As laboratories around the world tackle the challenges of screening large numbers of samples for SARS-CoV-2, the managers of these labs have turned to the use of automation to address some key concerns. In this article read the stories from three laboratories who have utilized low-volume, non-contact dispensing technology to ensure continuity of their research and testing work, despite the scarcity of resources such as pipette tips and reagents.
Biogazelle is a contract research organization based in Belgium they specialize in high-value applications to support pharmaceutical research, clinical trials and diagnostic test development. Learn how the team at Biogazelle incorporated the MANTIS® liquid handler into a COVID-19 testing workflow.
The use of single-cell RNA sequencing has enabled the study of the transcription profiles of individual cells. This provides deeper insights into the conditions of health and disease. Due to the limited source material, it is necessary to use a preparation method with high sensitivity and reproducibility. This application note looks at the integration of the MANTIS® liquid handler from FORMULATRIX® into the SMART-Seq® Single Cell Kit from Takara Bio, enabling miniaturization to one-quarter of the original volume without loss of sensitivity.
High-throughput methods for studying heterogeneity in single-cells have focused on sequencing-based methods because of their accessibility and ease of multiplexing. Methods for single-cell proteomics were limited to the study of small numbers of proteins. Emerging methods for single-cell proteomics seek to permit the study of a large fraction of the proteome across hundreds to thousands of single-cells. The SCoPE2 (Single-Cell ProtEomics 2)1 method seeks to enable high-throughput single cell proteomics using accessible reagents and technology. This advance over SCoPE-MS2 allows SCoPE2 to decrease lysis volumes 10-fold, from 10 μL to 1 μL, to reduce the cost of consumables and equipment over 100-fold, and to increase throughput of sample preparation over 100-fold by parallel processing.
Laboratories around the world are scaling up their Covid-19 diagnostics capabilities as the scientific community endeavors to test more and more individuals to help stem the spread of this pandemic. RT-qPCR is one of the methodologies chosen by laboratories due to its simplicity, sensitivity, and reliability. However, the increase in demand for testing has led to increased pressure on the supply chain of consumables such as pipette tips and PCR reagents, with many shortages reported. The researchers at the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at Oxford University have demonstrated how the MANTIS(R) liquid handler can replace the reagent addition steps in this workflow. Drastically reducing their pipette tip usage and enabling precise low-volume dispensing for effective assay miniaturization.
Also view the recorded webinar here.
Combinatorial screening is an efficient approach to identify optimized protocol conditions. Used to investigate multiple factors in parallel, it encompasses relatively simple experiments designed to assess how a handful of parameters impact a quantifiable metric such as bacterial growth, through to incredibly complex studies such as leave-one-out (L1O) and leave-two-out (L2O) media optimizations. Inevitably, as the number of factors being evaluated increases, planning and executing combinatorial screens becomes more challenging. It is here that advanced software systems and liquid handlers are essential to streamline combinatorial screening workflows and minimize the risk of error.
FORMULATRIX® and Synthace partner for A Generalisable, Automated Process For Multifactorial Media Optimisation, or Optimizing Design of Experiments (DoE). The work covers how the MANTIS® liquid handler creases workflows by improving speed and through-put, to produce accurate liquid dispensing capabilities. Additionally, the MANTIS was combined with Synthace's software platform Antha, to powerfully and rapidly perform 4 DoE iterations to optimise media conditions. This optimisation resulted in an 88% time saving compared to manual performance of the same experiment, as well as an overwhelming reduction in consumable usage.
Also view the recorded webinar here.
Developing an immunoassay is challenging. Obtaining a specific signal requires the right combination of sample and detection substrate.
Over the years Cisbio has developed hundreds of assays. In this application note we will show how the MANTIS® liquid handler, with its Large Capacity Chip Changer (LC3) accessory, helped us to improve our process on all of the following key points: reproducibility, time, cost, and reduction of musculoskeletal disorders.
In this application note, we will demonstrate the key steps where the MANTIS can be implemented in the library preparation workflow.
The Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) system is a gene complex in humans that encodes for histocompatibility proteins and are part of the adaptive immune system. Important in disease defence they also play a large role in organ transplants, a donor organ with HLA markers which more closely match those of the recipient will have a lower chance of being rejected than an organ with fewer matching alleles.
At the Laboratory of Medical Immunology (LMI) in Radboud University Medical Centre based in the city of Nijmegen in the Netherlands, sera from potential organ recipients must be screened for HLA specific antibodies at regular time intervals. Detection of antibodies directed against HLA is necessary to avoid hyperacute rejection of a donor organ.
In this investigation the MANTIS® Dispenser from FORMULATRIX® was used to complete a critical step in the HLA workflow; the addition of lymphocytes into prepared Terasaki trays.
Also view the virtual demo on the MANTIS, Why is the MANTIS is a good choice of instrument for labs performing Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) work
This application note highlights a workflow for generating high-quality NGS libraries, even from low cellular input, through precise positive displacement microfluidic reagent dispensing.
Organoids allow researchers to study tissue biology with remarkable fidelity.
This presentation describes the development of an HTRF® assay for the detection of Hepatitis B “e” antigen (HBeAg) recombinant protein in partnership [between cisbio and] FORMULATRIX® using the MANTIS® Liquid Handler.
FORMULATRIX® and Artel present this application note in order to showcase the precision of the MANTIS® Liquid Handler, a novel solution designed to supplement traditional liquid handling platforms. By implementing the MANTIS, researchers can increase experimental reproducibility in genomics workflows that involve dispensing small volumes of valuable reagents with a high degree of precision.
Fluorescent dye-based quantitation systems are recommended for advanced downstream applications because of their sensitivity, target selectivity, cost, and ease of use. The QuantiFluor® dsDNA System can be used for quantitating dsDNA in single tubes as well as 96- and 384-well plates. Accuracy during repetitive pipetting of small volumes can be difficult and labor intensive with many opportunities for error and costly re-work. The MANTIS® Liquid Handler is a novel bench-top liquid handler that can meet many requirements for high-throughput reagent dispensing at a fraction of the cost of larger systems. For nucleic acid quantitation, the MANTIS accurately dispenses small volumes of the QuantiFluor® Dye working solution for reproducible quantitation results. In this application note, we demonstrate the compatibility of the MANTIS to quickly and accurately automate reagent handling of the QuantiFluor® dsDNA System for both 96- and 384-well plate formats.
The Scripps Research Institute uses the Mantis as a precise, reliable, and robust solution for dispensing even the most sensitive primary neuronal cells in the generation of a high content screening platform.
This application note describes the use of the Mantis to dispense the Global Filer® Express Kit master mix to the amplification plate with treated buccal punches present.
