUM>% and <NUM>%, as shown in Table <NUM>.

In some aspects, the void volume elutes in the liquid chromatography mobile phase when the percent aqueous buffer is greater than about <NUM>%, in some aspects greater than about <NUM>%, in some aspects greater than about <NUM>%, in some aspects greater than about <NUM>%, and in some aspects greater than about <NUM>%. In some aspects, the void volume elutes in the liquid chromatography mobile phase when the percent organic buffer is less than about <NUM>%, in some aspects less than about <NUM>%, in some aspects less than about <NUM>%, in some aspects less than about <NUM>%, and in some aspects less than about <NUM>%.

In one embodiment, the flow rate of the liquid chromatography mobile phase, as delivered by the pumps is <NUM> to <NUM>/min. In one embodiment, the flow rate of the liquid chromatography mobile phase, as delivered by the pumps, is <NUM>/min to <NUM>/min. In yet another embodiment, the flow rate of the liquid chromatography mobile phase, as delivered by the pumps, is <NUM>/min to <NUM>/min.

In some aspects, a flow rate of the mobile phase in the liquid is about <NUM>/min. to about <NUM>/min. , in some aspects about <NUM>µL/min. to about <NUM>/min. , in some aspects about <NUM>µL/min. to about <NUM>/min. , and in some other aspects about <NUM>µL/min. to about <NUM>µL/min.

The mobile phase is delivered as a mixture of two buffers, on an organic buffer and the other an aqueous buffer. In one embodiment, the aqueous buffer is comprised of at least one of at least <NUM> to <NUM> treithylammonium acetate, phosphoric acid, citric acid, ammonium bicarbonate, formic acid, lactic acid, <NUM>-[<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxyethyl)piperazin-<NUM>-yl]ethanesulfonic acid, maleic acid, diethanolamine, piperidine, ethanolamine, and triethanolamine. In particular, a <NUM> to <NUM> buffer comprised of at least one of treithylammonium acetate, formic acid, lactic acid, <NUM>-[<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxyethyl)piperazin-<NUM>-yl]ethanesulfonic acid, maleic acid, triethanolamine, and piperidine is used; more preferably a <NUM> to <NUM> solution of aqueous buffer of at least one of treithylammonium acetate, formic acid, <NUM>-[<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxyethyl)piperazin-<NUM>-yl]ethanesulfonic acid, maleic acid, and triethanolamine, is used.

In another embodiment, the organic buffer is comprised of a mixture of a <NUM> to <NUM> aqueous buffer solution in one of at least <NUM>% to <NUM>% acetonitrile, methanol, ethanol, <NUM>-propanol, <NUM>-propanol, acetone, and tetrahydrofuran; in particular, the organic buffer is comprised of a mixture of <NUM> to <NUM> aqueous buffer solution in at least one of <NUM>% to <NUM>% acetonitrile, methanol, ethanol, <NUM>-propanol, and acetone. In one embodiment, the organic buffer is comprised of a mixture of <NUM> to <NUM> aqueous buffer solution in at least one of <NUM>% to <NUM>% acetonitrile, methanol, and acetone.

In the method according to various embodiments, a non-polar compound serves as the porous stationary phase column, either in the form of polymeric beads, polymeric microspheres, or a polymerized block. Irrespective of its precise form, the polymeric stationary phase column is porous in nature, which means that the polymeric stationary phase column is characterized by pores. The stationary phase column material may be commercially available and be uncoated or coated with specialized polymeric compounds designed to cover pores on the bead or microsphere surface to prevent microbial RNA from irreversibly interacting with the stationary phase column material. Within an outer structure of the stationary phase column are polymeric microspheres, preferably comprised of alkylated non-porous polystyrene-divinylbenzene copolymer. The stationary phase column is provided with a microsphere particle size of <NUM> to <NUM>, preferably <NUM> to <NUM>. The resulting pore size of the stationary phase column is <NUM>Å to <NUM>Å, in particular a pore size of <NUM>Å to <NUM>Å, more preferably <NUM>Å to <NUM>Å, or <NUM> to <NUM>Å. The stationary phase column may have dimensions of <NUM> to <NUM> wide by <NUM> to <NUM> long, preferably <NUM> to <NUM> wide by <NUM> to <NUM> long, even more preferably <NUM> to <NUM> wide by <NUM> to <NUM> long. According to one embodiment, the stationary phase column may be operated at ambient temperature, or more preferably controlled at a temperature of <NUM> to <NUM>.

