SBS Genetech: Leading the Next Generation Isothermal Amplification Technology
Beijing SBS Genetech Co.,Ltd. is one of the earliest Chinese companies providing scientific solutions for biological scientists and researchers. Over decades, by providing safer, higher quality and more affordable products, SBS Genetech has served top researchers in nearly 60 countries, empowering them to create new fundamental knowledge in the field of biology. Thousands of papers have been published in the world's top academic journals with SBS Genetech’s products. SBS Genetech is also a long-term sponsor of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Nucleic acid testing technology has developed rapidly in recent years, especially in the field of molecular diagnosis. At present, the mainstream of nucleic acid testing techniques in the market is based on quantitative PCR technology (qPCR), which features strong specificity and high sensitivity. This technology can quantitatively detect pathogens and achieve high-throughput detection. However, the amplification process of qPCR requires thermal cycling instruments. Due to their large volume, high price and long reaction time, the application of thermal cycling instruments in grass-roots units and on-site detection are very limited. Compared with other nucleic acid testing techniques, isothermal amplification has the advantages of high sensitivity and rapidity of reaction, and does not need special equipment. Therefore, isothermal amplification has been considered by many researchers and scientists as a detection method which may be comparable with qPCR technology.
At SBS Genetech, we are at the forefront of offering solutions for isothermal amplification based on our world-class platform. Our Bst DNA/RNA Polymerase is at the core of this platform, which is a mixture of Bst polymerase and extremely thermostable reverse transcriptase.
Bst DNA/RNA Polymerase is suitable for isothermal amplification reaction of both DNA and RNA templates, which can detect low-sensitivity nucleic acid templates with great efficiency and sensitivity. Besides, with special preparation process, this enzyme has fast amplification rate and high tolerance to impurity.
Based on this special enzyme, we have developed PrimeIampTM lyophilized isothermal amplification microbeads series. This series are ready-to-use master mixes, which can perform the isothermal amplification directly when the templates and primers are added. With freeze-drying technology, these master mixes are lyophilized into solid microbeads, which can be transported and stored at room temperature with great convenience. Combined with different detection techniques, we have developed three types of microbeads so far: PrimeIAmp™ Red Lyophilized Isothermal Amplification Microbeads, PrimeIAmp™ HNB Fluorescent Dye Lyophilized Isothermal Amplification Microbeads, and PrimeIAmp™ SG Lyophilized Isothermal Amplification Microbeads.
PrimeIAmp™ Red Lyophilized Isothermal Amplification Microbeads combines our world-class isothermal amplification technology with red-yellow colorimetric visualization technique. After amplification, the positive samples are yellow, while the negative samples are red. The results can be directly observed by naked eyes without any other auxiliary equipment. PrimeIAmp™ HNB Lyophilized Isothermal Amplification Microbeads utilizes similar strategy. With HNB dye, the positive samples are sky blue, while the negative samples are violet. PrimeIAmp™ SG Fluorescent Dye Lyophilized Isothermal Amplification Microbeads is somehow different as its dye is specially designed for real-time fluorescence detection.
One area of widespread concern about the isothermal amplification is that with high-speed amplification characteristics, isothermal amplification will inevitably lead to false positive amplification, especially when primers are at high concentration. Fortunately, with our optimized reaction buffer and unique colorimetric visualization and negative control technique, our platform provides much higher sensitivity and specificity. Besides, our BST DNA/RNA polymerase has strong recognition ability to dUTP. The dTTP needed for amplification reaction can be completely replaced by dUTP, so the amplification products all contain dUTP. By adding our Heat-Labile Uracil DNA Glycosylase (HL-UDG), aerosol pollutants will be completely removed in the initial reaction stage. The HL-UDG can be later inactivated irreversibly within 3 min at 65℃, which not only eliminates the pollutants, but also ensures the normal amplification of nucleic acid. Therefore, the false positive caused by aerosol pollution in the reaction can be greatly reduced.
Isothermal amplification is an emerging field and we are very excited to be a part of it. Isothermal amplification technology and qPCR technology have a strong technical complementarity. The advantage of qPCR lies in the high-throughput testing in the central laboratory, while isothermal amplification technology is better at real-time and rapid on-site detection. They are more complementary than competitive. At SBS Genetech, we will keep pushing the technology forward to meet the needs of scientists and researchers in both academia and industry with our continuous efforts.
