Multi-Stage Nutrigenomic Food Sensitivity Testing in Animals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing food sensitivity in companion animals, such as dogs and cats, are either time-consuming, expensive, or lack specificity, and there is a need for a more precise and rapid screening method to improve animal health and nutrition.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stage nutrigenomic diagnostic test system that includes saliva or serum-based tests followed by DNA/RNA nutrigenomic testing to identify immunologic food sensitivities or intolerances by detecting IgA or IgM antibodies and immune complexes, utilizing species-specific methods to determine the genetic response to dietary components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional feeding trials are used to diagnose food sensitivity, then diagnostic accuracy can be achieved, but the testing process becomes extremely time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The diagnostic process is segmented into multiple stages: initial saliva-based screening for IgA/IgM antibodies, followed by serum-based testing for IgG antibodies and immune complexes, and finally DNA/RNA nutrigenomic testing. This segmentation allows rapid identification of likely candidates through saliva testing while reserving more time-consuming serum and genetic tests for confirmed cases, thereby reducing overall testing time while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
2Loss of time
If skin patch testing or serum allergy screening is used, then testing time is reduced, but specificity and diagnostic reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Saliva testing serves as an intermediary screening tool between rapid but unreliable skin patch testing and accurate but time-consuming serum testing. Saliva-based detection of IgA and IgM antibodies provides a middle ground with reasonable speed and improved specificity, acting as a filter to identify cases that require further confirmation through serum testing, thus maintaining reliability while reducing overall time investment.
3Measurement precision
If multiple antibody types (IgE, IgA, IgG, immune complexes) are tested simultaneously, then comprehensive diagnosis is achieved, but test complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The comprehensive antibody panel is segmented across different testing stages and sample types: saliva testing covers IgA and IgM, serum testing covers IgG and immune complexes, and genetic testing addresses metabolic responses. This segmentation distributes the complexity across multiple simpler tests rather than requiring one complex simultaneous assay, making the system more manageable while maintaining comprehensive diagnostic coverage.
4Ease of operation
If saliva-based antibody detection is used, then non-invasive rapid screening is achieved, but detection sensitivity for certain antibody types is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-stage testing system makes saliva testing universal as an initial screening tool for all patients due to its non-invasive nature, while serum testing serves as a universal confirmation tool for all positive saliva cases. Each test type has its own optimal detection targets (saliva for IgA/IgM, serum for IgG/immune complexes), and together they provide comprehensive sensitivity without requiring any single test to detect all antibody types.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This system provides a precise and rapid means to identify food sensitivities and intolerances, allowing for tailored nutrition recommendations that improve animal health and quality of life by correlating genetic makeup with dietary responses.
Implementation Method 1
screening the saliva or other non-serum bodily fluid sample to detect the presence of at least one of IgA or IgM antibody to a particular food ingredient or composition
Implementation Method 2
screening the serum sample to detect the quantitative presence of at least one of an IgA, IgM or IgG antibody or immune complex to a particular food ingredient or composition
Implementation Method 3
DNA/RNA nutrigenomic testing to identify immunologic food sensitivities or intolerances by detecting IgA or IgM antibodies and immune complexes, utilizing species-specific methods to determine the genetic response to dietary components
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-stage method for diagnosing an immunologic food sensitivity or intolerance in a companion animal. Firstly a saliva or blood spot or other non-serum bodily fluid sample is collected. The screening the saliva or blood spot or other non-serum bodily fluid sample detects the presence of at least one of IgA or IgM antibody to a particular food ingredient or composition. An immunologic food sensitivity or intolerance based on the presence of the antibody is diagnosed. Secondly a blood sample is collected and serum from the sample is screened to detect the semi-quantitative or quantitative presence of at least one of an IgA, IgM or IgG antibody or immune complex to a particular food ingredient or composition. An immunologic food sensitivity or intolerance based on the presence of the antibody or immune complex is diagnosed. Thirdly, a biologically active nutrient in relation to the animal from a molecular dietary signature is determined. The molecular dietary signature for the animal is a variation of expression of a set of genes, proteins or metabolites which may differ for the genotype of each animal.