Microbial RNA is filtered and isolated from non-microbial RNA in the stationary phase column through selective interactions with the mobile phase and stationary phase column microspheres and pores. As the filtration and isolation occurs, the microbial and non-microbial RNA exit, or elute, from the stationary phase column at different times, and are detected by a detector, with microbial RNA eluting in the void volume of the column. In one embodiment, detection of the isolated microbial RNA is accomplished with a UV-Vis or diode array detector, coupled to the liquid chromatography instrument at the exit of the stationary phase column, at <NUM> to <NUM>, in particular at <NUM> to <NUM>, and still more preferably at <NUM> to <NUM>. In another embodiment, detection of the isolated microbial RNA is accomplished with a UV-Vis or diode array detector, coupled to the liquid chromatography instrument at the exit of the stationary phase column, at <NUM> to <NUM>, in particular <NUM> to <NUM>, and still more preferably <NUM> to <NUM>. In another embodiment, detection of the isolated microbial RNA is accomplished with a refractive index detector, coupled to the liquid chromatography instrument at the exit of the stationary phase column, set with a refractive index default range of <NUM> RI to <NUM> RI, in particular a default range of <NUM> RI to <NUM> RI, and still more preferably a default range of <NUM> RI to <NUM> RI.

Isolated microbial RNA is detected in a trace of data referred to as a chromatogram. Exemplary chromatograms of isolated microbial RNA are found in <FIG> and <FIG>. The peaks observed in the window of <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes, correspond to isolated microbial RNA. Non-microbial RNA would be detected in the window of <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes, as disclosed by Ketterer et al (c. When the microbial RNA is detected, the mobile phase, containing compounds of interest (e.g. microbial RNA), is diverted from the waste line to a sample collection vial for future identification or experiments.

In some aspects, the sample collection of mobile phase from liquid chromatography includes the void volume and at least a portion of the mobile phase corresponding to the peaks relating to non-microbial RNA. In some aspects, the mobile phase containing compounds of interest (e.g., microbial RNA) may be collected in one or more fractions of eluted sample. In some aspects, a plurality of fractions of eluted sample are collected based upon time, volume, or both, as the mobile phase containing any compounds of interest elute from the column.

In some aspects, each fraction is collected from the column at a period of time between about <NUM> seconds and about <NUM> minute, in some aspects between about <NUM> seconds and about <NUM> seconds, and in some aspects between about <NUM> seconds and about <NUM> seconds. In some aspects, each fraction collected has a volume between about <NUM>µL to about <NUM>, in some aspects between about <NUM>µL to about <NUM>µL, in some aspects between about <NUM>µL to about <NUM>µL, and in some aspects between about <NUM>µL to about <NUM>µL.

In some aspects, at least a portion of the void volume may be collected in a quantity of desired fractions between at least one <NUM> fraction and up to about <NUM> fractions, in some aspects at least <NUM> fraction up to about <NUM> fractions, and in some other aspect at least <NUM> fraction up to about <NUM> fractions.

After the sample volume is collected from the liquid chromatography in one or more fractions, each of the one or more fractions may be subjected to gene sequencing.

In one embodiment, microbial RNA is detected from one or more fractions eluted from the void volume using liquid chromatography, wherein the microbial RNA is detected from at least one of the one or more fractions eluted from the void volume using gene sequencing.

In some aspects, each fraction is subjected to dehydration prior to gene sequencing, wherein each fraction is dehydrated to a volume between about <NUM>µL and about <NUM>µL, in some aspects between about <NUM>µL and about <NUM>µL, in some aspects between about <NUM>µL and about <NUM>µL, and in some preferred aspects between about <NUM>µL and about <NUM>µL.

In some aspects, a control may be introduced into the biological sample to normalize and/or monitor the microbial RNA relative to the non-microbial RNA. In some aspects, the control may be introduced into the biological sample prior to the step of digesting the biological specimen, after the biological specimen is digested, with the test sample that is introduced into the liquid chromatography, or when the desired sample is subjected to gene sequencing. The control is preferably chosen such as to elute from the column within both the void volume and the normal sample separate volume. The control may be chosen from any desired source that does not interfere with the microbial RNA or the sample RNA. In some preferred aspects, the control is a synthetically derived RNA such as an ERCC RNA control, such as ERCC RNA control Ambion™ commercially available from ThermoFisher Scientific.

