Christa Nöhammer

Identification of SERPINA1 as single marker for papillary thyroid carcinoma through microarray meta analysis and quantification of its discriminatory power in independent validation

BackgroundSeveral DNA microarray based expression signatures for the different clinically relevant thyroid tumor entities have been described over the past few years. However, reproducibility of these signatures is generally low, mainly due to study biases, small sample sizes and the highly multivariate nature of microarrays. While there are new technologies available for a more accurate high throughput expression analysis, we show that there is still a lot of information to be gained from data deposited in public microarray databases. In this study we were aiming (1) to identify potential markers for papillary thyroid carcinomas through meta analysis of public microarray data and (2) to confirm these markers in an independent dataset using an independent technology.MethodsWe adopted a meta analysis approach for four publicly available microarray datasets on papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) nodules versus nodular goitre (NG) from N2-frozen tissue. The methodology included merging of datasets, bias removal using distance weighted discrimination (DWD), feature selection/inference statistics, classification/crossvalidation and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). External Validation was performed on an independent dataset using an independent technology, quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) in our laboratory.ResultsFrom meta analysis we identified one gene (SERPINA1) which identifies papillary thyroid carcinoma against benign nodules with 99% accuracy (n = 99, sensitivity = 0.98, specificity = 1, PPV = 1, NPV = 0.98). In the independent validation data, which included not only PTC and NG, but all major histological thyroid entities plus a few variants, SERPINA1 was again markedly up regulated (36-fold, p = 1:3*10-10) in PTC and identification of papillary carcinoma was possible with 93% accuracy (n = 82, sensitivity = 1, specificity = 0.90, PPV = 0.76, NPV = 1). We also show that the extracellular matrix pathway is strongly activated in the meta analysis data, suggesting an important role of tumor-stroma interaction in the carcinogenesis of papillary thyroid carcinoma.ConclusionsWe show that valuable new information can be gained from meta analysis of existing microarray data deposited in public repositories. While single microarray studies rarely exhibit a sample number which allows robust feature selection, this can be achieved by combining published data using DWD. This approach is not only efficient, but also very cost-effective. Independent validation shows the validity of the results from this meta analysis and confirms SERPINA1 as a potent mRNA marker for PTC in a total (meta analysis plus validation) of 181 samples.

Long target droplet polymerase chain reaction with a microfluidic device for high-throughput detection of pathogenic bacteria at clinical sensitivity.

In this article we present a long target droplet polymerase chain reaction (PCR) microsystem for the amplification of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. It is used for detecting Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens at high-throughput and is optimised for downstream species identification. The miniaturised device consists of three heating plates for denaturation, annealing and extension arranged to form a triangular prism. Around this prism a fluoropolymeric tubing is coiled, which represents the reactor. The source DNA was thermally isolated from bacterial cells without any purification, which proved the robustness of the system. Long target sequences up to 1.3 kbp from Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa have successfully been amplified, which is crucial for the successive species classification with DNA microarrays at high accuracy. In addition to the kilobase amplicon, detection limits down to DNA concentrations equivalent to 102 bacterial cells per reaction were achieved, which qualifies the microfluidic device for clinical applications. PCR efficiency could be increased up to 2-fold and the total processing time was accelerated 3-fold in comparison to a conventional thermocycler. Besides this speed-up, the device operates in continuous mode with consecutive droplets, offering a maximal throughput of 80 samples per hour in a single reactor. Therefore we have overcome the trade-off between target length, sensitivity and throughput, existing in present literature. This qualifies the device for the application in species identification by PCR and microarray technology with high sample numbers. Moreover early diagnosis of infectious diseases can be implemented, allowing immediate species specific antibiotic treatment. Finally this can improve patient convalescence significantly.

