Nucleotica nanosensor platform

Now KRAS gene pathogenic variants detection is performed in clinics around the world to select targeted therapy in the patient´s treatment. As part of this project, we worked with DNA samples obtained from paraffin blocks. We are currently working on determining the percentage of the pathogenic allele in a sample using ddPCR as a reference method.

The test is compulsory to be performed in pregnant women in order to prevent complications, such as fetal hydrops, that are often associated with the parvovirus.

The complexity of diagnosing such infections is due to the fact that the virus genome is very heterogeneous and PCR-based methods cannot provide adequate sensitivity. Due to the use of short probes (24 bases), we ensured high diagnostic sensitivity while maintaining high specificity.

Those techniques are mostly applied in oncology (quantitative determination of the level of pathogenic allelic variants of KRAS in the blood plasma of patients) and transplantology (detection of circulating donor DNA in the recipient's bloodstream). We are also developing a panel to identify antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria responsible for the development of pneumonia and sepsis in intensive care units.