Using various embodiments in accordance with this disclosure, it is possible to simultaneously isolate and collect all microbial RNA of interest, thereby allowing for future identification of all viable (live) microbial species within a biological specimen, or subsequent structural elucidation, quantitation, or qualitative analysis of the microbial RNA. Various embodiments of the present disclosure allow for simultaneous isolation and collection of microbial RNA from gram positive bacteria, gram negative bacteria, bacterial spores, enveloped viruses, non-enveloped viruses, RNA viruses, fungi, yeast, and protozoa. Exemplary microbial species within the test sample that are filtered, isolated and collected as microbial RNA using the method of the present disclosure, are found in Table <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a representative block diagram of one embodiment of an overall workflow incorporating the bulk filtration method as part of an overall process for identifying microbial RNA in a biological specimen. At <NUM>, a biological specimen <NUM> is sampled and collected from either a clinical, production or environmental context. Although the biological specimen may be processed in accordance with various embodiments which equipment located proximate the context where it was sampled, in other embodiments, the biological specimen <NUM> is transported at <NUM> to a different facility to perform the filtration method in accordance with various embodiments. Through the various embodiments, the biological specimen is transformed into a test sample to allow for isolation and collection of microbial RNA using liquid chromatography. At <NUM>, a test sample <NUM> containing the isolated and collected microbial RNA is produced in a void volume of an HPLC, in accordance with the various embodiments. The test sample <NUM> with only the microbial RNA is then sequenced at <NUM> to identify all viable (live) microbial species within the test sample. In other embodiments, <NUM> can include structural elucidation, quantitation, or qualitative analysis of the microbial RNA. The results of the identification of viable microbial species from the biological specimen can be collected in a database <NUM> and presented or reported out via a user interface <NUM>, accessible via a secure network interface.

A test was conducted to using liquid chromatography to filter a mixture of microbial RNA and human RNA with subsequent library preparation for gene sequencing. The materials used included Universal Human Reference (Thermofisher QS0639; Lot <NUM>) as the human RNA, E. coli Total RNA (Thermofisher AM7940; Lot <NUM>) as the microbial RNA, RoboSep column, Wave Optimized® A, Wave Optimized® B, Wave Optimized® C, and Ultrapure Nuclease Free Water (NFW).

The HPLC (Agilent <NUM> Infinity II) was set up for a constant flow rate of <NUM>/min. , the column was held at a temperature of about <NUM>° C. for the entire course of the run, DAD was set to detect at <NUM> (bandwidth of <NUM>), the fraction collector was set to collect <NUM> second fractions between <NUM>:<NUM> and <NUM> minutes, and there was a <NUM>µL injection of sample. The HPLC was set to have a mobile phase gradient shown in Table <NUM>.

Human RNA was diluted with Ultrapure Nuclease Free Water from <NUM>,<NUM> ng/µL to <NUM> ng/µL by diluting the whole <NUM>µL stock with <NUM>µL of chilled NFW. coli RNA was diluted with NFW to <NUM> ng/µL in two steps: (i) <NUM>µL of Stock <NUM>,<NUM> ng/µL E. coli RNA was diluted into <NUM>µL of chilled NFW - resulting in a <NUM> ng/µL aliquot, and (ii) <NUM>µL of the <NUM> ng/µL dilution level was diluted into <NUM>µL of chilled NFW - resulting in a <NUM> ng/µL aliquot. <NUM>µL of the <NUM> ng/µL Human RNA (<NUM> ng) was mixed with <NUM>µL of <NUM> ng/µL E. coli RNA (<NUM> ng) to create a sample with <NUM>% E. coli RNA relative to human RNA. The mixture was brought to <NUM>µL with <NUM>µL of chilled NFW.

The mixed RNA sample was then filtered on the HPLC with fraction collection by plating the mixture sample into position A1 of a new sterile PCR plate and loaded into the HPLC holding at <NUM>° C. The method was started and <NUM>µL of sample (~<NUM> ng) was injected onto the column. Fractions between <NUM>:<NUM> and <NUM> minutes were collected in a new sterile PCR plate at <NUM>-second intervals (i.e. <NUM> fractions per <NUM>-second collection). Each collected fraction was about <NUM> every <NUM> seconds. This time aligns with sizes between -<NUM>-<NUM> nt based on RiboRubler High Range Ladder runs with this protocol. The chromatograph in FIGs444. <FIG> was obtained for the sample. As illustrated in the chromatograph in <FIG> of every <NUM>-second fraction, minor peaks eluted from the column in the void volume at approximately retention times of <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> minutes, while major peaks eluted from the column after <NUM> minutes up to about <NUM> minutes.

