Urinary Microbiomic Profiling Through Iron-Chelator Preservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for urinary disorder diagnosis and treatment are limited by the preservation of nucleic acid molecules and microbial growth in urine samples, which affects the accuracy and reliability of microbial profiling.
Innovation Solution
A preservation mixture comprising an iron chelator, such as Enterobactin or Deferoxamine Mesylate, along with other components like EDTA, poly-L-lysine hydrobromide, and D-alpha-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate, is used to preserve nucleic acid molecules and inhibit microbial growth in urine samples, enhancing sequencing coverage and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional preservation methods are used for urine samples, then microbial growth is not effectively inhibited, but nucleic acid integrity deteriorates over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the preservation mixture by incorporating iron chelators (which bind free iron ions) alongside traditional components. This parameter change prevents iron-dependent microbial growth while maintaining nucleic acid stability, resolving the contradiction between inhibiting microbial growth and preserving nucleic acid integrity over time
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite preservation mixture that combines iron chelators with conventional preservatives (sodium fluoroacetate, thimerosal, etc.). This composite formulation synergistically addresses both microbial growth inhibition and nucleic acid protection, overcoming the limitations of single-component preservation methods
2Reliability
If iron chelators are added to the preservation mixture, then microbial growth is inhibited, but the composition complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The iron chelator serves multiple functions simultaneously: it inhibits microbial growth by chelating iron (a essential nutrient for microbes), and it stabilizes nucleic acids by preventing iron-catalyzed degradation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, effectively managing composition complexity while enhancing preservation reliability
3Measurement precision
If traditional preservatives are used alone, then microbial growth is partially controlled, but sequencing coverage and accuracy are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The iron chelator acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between microbial growth control and nucleic acid preservation. By binding free iron, it creates a chemical environment that simultaneously restricts microbial proliferation and prevents oxidative damage to nucleic acids, thereby improving sequencing accuracy while maintaining reliable microbial growth inhibition
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
The preservation mixture maintains nucleic acid integrity and inhibits microbial growth, enabling accurate microbial profiling with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of at least 90% for urinary disorder identification.
Implementation Method 1
A preservation mixture comprising an iron chelator, wherein said preservation mixture is configured to preserve nucleic acid molecules in a urine sample and prevent growth of microbes in said sample
Implementation Method 2
said preservation mixture is configured to preserve nucleic acid molecules in a urine sample
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for identifying and/or treating urinary disorders are provided. The methods and systems generally operate by obtaining a urine sample from a subject, identifying (such as by using nucleic acid sequencing) an abundance of a first set of one or more microbes (such as one or more bacteria or viruses) in the urine sample, and determining whether the subject suffers from a urinary disorder based on the abundance of the first set of one or more microbes. In some cases, the methods and systems further operate by identifying a second set of microbes to supplement a microbiome in the urinary tract of the subject. In some instances, the methods and systems further operate by treating the urinary disorder using the second set of microbes. In some instances, a preservation solution is utilized.