DNASequence is pleased to announce the approval of a new project for the microbiome characterization of authentic local cheese products from the island of Kasos.
DNASequence is pleased to announce the approval of a new project for the microbiome characterization of authentic local cheese products from the island of Kasos. The project will be carried out in our certified laboratory (ISO17025), while the resulting data will be used for the recognition of local cheeses of Casos as PDO or PGI products. The project is funded by the Ministry of Rural Development & Food through the Managing Authority of Strategic Plan CAP.
Cooperation of Constrat and DNA Sequence for Water Biomonitoring
Safe and readily available water is important for public health, whether it is used for drinking, domestic use, food production or other purposes. Improved water supply and sanitation in drinking and wastewater treatment plant network, and better management of water resources, can enhance a country’s economic growth. Therefore, the detection and monitoring of all factors, infectious or not, is necessary to ensure public health as well as to improve the supply of high quality water. CONSTRAT LTD is a company focused on water and wastewater industry. The use of state-of-the-art metagenomics and bioinformatics technologies by DNA Sequence SRL Hellas is applicable, inter alia, to the bio-monitoring of drinking water supply systems and biological treatment plants. The cooperation agreement between the two companies is the beginning for the application of innovative bio-monitoring technologies in water supply systems and wastewater treatment plants throughout the country. The pilot – project started with two drinking water supply systems and two biological treatment plants in Aigio, Achaia and Aghios Nikolaos, Crete. The implementation process includes: -the design and development of sampling procedures -the design and elaboration of the isolation and analysis of the genetic material (DNA) of the samples – bioinformatics analysis of the data -the interpretation of the extracted results and their distribution to the stakeholders The sampling took place in April 2021 by specialized personnel of DNA Sequence and Constrat with guidance at the sampling points by personnel of the municipalities of Aigio and Aghios Nikolaos respectively. For the water supply network, water samples were collected from representative points throughout the network “from source to tap” (boreholes, tanks, settlements’ faucets), while for the biological treatment plant water samples were collected from its entrance and exit to the unit, as well as from all the intermediate stages of treatment. The samples were transferred to the DNA Sequence laboratory where the genetic material (DNA) for each sample was isolated and sequenced. Laboratory analysis of all samples was based on WGS (Whole Genome Sequencing) and 16S rRNA technology which are important tools for the determination of microbial communities in water and wastewater. DNA sequencing was performed using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) nanofilm technology. The large volume of data (raw data) was processed and analyzed through the company’s bioinformatics platform so that the results are available for quality evaluation. At the end of the procedures, all the information about the project implementation process was communicated to the interested parties via a report. The results were then presented to the stakeholders with the help of a user-friendly online interactive platform, in which the user can navigate and explore the microbial biodiversity that characterizes the sampled point as well as get informed about the detected species (pathogenicity, biofilm formation trend, etc.). Constrat in turn, utilizing the produced results will reinforce and specialize its services in the field of water supply and wastewater systems. Regarding the results of the analysis, the quality of water reaching the consumer, the effectiveness of chlorination in selected points of the water network, the possibility of sludge bulking occurrence which is caused by the excessive growth of filamentous bacteria extending outside the flocs resulting in decreasing the wastewater treatment efficiency and deteriorating the water quality in the effluent, the comparison of the efficiency between the conventional activated sludge systems and the membrane bioreactors (MBR) methods, were also assessed. Conventional monitoring methods that target selected, well characterized microorganisms, in addition to the longer time required to yield results, exclude microorganisms that either cannot be cultured or do not pose a high health risk (e.g. unspecified or minor infectivity and/or pathogenicity). The complete metagenomics analysis, offered by DNA Sequence, enables the whole genome of all the microorganisms present in a sample to be sequenced, while through bioinformatics analysis it can distinguish species at strain level and even identify known genes for resistance to antibiotics. Therefore, the ability to detect the entire microbial spectrum in water and wastewater using methods of metagenomics technology comes to complement the already implemented necessary controls to ensure water high quality and safety. The result is to strengthen and expand the ability to make timely decisions where this is deemed appropriate not only to ensure public health but also the proper maintenance and performance of water supply facilities and wastewater treatment plants.
New Research Project for DNASequence SRL
DNASequence SRL is happy to announce that its research project, titled: “Microbiotic communities detection in archaeological excavation for the documentation of the historical research and new ways of protecting monuments of cultural heritage” within the framework of «RESEARCH – CREATE – INNOVATE » of the operational program: «Competition, entrepreneurship and Innovation », ESPA 2014 – 2020 (EU Funded). The research program is identified with the cutting edge technology of DNASequence, Metagenomics of Built Environments (MBE), that offers solutions in a wide range of issues, among others referring to Archaeology, restoration and conservation of archaeological artifacts. The unique technology of DNASequence SRL will be used in the excavations of Shallalat Gardens in Alexandria, Egypt, by the auspices of Archaeologist Kalliopi Limneou-Papakosta, in order to offer valuable information for the era under examination of the archaeologists on site, and further deepen their knowledge for the artifacts and their way of conservation.
DNASequence Hellas SRL is inducted in the Elevate Greece initiative
DNASequence Hellas SRL is a Biotechnology startup that develops innovative and pioneering solutions based on metagenomic technologies. The company’s solutions are addressed to corporations and governmental organizations, covering a vast field of applications like biosecurity, food safety, Microbiology of Built Environments, environmental metagenomics and agrigenomics. DNAsequence has the pleasure to announce that in now officially a company supported by the Elevate Greece initiative, the official platform on the Greek Startup ecosystem. The DNASequence profile is available here. Elevate Greece is an initiative launched by the Greek Government, intended to identify promising startups and support their growth nurturing a robust innovation ecosystem along the way. The initiative provides a digital gate through which Greek startups can apply requesting to be officially accredited by competent State Ministry (Ministry of Development & Investments – General Secretariat for Research & Technology [GSRT]). DNASequence would like to thank the Ministry of Development for the honors, and we are looking forward to advancing the synergies and the generated wealth of information available to the scientific and enterprise community, while creating high value jobs for Greek scientists.