The peaks between <NUM>:<NUM> and <NUM> minutes had low absorbance of RN. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed to that these fractions in the void volume were likely composed of small RNA molecules, fractions of RNA, RNA molecules having secondary and tertiary features, and/or mRNAs. After the void volume (e.g., in the <NUM> to <NUM> minute retention time) there are two large peaks, which without wishing to be bound by theory, that are likely composed of larger mRNA transcripts or rRNA transcripts.

The method was repeated with another <NUM>µL of sample (~<NUM> ng) injected onto the column. The chromatograph in <FIG> was obtained for the repeated sample. The chromatographs in <FIG> and <FIG> are virtually identical confirming the repeatability of the method.

The collected fractions were then concentrated prior to RNA quantification with the Zymo Clean and Concentrate-<NUM> kit. Two of the <NUM>-second collected fractions for times between <NUM>:<NUM> and <NUM> minutes were combined (e.g., <NUM>:<NUM>-<NUM>:<NUM> and <NUM>:<NUM>-<NUM> minute, <NUM>-<NUM>:<NUM> and <NUM>:<NUM>-<NUM>:<NUM>, etc.) into a sterile, nuclease-free <NUM> tube, to provide about <NUM>µL of combined fraction. <NUM>µL (2X fraction volume) of RNA binding buffer was added to each fraction and then mixed well by shaking. <NUM>µL of <NUM> Proof Ethanol (<NUM>× Fraction + Buffer volume) was added to the mixture and then was mixed well by shaking. Up to <NUM>µL of the mixture was then applied to a silica filter and spun to bind at <NUM>,<NUM> × g for <NUM> seconds, which took <NUM> steps. <NUM>µL of RNA Prep Buffer was applied to the filter following binding of all RNA, which was then washed at <NUM>,<NUM> × g for <NUM> seconds. <NUM>µL of RNA Wash Buffer was then applied to the filter after removal of previous flow through and was washed at <NUM>,<NUM> × g for <NUM> seconds. Flow through was dumped and then <NUM>µL of RNA Wash Buffer was applied to the filter and was washed at <NUM>,<NUM> × g for <NUM> minute. The column was then carefully transferred to a fresh, sterile, nuclease-free microcentrifuge tube. Once in a fresh, identically labeled tube <NUM>µL of nuclease-free water was applied to the filter and all RNA was eluted at <NUM>,<NUM> × g for <NUM> minute.

The fraction concentration corresponding to the resulting fraction for gene sequencing is provided in Table <NUM>.

The eluted RNA fraction was then quantified using Quanti-T RNA HS assay set up with <NUM>,<NUM>µL of Quant-iT RNA Buffer added to a <NUM> conical tube and <NUM>µL of Quant-iT RNA Reagent then added to the buffer and mixed by vortexing for <NUM> seconds. A <NUM>µL aliquot of each Assay Fraction in Table <NUM> was plated (<NUM>µL RNA input) with standards in column <NUM>. The plate was then read on a Tecan infinite pro <NUM> plate reader following <NUM> seconds of orbital shaking and <NUM> minutes of incubation. The quantification results are provided in Table <NUM>.

As provided in Table <NUM>, concentrations of the fractions were between <NUM>-<NUM> ng/µL. These concentrations were used as input to a library preparation to prepare the RNA for sequencing. <NUM>µL of Purified RNA with <NUM>µL (<NUM> pg) of synthetic ERCC internal control spike, was input to the NEBBEXT Single Cell/Low Input RNA Library preparation protocol for Illumina with NEBNext Multiplex Oligos for Illumina (<NUM> Unique Dual Index Primer Pairs, which protocol included in summary: (i) <NUM>µL of the original <NUM>% E. coli RNA was prepared in a position for later comparison, (ii) a no-template control (NTC) was added in a position with <NUM>µL of pre-run HPLC flow through and <NUM>µL of NFW from the Zymo Concentrator kit, (iii) fractions <NUM> and <NUM> had <NUM>µL of RNA input each and were brought to <NUM>µL with NFW, as their concentrations were much higher than the other fractions, and (iv) these two fractions <NUM> and <NUM> align with the large peaks in the chromatogram. RT Primers were annealed to RNA after adding <NUM>µL of Primer to each RNA sample. The Primed RNA was then reverse-transcribed into cDNA using <NUM> cycles of cDNA amplification and <NUM> cycles of library PCR. Amplified cDNA was then purified with Ampure XP beads twice to improve purity. Purified cDNA was then quantified using Quant-iT dsDNA 1X assay and had concentrations as provided in Table <NUM>.

