Transrenal nucleic acids are fragments of DNA and RNA from cells dying throughout the body that cross the kidney barrier from blood to urine and can be used for genetic analysis. Early gender detection will be the first application of transrenal DNA (Tr-DNA) technology for prenatal diagnostics. Using a new proprietary method for isolation of Tr-DNA, Xenomics' scientists successfully detected sequences of a single copy Y chromosome-specific SRY gene in urine of women pregnant with male fetuses from the 6th week of pregnancy. The test is developed for pregnancies with a risk of gender-linked diseases such as hemophilia, Fragile X syndrome and others. At the same time the gender detection test can have much broader applications. Successful early detection of a single copy gene that originates from the fetus in the urine of pregnant women indicates that other prenatal tests, e.g. detection of Rh incompatibility, which can cause severe anemia in a newborn baby, and many others can be developed using the same approach.
"We are glad that issuance of our first European patent in addition to our strong US patent portfolio coincides with significant progress in the development of our technology," commented Samuil Umansky CSO of Xenomics. "Since use of Tr-DNA for molecular diagnostics is a platform technology, success in one area based on significant improvements of Tr-DNA isolation and detection methodologies will accelerate test development in other fields including oncology, infectious diseases, and transplantation."
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"This creates a real problem because subsequent therapy with a second antibiotic may be ineffective because resistance against the second antibiotic had already been increased by the first antibiotic."
In the United States an estimated 10 percent of patients get sick because of infections acquired whilst being treated in hospital. More careful use of antibiotics is regarded as vital.
Dr Chin said the use of antibiotics for disease prevention is critical in patients admitted to intensive care. However there is currently a major bottleneck when it comes to deciding which antibiotics to use.
"Current protocols require pathogens to be cultured, leading to delays of some days before the bacteria to be targeted can be accurately identified.
Dr Chin said for this reason it is important to develop a molecular detection method that can identify antibiotic resistance signatures of entire microbial communities.
"Our hope is that this kind of information will equip clinicians to better manage prescribing of antibiotics."
This latest research is being planned in collaboration with clinical microbiologists and intensive care specialists at Westmead Hospital.
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