Systems and methods for detection of cells using engineered transduction particles

摘要

Systems and methods for detecting and/or identifying target cells (e.g., bacteria) using engineered transduction particles are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes mixing a quantity of transduction particles within a sample. The transduction particles are associated with a target cell. The transduction particles are non-replicative, and are engineered to include a nucleic acid molecule formulated to cause the target cell to produce a series of reporter molecules. The sample and the transduction particles are maintained to express the series of the reporter molecules when target cell is present in the sample. A signal associated with a quantity of the reporter molecules is received. In some embodiments, a magnitude of the signal is independent from a quantity of the transduction particle above a predetermined quantity.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a sample container defining a reaction chamber; a housing configured to be coupled to the sample container such that the reaction chamber is fluidically isolated from an exterior volume when the housing is coupled to the sample container, the housing defining a reagent volume and a delivery pathway, the reagent volume containing a reagent, the reagent being fluidically isolated from the reaction chamber when the housing is coupled to the sample container and is in a first configuration, the reagent being in fluid communication with the reaction chamber when the housing is in a second configuration, the housing including a seal surface in a fixed location relative to the sample container when the housing is coupled to the sample container, the seal surface configured to contact a corresponding surface of an instrument to optically isolate the reaction chamber from the exterior volume when a first distal force is exerted on the housing and the sample container is disposed within the instrument; and an actuator including an engagement portion and a plunger portion, the plunger portion configured to move within the reagent volume in a distal direction along a longitudinal axis of the housing in response to a second distal force exerted on the engagement portion to transition the housing from the first configuration to a second configuration and to produce a flow of the reagent from the reagent volume to the reaction chamber via the delivery pathway, the seal surface configured to maintain contact with the corresponding surface when the housing is transitioned from the first configuration to the second configuration.