TOWARDS IN SITU MULTIOMIC ANALYSES

WHAT IS OMIBOX?

PORTABLE BIOLAB FOR SIMULTANEOUS MULTI-OMIC ANALYSES

OmiBox is a portable molecular laboratory developed as part of EcoChange strategic research program. Integrated into a rolling portable hardcase, it contains all the equipment required to autonomously process environmental samples, including DNA/RNA extraction, library preparation and nanopore sequencing (Oxford Nanopore Technologies).

This highly portable, easy-to-use equipment enables us to establish a minimalistic (yet fully equipped) field laboratory at any sampling area targeted, regardless its remoteness.

What's in OmiBox

DNA/RNA extraction, genomic library preparation, sequencing and data acquisition. OmiBox contains all the necessary equipment to carry out straightforward DNA/RNA surveys as environmental samples are being collected.

Did you know how hard is to prepare DNA and RNA from environmental samples to be finally sequenced? We look forward to a time where the genetic material can be analysed right away from the original samples, just how we see it in sci-fi movies. With that purpose, new molecular tools are constantly developed aiming to progressively reduce the processing times and chemicals needed to leap from a handful of dirt to a ready-to-sequence solution of DNA or RNA. Let's take a walk through the different steps and the most advanced molecular tools.

WORKFLOW

SAMPLE COLLECTION AND EXTRACTION

A typical environmental sample may consist of water, soil, sediments, rocks or even air. Due to the great differences in matrix composition, the methods to collect and extract these types of samples usually differ.

LIBRARY PREPARATION

Consider a meta-omic sample as a mixture of different environmental samples. A metagenomic library is a molecular technique that allows the distinction between DNA/RNA molecules coming from each particular environmental sample.

DNA/RNA SEQUENCING

Among the various sequencing platforms currently available, we make use of the MinION Mk1C, the first-ever portable sequencer enabling in-field sequencing in remote locations without the need of computers or smartphones.