New Research Demonstrates Potential of Jumpcode Genomics Depletion Technology to Improve Pandemic Response

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – May 1, 2023 – Jumpcode Genomics, a genome technology platform company focused on improving the understanding of human biology, together with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope, today announced the results of a new study demonstrating the potential of Jumpcode Genomics depletion technology for improving future large-scale infectious disease testing and pandemic response. The results were published in the journal Cell Reports Methods in an article titled, “A CRISPR-enhanced metagenomic NGS test to improve pandemic preparedness.”

“The massive loss of life due to COVID-19 exposed how underprepared governments and public health institutions are for large-scale pandemics. COVID-19 is likely not the last pandemic we will face and national and international pandemic preparedness plans are essential to ensure the health and wellbeing of people across the globe and prevent another tragedy of this scale,” said Jon Armstrong, lead author and Vice President, Research & Development at Jumpcode Genomics. “These new findings demonstrate the potential for Jumpcode’s depletion technology to provide highly sensitive, pathogen-agnostic next-generation sequencing (NGS) deployable at “Day Zero” to combat any future pathogen outbreak before it progresses to a pandemic.”

In the past, NGS has had limited use for pandemic preparedness strategy due to various factors, including time-consuming workflows, extensive infrastructure needs, and expensive sequencing instruments. However, this new research shows that a CRISPR-based depletion technology and NGS – overcomes these limitations by specifically targeting and removing abundant host and microbial ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences.

Researchers from Jumpcode Genomics and TGen conducted a study evaluating the performance of molecular enrichment strategy by removing abundant and uninformative sequences to boost identification of variant strain types, co-infections, and individual human host response assessment in a single workflow. The results demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 detection sensitivity using the CRISPR-based depletion method is comparable to RT-qPCR based detection for samples with Ct values up to 35.

Additionally, the data show that the CRISPR-NGS strategy enables variant strain typing, detection of co-infecting pathogens, identification of antimicrobial resistance genes, and reporting of human host responses to infection. Furthermore, using contrived samples containing viral nucleic acid, the researchers found that the CRISPR-NGS approach can successfully detect other pathogens, such as Zika virus.

“The flexibility of the proposed test is indeed one of its virtues. Understand that currently one might have to be evaluated with multiple logistically challenging and time-consuming  tests to determine what they have been infected with, whether they might need immediate medical attention, and what their prognosis might be, and the proposed test has the potential to help put aspects of these much needed insights together in a single test,” said Nicholas Schork, Deputy Director of Quantitative Science and Distinguished Professor at TGen and senior author on the paper.

To learn more about Jumpcode’s depletion technology, please visit www.jumpcodegenomics.com  

About Jumpcode Genomics 
Jumpcode Genomics is changing genomics with technology that enables critical workflows for research and clinical applications to break through existing barriers. Our CRISPR-based technology removes uninformative sequences allowing for the sensitive detection of biologically relevant molecules. Combining this technology and next-generation sequencing it’s now possible to search for and find novel signals that were previously undetectable for greater insights and broadening the understanding of human biology.  Discover what we can do at www.jumpcodegenomics.com. Follow Jumpcode on LinkedIn and Twitter @JumpcodeG.

About TGen, part of City of Hope
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix, Arizona-based nonprofit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research with life-changing results. TGen is part of City of Hope, a world-renowned independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. This precision medicine affiliation enables both institutes to complement each other in research and patient care, with City of Hope providing a significant clinical setting to advance scientific discoveries made by TGen. TGen is focused on helping patients with neurological disorders, cancer, diabetes and infectious diseases through cutting-edge translational research (the process of rapidly moving research toward patient benefit). TGen physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of both common and complex rare diseases in adults and children. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities worldwide, TGen makes a substantial contribution to help patients through efficiency and effectiveness of the translational process. Follow TGen on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @TGen.

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