Journal of Laboratory Automation

A Hudson Control Group, Inc. ProLink Express™ robotic workcell to conduct plasmid-based functional proteomics is being developed for optimization of protein open reading frames (ORF). The initial phase of this project is to design and assemble a Xantus liquid handler from Sias, Inc. modified by Hudson so that a workcell track component can be placed within the Xantus® gripper tool work area. The liquid handler is designed to produce plasmids using the Qiagen Turbo® plasmid preparation kit. This design allows processing of up to four 96-well plates in one run. The procedure eliminates disposable tips and provides an advanced wash system to prevent cross contamination. To evaluate liquid handler operation, a mutagenized cellulase F ORF plasmid library was prepared from wild-type cellulase F (Chen, H.; Li, X.-L.; Blum, D. L.; Ximenes, E. A.; Ljungdahl, L. G.CelF of Orpinomyces PC-2 has an intron and encodes a cellulase (CelF) containing a carbohydrate-binding module. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 2003, 105–108, 775–785; Li, X.-L.; Chen, H.; Ljungdahl, L. G. Two cellulases, CelA and CelC, from the polycentric anaerobic fungus Orpinomyces strain PC-2 contain N-terminal docking domains for a cellulase-hemicellulase complex. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 1997, 63(12), 4721–4728) using a novel Invitrogen Gateway® cloning strategy. For the automated reproducibility run, the average yield of plasmid was 5.35 μg per well from 1.347 mL of starting culture. Four plates were processed automatically on the liquid handler in 374 min compared to at least 441 min for the same plate operations performed manually. The quality and quantity of plasmids prepared on the liquid handler made the implementation of the following workcell protocols possible: DNA sequencing, in vitro transcription/translation, and transformation of bacterial and yeast strains for protein expression.

Serum specimen pipetting is a labor-intensive process that can be a source of laboratory error, ergonomic stress, and a potential source of accidental exposure to infectious pathogens. Automated solutions for sample preparation reduce time spent on sample handling, minimize exposure to infectious pathogens, reduce laboratory error, reduce ergonomic stress, and save money. A fully automated method was developed for a custom-designed competitive Luminex immunoassay (cLIA) on a TECAN Genesis Workstation that measures antibodies to human papillomavirus (HPV) virus-like particles (VLPs). The automated program generated statistically similar data to assays performed manually. Overall, HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18 antibody titers obtained from samples prepared with the automated program were 3.2%, 6.6%, 3.6%, and 2.0% higher, respectively, than antibody titers from samples prepared manually. The agreement rates between methods for HPV positive and negative samples for HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18 were 100%, 96.8%, 98.4%, and 97.3%, respectively. An overview of the basic workflow of the automated HPV cLIA used to support our HPV vaccine Phase III clinical trials is described.

We developed a simple, inexpensive, and automated procedure for the extraction of genomic DNA from dried blood specimens (DBS) collected on filter paper. This DNA extraction method involves two simple steps. First, the DBS is treated with methanol. Genomic DNA is then extracted with Tris buffer in a heat incubation step. The use of common inexpensive chemicals such as methanol and Tris buffer makes this method very cost efficient. The isolated DNA samples can then be used for high-throughput genotyping assays. Both DNA extraction and PCR setup steps have been adapted for use with a Beckman Coulter core robotic system.

An automated online sampling and measurement system that can be assembled for less than $5000 in components (including spectrophotometer, pump, computer, valves, and relays) is described. The public domain Visual Basic source code that we developed is posted at http://www.ees.ufl.edu/homepp/koopman/hamilton_etal/. This system has proven to be very successful for measuring biomass in long-duration (36 h) experiments. In addition to providing a measurement record, this system could also be part of an automatic process control system.

Microfluidic technology applied to on-chip electrophoresis provides high-throughput DNA or protein analysis in an automated, unattended mode, which is currently not possible with any other technology. The 5100 Automated Lab-on-a-Chip Platform automates all the required experimental steps, including sample loading from multiple sample plates, electrophoresis, staining/destaining, and detection. The analysis of the digital data is completely automated as well and the results together with all other information, such as sample names, are directly fed into a database. The article describes in detail the design of the microfluidic system, including instrumentation, chips, DNA and protein assays, as well as the structure and the main features of the software.

HyperStak is a new microplate stacker, which can be integrated onto most robotic systems without the need for costly software integration. It was developed to minimize the downtime and cost associated with microplate handling errors made by robots within passive microplate stackers and to maximize microplate storage space by decreasing the workspace often required by other microplate stackers. The “when-you-need-it” design of the HyperStak always has a microplate ready for use, which translates into a reduced robotic access time and an increased overall throughput of the system.

We extend the toolbox of lab procedures in life sciences by development of centrifugal microfluidics for high-level process integration. This is accomplished by implementing novel functional principles for sedimentation, batch-mode mixing, frequency-dependent online flow control, and optical read-out, which can be integrated into a process chain. The modular centrifugal setup comprises a microstructured disposable polymer disk as well as a reusable spinning and detection unit. We successfully developed centrifugal microfluidic technologies, which are suitable for sample preparation, process engineering, personalized diagnostics, and hematology, on this platform.

After a lively discussion at LabAutomation2005 in San Jose, we asked three major diagnostic companies to share their vision for the molecular diagnostics “rapid-growing-and-more-than-ever” market. Happily, all of them complied and we are pleased to present insight from Bayer Healthcare, Beckman Coulter, and Roche Molecular Systems. To complement these perspectives, we invited a heavy user of molecular diagnostic assays to comment on today's situation and share his hopes for the future of molecular medicine. It is with pleasure that we feature insight from Philippe Halfon of Alphabio Laboratoire.

The productivity challenge for life scientists is the design, execution, and analysis of high value experiments that discover or validate drugs and therapies. Compared to the electronics industry that spends $100,000 on software/engineer/year for productivity, an average life sciences company spends less than $5000 on software/scientist/year to achieve productivity. Scientists are left with a landscape of manual or hardwired informatics for integrating the lifecycle of experimentation. With the impressive advances in lab automation, miniaturization, and systems biology information, a new bottleneck to lab productivity is the informatics to leverage experiment data. Traditional informatics solutions are expensive to develop and deploy limiting the use and potential impact that software can have on productivity. Experiment design automation is a new form of software that breaks through the existing bottleneck using model-driven informatics and a combination of experimental and computational biology. The result is improved speed and quality of experiments, accelerated research, and lower operational costs.