Lunaphore Technologies SA, Lausanne, Switzerland, a developer of instrumentation for cancer research and tissue diagnostics, has announced the publication of study results leading toward the automation of in situ sequencing techniques for mRNA transcripts. In situ sequencing has proven useful for the molecular profiling of single cells, while retaining information about their spatial organization within tissues.

As compared with regular sequencing techniques, however, spatial transcriptomics lacks automation due to the complexity of its current protocols. “Spatially resolved transcriptomics are becoming increasingly important in the human cell atlas project, and for characterizing tumors,” explains Mats Nilsson, PhD, scientific director of the Science for Life laboratory. “One limitation we face is that most of the methods that have become available in recent times are manual, and that is why this work towards automation is so important.”

Based on a microfluidic technology, Lunaphore’s automated instrument has been able to perform in situ sequencing assays that resulted in a dramatic decrease in protocol times and a higher detection efficiency. The study also realized a lower consumption of oligonucleotide reagents, which has a positive effect on the potential for scale-up, as the high cost of reagents is often a barrier for many laboratories.

Lunaphore is currently developing a standalone solution to provide full automation for multiplexed in situ sequencing. “The integration of our technology with fluorescence image acquisition will enable the automation of numerous applications in the field of in situ interrogation of tumor samples,” says Diego Dupouy, PhD, cofounder and chief technology officer at Lunaphore. “These new techniques require complex and lengthy protocols that need to become reproducible and faster in order to pave their way to diagnostics.”

For further information, visit Lunaphore.

Reference

  1. Maïno N, Hauling T, Cappi G, Madaboosi N, Dupouy DG, Nilsson M. A microfluidic platform towards automated multiplexed in situ sequencing. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):3542; doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-40026-6.