Express barcoding with NextGenPCR and MinION for species-level sorting of ecological samples.

The use of DNA barcoding is well established for specimen identification and large-scale biodiversity discovery, but remains underutilized for time-sensitive applications such as rapid species discovery in field stations, identifying pests, citizen science projects, and authenticating food. The main reason is that existing express barcoding workflows are either too expensive or can only be used in very well-equipped laboratories by highly-trained staff. We here show an alternative workflow combining rapid DNA extraction with HotSHOT, amplicon production with NextGenPCR thermocyclers, and sequencing with low-cost MinION sequencers.

Ultrafast RNA extraction-free SARS-CoV-2 detection by direct RT-PCR using a rapid thermal cycling approach.

The COVID19 pandemic has underlined the need for quick and high-throughput SARS-CoV-2 detection assays. Here we report the development of a direct RT-PCR detection method that can reliably detect SARS-CoV-2 gRNA in nasopharyngeal swab samples in under 27 minutes without needing nucleic acid extraction. Fluorescence readouts were highly linear, robust, and sensitive with a LoD95% of determined at 1.

Cryopreservation of testicular tissue before long-term testicular cell culture does not alter in vitro cell dynamics.

Objective: To assess whether testicular cell dynamics are altered during long-term culture after testicular tissue cryopreservation.

Design: Experimental basic science study.

Setting: Reproductive biology laboratory.

No association between TGF-β1 polymorphisms and radiation-induced lung toxicity in a European cohort of lung cancer patients.

This study aimed at validating the previously published association between TGF-β1 single nucleotide polymorphisms and a reduced risk for radiation-induced lung toxicity. We were not able to confirm the reported association, neither using maximum dyspnea score nor after correction for baseline dyspnea score.