Xtrana and CUNO to Develop Membranes for Nucleic Acid Capture and Detection

Xtrana, Inc., Broomfield, Colo., and CUNO, Inc., Meriden, Conn., signed a joint development and license agreement to combine Xtrana's Xtra Bind(TM) proprietary nucleic acid extraction technologies with CUNO's nylon microporous membranes for improved nucleic-acid sample preparation. The new product, Xtra Bind Nylon-XBN membrane, will become the key component of a fully-integrated sample preparation, amplification, and detection system to be developed and marketed by Xtrana. XBN membranes will also be made available through CUNO as an enabling nucleic acid sample preparation platform.

Rapid testing for the identification of microorganism species and strain is an enabling technology for detecting and diagnosing disease-causing pathogens, ensuring the safety of food products, and specifying corrective actions. Currently, sample preparation and speed of analysis are bottlenecks for microorganism molecular diagnostic applications. Researchers, physicians, and food/beverage microbiologists are limited in available options to capture, concentrate, purify, amplify and detect nucleic acids from target organisms present at low concentration in large sample volumes. XBN membrane is targeted for these applications.

XBN membranes will enable both the capture of microorganisms from samples through filtration (such as drinking water, bodily fluids, food homogenates and beverages) and the irreversible binding of nucleic acid released from these organisms following lysis. The bound nucleic acids can then be amplified directly from the XBN membrane through PCR or isothermal methods using strain-species-specific primers.

Tim Dahltorp, Xtrana CEO, said "The partnership with CUNO and the development of the XBN membranes add a new dimension to our extraction products utilizing Xtra Bind(TM). By combining filtration with extraction and amplification, our SCIP (Self Contained Integrated Particle) diagnostic platforms will significantly reduce the enrichment time currently necessary for existing technologies."

According to Mark Kachur, CUNO president and CEO, "This agreement positions CUNO for growth in the emerging nucleic acid extraction market, which is an important aspect of our overall Life Sciences Strategy."

Source: PRNewswire