After quantification, cDNA was normalized to <NUM> ng input for each sample (except for Fraction <NUM>, Fraction <NUM> and Fraction <NUM> which had concentrations unable to input this amount, so the full volume was added per manufacturer protocol). Normalized cDNA was then fragmented and end-repaired. The end-repaired cDNA was then ligated with Illumina adapters. Ligated cDNA was then cleaned up with Ampure XP beads to remove non-ligated adapters. Once purified, the cDNA was then PCR enriched with <NUM> cycles of library PCR for <NUM>-<NUM> ng cDNA inputs. Following PCR the amplified libraries were purified with Ampure XP beads and were then quantified using Quant-iT dsDNA 1X assay with the normalized concentrations provided in Table <NUM>.

Each sample was pooled with <NUM> ng for each sample (except Fraction <NUM> which did not have enough input, so the full volume was added). The pooled sample underwent an additional purification using <NUM>. 9x volume of Ampure XP beads to remove any residual impurities and to concentrate the sample. The pure pooled sample had a concentration of <NUM> ng/uL (~<NUM> at <NUM> bp expected size). This purified sequencing library was then diluted and denatured following Immunia protocols to loading concentration and was sequenced on a NextSeq <NUM> with <NUM> cycle V2 high output chemistry using the indices provided in Table <NUM>.

Single-end FASTQ files were created for each individual HPLC-fraction as well as the original sample prior to HPLC fractionation. All FASTQ files were then subject to processing by conducting quality filtration and sequence annotation of FASTQ files in parallel. Filtered reads were annotated using a manually curated database. All database sequences are filtered of any contaminant reads using a platform, which queries reference genomic nucleic acid sequences for common contaminant reads and masks such regions to prevent systematic mis-annotation. Upon completion, a data-frame consisting of microbial, Homo sapiens, and ERCC internal control annotation counts was collated as provided in Table <NUM>.

The raw Homo sapiens read counts of the original sample and fractions <NUM>-<NUM> are illustrated in the bar graph provided in <FIG>, which illustrates relatively minimal Homo sapiens read counts below Fraction <NUM>. The relative absence of Homo sapiens read counts below fraction <NUM> enhances the microbial RNA presence in these fractions corresponding to the void volume.

The raw internal standard ERCC counts of the original sample and fractions <NUM>-<NUM> are illustrated in the bard graph provided in <FIG>, which illustrates that fractionating of the liquid chromatography eluent is selecting for certain RNA. Up to fraction <NUM>, the Homo sapiens fraction is relatively depleted.

Observed microbial and Homo sapiens annotation counts were normalized by observed ERCC sequence counts within each sample and were subsequently multiplied by a factor of <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>. Calculated Enterobacteriales and Homo sapiens ERCC-normalized counts were then extracted to calculate a ratio of Enterobacteriales: Homo sapiens normalized counts within the original sample and each of fractions <NUM>-<NUM>, as provided in <FIG>. The bar graph of <FIG> illustrates the ratio of ERCC to Homo sapien ratio throughout each of the fractions is filtering for microbial content, such that the liquid chromatograph is not excluding based upon microbial content.

The relative abundance of microbial reads (top portion of each bar) and Homo sapien reads (bottom portion of each bar) of the original sample and fractions <NUM>-<NUM> is illustrated in the bar graph provided in <FIG>. The distribution of annotated reads illustrates the relative amplification of the microbial reads in the void volume fractions. Specifically, about <NUM>% of the reads of Fraction <NUM> and almost <NUM>% of the reads in Fraction <NUM> are attributed to microbial reads (E. coli RNA), wherein the microbial reads in the original sample is about <NUM>%. The void volume output of the liquid chromatography effectively amplifies the microbial RNA molecules from the test sample relative to the host RNA molecules by about <NUM>/<NUM> to about <NUM>/<NUM> in the void volume compared to <NUM>/<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM> in the original sample. The effective amplification of the certain embodiments of the present method allows for RNA detection in the pictogram to nanogram range of genetic material. The following disclosure may contain additional technical information, which although not part of the claimed invention, is provided to place the invention in a broader technical context and to illustrate possible related technical developments. References herein to methods of treatment of the human or animal body are to be understood as references to medicaments for use in a method of treatment.