Methyl-binding domain protein-based DNA isolation from human blood serum combines DNA analyses and serum-autoantibody testing

BackgroundCirculating cell free DNA in serum as well as serum-autoantibodies and the serum proteome have great potential to contribute to early cancer diagnostics via non invasive blood tests. However, most DNA preparation protocols destroy the protein fraction and therefore do not allow subsequent protein analyses. In this study a novel approach based on methyl binding domain protein (MBD) is described to overcome the technical difficulties of combining DNA and protein analysis out of one single serum sample.MethodsSerum or plasma samples from 98 control individuals and 54 breast cancer patients were evaluated upon silica membrane- or MBD affinity-based DNA isolation via qPCR targeting potential DNA methylation markers as well as by protein-microarrays for tumor-autoantibody testing.ResultsIn control individuals, an average DNA level of 22.8 ± 25.7 ng/ml was detected applying the silica membrane based protocol and 8.5 ± 7.5 ng/ml using the MBD-approach, both values strongly dependent on the serum sample preparation methods used. In contrast to malignant and benign tumor serum samples, cell free DNA concentrations were significantly elevated in sera of metastasizing breast cancer patients. Technical evaluation revealed that serum upon MBD-based DNA isolation is suitable for protein-array analyses when data are consistent to untreated serum samples.ConclusionMBD affinity purification allows DNA isolations under native conditions retaining the protein function, thus for example enabling combined analyses of DNA methylation and autoantigene-profiles from the same serum sample and thereby improving minimal invasive diagnostics.

A readout circuit for capacitive biosensors with integrated SAR A/D conversion

This paper presents a circuit for monitoring biochemical reactions on an array of capacitive biosensors. The integrated SAR A/D conversion provides a robust solution that is configurable to meet a range of requirements. In the example given, the circuit operating at 100MHz is able to read out an array of 1000 capacitors with a value of 1pF at 12.5 kHz with 6 bit accuracy

Middle age has a significant impact on gene expression during skin wound healing in male mice.

The vast majority of research on the impact of age on skin wound healing (WH) compares old animals to young ones. The middle age is often ignored in biogerontological research despite the fact that many functions that decline in an age-dependent manner have starting points in mid-life. With this in mind, we examined gene expression patterns during skin WH in late middle-aged versus young adult male mice, using the head and back punch models. The rationale behind this study was that the impact of age would first be detectable at the transcriptional level. We pinpointed several pathways which were over-activated in the middle-aged mice, both in the intact skin and during WH. Among them were various metabolic, immune-inflammatory and growth-promoting pathways. These transcriptional changes were much more pronounced in the head than in the back. In summary, the middle age has a significant impact on gene expression in intact and healing skin. It seems that the head punch model is more sensitive to the effect of age than the back model, and we suggest that it should be more widely applied in aging research on wound healing.

Hybridisation mix synthesis in a spiral lab-on-chip device for fast-track microarray genotyping of human pathogens

DNA microarrays can provide bacterial identification, which is crucial for targeted therapy. However they lack rapidness, because of multiple analysis steps. Therefore a fast one-step method for synthesising a hybridisation-ready reagent out of initial bacterial DNA is required. This work presents the combination and acceleration of PCR and fluorescent labelling within a disposable microfluidic chip, fabricated by injection moulding. The utilised geometry consists of a spiral meander with 40 turns, representing a cyclic-flow PCR system. The used reaction chemistry includes Cy3-conjugated primers and a high-yield polymerase leading to a one-step process accelerated by cyclic-flow PCR. Three different bacterial samples (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were processed and the bacterial DNA was successfully amplified and labelled with detection limits down to 102 cells per reaction. The specificity of species identification was comparable to the approach of separate PCR and labelling. Furthermore the overall processing time was decreased from 6 hours to 1.5 hours. We showed that a disposable polycarbonate chip, fabricated by injection moulding is suitable for the significant acceleration of DNA microarray assays. The reaction output lead to high-sensitivity bacterial identification in a short time, which is crucial for an early and targeted therapy against infectious diseases.

Progress in Using Magnetic Nanoobjects for Biomedical Diagnostics

A magnetic biochip using the combination of both magnetic nanoobjects as markers and magnetoresistive sensors has proven to be competitive to standard fluorescent DNA‐detection at low concentrations. Magnetic nanoobjects additionally provide the unique possibility to actively manipulate biomolecules, on‐chip, which paves the way to an integrated ‘magnetic lab‐on‐a‐chip’ containing detection and manipulation. It is shown that the hybridization process can be accelerated on a biochip. Looking forward, a paradigm change from the ‘magnetic lab‐on‐a‐chip’ to a ‘magnetic lab‐on‐a‐bead’ is discussed as a future device solution. The ferromagnetic nanoobjects themselves are thereby directly used both as molecular recognition site and as detection unit.