PRESS RELEASE: Multiomics Biosignal Detection in Real-Time via an Electronic Biosensor

DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), Siemens, US ARMY, Georgia Tech Research Institute, and Paragraf - through recently acquired Cardea Bio, now Paragraf San Diego - presented novel multiomics capabilities, by detection of both protein and RNA biosignals simultaneously on a single graphene-based biosensor. 

This scientific breakthrough was recently published as a cover story in Advanced Materials Technology, marking the first public demonstration of this novel methodology for multiomics. The paper, A Single Multiomics Transistor for Electronic Detection of SARS-Cov2 Variants Antigen and Viral RNA Without Amplification, is the first in the world demonstrating the capability to detect both protein and RNA biosignals in a COVID-19 based experiment where both the COVID wild type as well as the Omicron variant were successfully detected.

Dr. Kiana Aran, Chief Innovation Officer at Paragraf San Diego, states; "Having a single technology platform that can detect both protein and DNA/RNA biosignal analytes at the same time on a small-scale detection device, is a major technological advancement. While it initially will impact when and where we can detect viral infections, with time it will also work for other types of diseases. This will enable new, better, and way faster diagnoses for any types of diseases or biothreats."

Dr. Simon Thomas, CEO at Paragraf adds, "This project was initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic to foster technologies that could be rapidly deployed to detect new diseases, envisioning a flexible multiomics point of care detection platform for any future pandemics. Together with partners, our Paragraf team in San Diego successfully completed this initiative accomplishing the goal set out by DARPA. More importantly, this novel breakthrough combined with Paragraf's unique ability to mass produce graphene-based electronics with standard semiconductor processes, marks the beginning of a new direction for what's possible in point of care testing."

"Up to this point, PCR has been the mainstay of DNA/RNA detection done at any scale. However, this technology has not been available as a convenient or rapid point of care resource. Along with that, antibody/antigen lateral flow tests are the go-to tools for rapid point of care protein detection, but on their own cannot provide the lab-level accuracy of PCR. The outcome of this multiomics project represents the first generation of a novel multiomics platform that – with comparable accuracy and specificity – can drive a new level of point of care disease detection. You can think of this as offering lab-level accuracy as well as the convenience and ease-of-use of lateral flow tests" concludes Dr. Tom Wilson, Chief Commercial Officer at Paragraf.

Paragraf's novel multiomics methodology is based on their BPU (Biosignal Processing Unit) platform and is currently available for Research Use Only. Paragraf is actively recruiting early access partners to develop new applications on the platform. Academic as well as commercial entities interested in learning more about the platform and potentially becoming a partner, please contact enquiries@paragraf.com

About Paragraf

Paragraf is the first company in the world to mass produce graphene-based electronic devices using standard semiconductor processes.

On May 2, 2023, it was announced that Paragraf Ltd acquired Cardea Bio, resulting in Paragraf San Diego. The bioassay and multiomics capability of the new Paragraf USA team combined with Paragraf's unique capability to mass produce graphene-based electronics at scale is a powerful enabler of new possibilities for lab-level accuracy with the ease of use, rapid detection, and convenience of lateral flow testing for applications in agritech and healthcare. 

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PRESS RELEASE: PathogenDx's New Rapid, Single Test Detects Salmonella and 13 Serotypes in Poultry

At a time when foodborne illness remains a significant threat to public health in the US, PathogenDx, a leader in next-generation microarray technology for better health and safety, announced the launch of SeroX, a new rapid, single test that detects Salmonella and 13 serotypes in a single shift to support the food industry’s poultry sector.

“Salmonella outbreaks are a huge issue facing poultry producers, particularly when you look at the astronomical risk and costs associated with an outbreak,” said PathogenDx Co-founder and CEO Milan Patel. “For every confirmed case of Salmonella, another 30 go undetected. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) estimates that each year one in six Americans – or 48 million people – get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases. To make matters worse, food contaminated with Salmonella usually looks, tastes and smells normal. That’s why next-gen tests like SeroX are critical to preventing infection and minimizing this threat to public health in the US.”

Patel added, “With SeroX there is no need for qPCR, NGS testing or both. SeroX delivers advanced gene detection of Salmonella and 13 serotypes from primary enrichment, and ensures an easier, simplified workflow and cost savings that poultry producers require to optimize production and food safety. SeroX results are also ready in a single-shift and deliver the lowest cost per sample when compared to sequence and antisera based serotyping methods.”

PathogenDx’s SeroX Assays includes the Company’s patented Dynamic Dimensional Detection (“D3 Array™”) technology, which is comprised of up to 108 probes – in triplicate, in a single well – to deliver a new and innovative approach to multiplexed molecular testing. Amplified DNA binding is enabled easily across a flexible, open 3D cross-linked array architecture, which results in a more flexible, faster and lower cost test than qPCR or NGS technology. Additionally, SeroX rapidly detects the serotypes responsible for the vast majority of all harmful Salmonella infections in one efficient test.

About PathogenDx

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, PathogenDx is a leader in next-generation microarray technology for better health and safety. Its mission is to become the new standard in nucleic acid-based testing through widespread adoption of its advanced microarray testing platform for the human diagnostics, food and agricultural industries. PathogenDx’s technology can rapidly detect and identify up to 50 pathogens simultaneously, in a single test, in six hours providing triplicate data per analyte for certainty in results with a simple and easy process. The company’s DNA-testing products – Detectx™, Quantx™ and Envirox™ are disrupting the century old practice of Petri dish testing to detect, identify and quantify pathogens that threaten human health, our ecosystem and the environment. This technology will help growing businesses deliver safer products leading to healthier lives, while preventing billions of dollars in losses from infection and contamination. 

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