Disclosed herein but not part of the claimed invention is a method for filtering microbial RNA molecules from a biological specimen to isolate microbial RNA, the method comprising:.

The biological specimen may be a mammalian specimen. The biological specimen may comprise one of at least of the following: large RNA molecules, small RNA molecules, tRNA molecules, rRNA molecules, mRNA molecules, denatured and non-denatured RNA molecules, microbial RNA molecules, non-microbial RNA molecules, genomic DNA molecules, protein molecules, and other macromolecules. The step of digesting the biological specimen may remove genomic DNA molecules, protein molecules, and other macromolecules. The microbial RNA molecules may comprise fungal, viral, protozoa, amoebae, or bacterial RNA. The biological specimen may have been obtained in a clinical setting using at least one of a sterile technique or an antiseptic technique. The step of digesting the biological specimen may use a lysis reagent as the reagent. The step of using liquid chromatography may include injecting the test sample into a sample port of a liquid chromatography instrument. the liquid chromatography instrument may isolate the microbial RNA molecules by decreasing and then increasing an amount of an organic buffer in a mobile phase in relation to an aqueous buffer in the mobile phase. The amount of the organic buffer in the mobile phase may be between <NUM>% and <NUM> The microbial RNA molecules may be detected in the liquid chromatography instrument at a wavelength of <NUM> to <NUM>. The microbial RNA molecules may be detected in the liquid chromatography instrument at a wavelength of <NUM> to <NUM>. The microbial RNA molecules which the liquid chromatography instrument isolates may be collected by diverting the mobile phase from a waste line. A flow rate of the liquid chromatography instrument may be <NUM>/ min to <NUM>/min. The aqueous buffer may comprise one of at least <NUM> to <NUM> solution of treithylammonium acetate, phosphoric acid, citric acid, ammonium bicarbonate, formic acid, lactic acid, <NUM>-[<NUM>-(<NUM>-hydroxyethyl)piperazin-<NUM>-yl]ethanesulfonic acid, maleic acid, diethanolamine, piperidine, ethanolamine, and triethanolamine. The organic buffer may be comprised of a mixture of a <NUM> to <NUM> aqueous buffer solution in one of at least <NUM>% to <NUM>% acetonitrile, methanol, ethanol, <NUM>-propanol, <NUM>-propanol, acetone, and tetrahydrofuran. The step of digesting the biological specimen may comprise the steps of:.

The step of lysing the biological specimen may be completed by interacting the biological specimen with one of at least <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium thiocyanate, <NUM>% to <NUM>% N-Lauroylsarcosine, and <NUM>% to <NUM>% ethanol. The step of washing the biological specimen may be completed interacting the biological specimen with one of at least <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium chloride, <NUM>% to <NUM>% ethanol, <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>/m<NUM> <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-(hydroxymethyl) propane-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydrochloride, and <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>/m<NUM> edetate disodium. The step of cleaning the biological specimen may be completed by interacting the clinical specimen with one of at least 4U to 12U Proteinase K, <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium thiocyanate, <NUM>% to <NUM>% N-Lauroylsarcosine, and <NUM>% to <NUM>% ethanol. The step of isolating the test sample from the biological specimen may be completed by interacting the biological specimen with one of at least 1U to 15U DNaseI, <NUM>% to <NUM>% Guanidinium thiocyanate, <NUM>% to <NUM>% N-Lauroylsarcosine, <NUM>% to <NUM>% ethanol, DNase I, <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>/m<NUM> <NUM>-amino-<NUM>-(hydroxymethyl)-propane-<NUM>,<NUM>-dihydrochloride, and <NUM>/m<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>/m<NUM> edetate disodium. The step of isolating the test sample from the biological specimen may be completed with a following step of at least one of boiling the test sample, treating the test sample with a denaturant, or storing the test sample. The step of isolating the test sample from the clinical specimen may be completed by boiling the test sample at <NUM> to <NUM> for <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes. The step of treating the test sample with a denaturant may be completed by interacting the test sample with <NUM>% to <NUM>% of one of at least polysorbate <NUM>; polysorbate <NUM>; (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-Tetramethylbutyl)phenyl-polyethylene glycol, Polyethylene glycol tert-octylphenyl ether; and <NUM>-(<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>-Tetramethylbutyl)phenyl-polyethylene glycol, t-Octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol, Polyethylene glycol tert-octylphenyl ether. The microbial RNA molecules which the liquid chromatography instrument isolates may be detected at elution times of <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes.

