For years tebu-bio has been selling Epicentre-Illumina’s BuccalAmp™ system for non-invasive DNA sampling from inner cheek buccal cells. For many research studies, we find that researchers need two important things from a swab-based DNA collection system. First, the system must yield high quality DNA suitable for Next Generation Sequencing applications. Secondly, the system must instantly stabilize the sample to allow for at-home or remote location sampling (no cold chain required). In this post, I will introduce you to the iSWAB™-DNA Collection Kits.

Sources: Shore et al. “Improved Small RNA Library Preparation Workflows for Next Generation Sequencing” [Poster]

In a poster presented at the recent ASHG 2014 meeting in San Diego, researchers from TriLink Biotechnologies described their innovative technology solving the adapter dimer problem in Next Generation Sequencing library prep.

Similar to the primer dimer problem observed when performing PCR (i.e. low molecular weight PCR by-products of primer-primer hybridization), adapter dimerization generates by products of NGS library prep that will greatly decrease the number of informative sequencing reads. This is particularly a problem for low-input studies and when working with small RNAs (e.g. miRNA).

TriLink’s expertise in chemistry-based solutions for biological problems has previously led to the creation of the CleanAmp™ product line. CleanAmp™ Primers, CleanAmp™ dNTPs and 2X PCR Master Mix employ heat labile modifications, similar to those on hot-start polymerases, to prevent primer dimerization or premature polymerase activity prior to a high-temperature activation step.

CleanAmp™ 7-deaza-dGTP is a chemistry-based solution allowing for the amplification of difficult GC-rich PCR products.

Interested in learning more about TriLink’s products and services (including GMP production of modified oligonucleotides for Phase I human trials)? Contact tebu-bio experts who are representing TriLink in Europe.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) depletion is a must for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) studies to reduce the number of irrelevant reads. While commercially-available kits such as the Ribo-zero or the BioMag® SelectaPure mRNA System are popular for rRNA depletion, there are some experimental situations in which another approach is required.