Disclosed herein but not part of the claimed invention is a method of filtering a microbial single-stranded nucleic acid sequence from a mixture of one of at least a mammalian single-stranded nucleic acid sequence and a microbial single-stranded nucleic acid sequence by collecting microbial RNA molecules from a void volume of a liquid chromatography method, wherein the microbial single-stranded nucleic acid sequence is a catalyst for synthesis of a protein.

The void volume may be represented by an initial time period in a chromatogram. The initial time period may be <NUM> minutes to <NUM> minutes. The microbial RNA molecules in the void volume may be positively charged. The microbial RNA molecules in the void volume may carry a net zero charge. The microbial RNA molecules in the void volume may have a size of <NUM> nucleotide to <NUM> nucleotides.

The biological specimen may be a mammalian specimen. The biological specimen may comprise one of at least of the following: large RNA molecules, small RNA molecules, tRNA molecules, rRNA molecules, mRNA molecules, denatured and non-denatured RNA molecules, microbial RNA molecules, non-microbial RNA molecules, genomic DNA molecules, protein molecules, and other macromolecules. The step of preparing the biological specimen may purify the specimen to change the relative characteristics of the genetic material. The step of preparing the biological specimen may be substantially free of intentional growth of genetic material. The step of preparing the biological specimen may purify the specimen to allow for filtration by liquid chromatography. The step of preparing the biological specimen may purify the specimen to remove genomic DNA molecules, protein molecules, and other macromolecules. The step of preparing the biological specimen may have no intentional growth of genetic material. The microbial RNA molecules may comprise fungal, viral, protozoa, amoebae, or bacterial RNA.

The biological specimen may have been obtained in a clinical setting using at least one of a sterile technique or an antiseptic technique. the step of digesting the biological specimen may use a lysis reagent as the reagent. The step of using liquid chromatography may include injecting the test sample into a sample port of a liquid chromatography instrument. The liquid chromatography instrument may isolate the microbial RNA molecules by decreasing and then increasing an amount of an organic buffer in a mobile phase in relation to an aqueous buffer in the mobile phase. The amount of the organic buffer in the mobile phase may be between <NUM>% and <NUM>%. The microbial RNA molecules may be detected in the liquid chromatography instrument at a wavelength of <NUM> to <NUM>. The microbial RNA molecules may be detected in the liquid chromatography instrument at a wavelength of <NUM> to <NUM>. The microbial RNA molecules which the liquid chromatography instrument isolates may be collected in the void volume by diverting the mobile phase from a waste line.

As background and understanding of certain aspects of the present disclosure, reference is made to the following attachments:.

Various embodiments of systems, devices, and methods have been described herein. These embodiments are given only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed inventions. It should be appreciated, moreover, that the various features of the embodiments that have been described may be combined in various ways to produce numerous additional embodiments. Moreover, while various materials, dimensions, shapes, configurations and locations, etc. have been described for use with disclosed embodiments, others besides those disclosed may be utilized without exceeding the scope of the claimed inventions.

Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the subject matter hereof may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the subject matter hereof may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the various embodiments can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, elements described with respect to one embodiment can be implemented in other embodiments even when not described in such embodiments unless otherwise noted.

Although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination with one or more other claims, other embodiments can also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent claim or a combination of one or more features with other dependent or independent claims. Such combinations are proposed herein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended.

Claim 1:
A method for enhancing the gene sequencing of microbial RNA molecules from a biological specimen, the method comprising:
(a) preparing the biological specimen that has been obtained as a test sample for liquid chromatography;
(b) using liquid chromatography to bulk filter microbial RNA molecules from a mixture of RNA molecules in the test sample to isolate and collect the microbial RNA molecules in two or more fraction outputs of the liquid chromatography, wherein at least one of the two or more fraction outputs is a fraction output within a void volume of the liquid chromatography;
(c) preparing one or more fraction outputs for gene sequencing, wherein the one or more fraction outputs is the fraction output within the void volume; and
(d) conducting gene sequencing on the one or more prepared outputs to detect microbial RNA from the biological specimen.