IntegenX, Inc. (IXI) today announced that it has been awarded a new contract by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to develop an Integrated Sample-to-Sequence (ISS) system for rapid detection and identification of genetically engineered bacteria and viruses, medically relevant bacteria and viruses, and emerging pathogens. IntegenX will use its Universal Sample Preparation Module (USPM), created under a previous Department of Defense contract, to purify DNA from pathogen targets contained in complex matrices and present the purified material to an IntegenX library construction module, followed by an amplification module and a next-generation sequencing (NGS) module.
IntegenX will be the prime contractor for a first phase of $2.8 million and a possible 22-month, $14.8 million contract. The company will apply its patented MOVe™ technology to integrate the complete workflow of the ISS system, which will have a small footprint of less than 3 cubic feet and will be operated with minimal user interaction by a non-specialist.
"The ISS System will provide DoD and the country with a much-needed system to detect genetically engineered and emerging pathogens. This will help protect our country, and others, against genetically engineered bioagents. There is no system to detect such threats today," said Dr. Stevan Jovanovich, CEO and President of IntegenX.
"Our experience in next-generation sequencing library preparation and making a sample-to-answer system for forensic human identity testing has uniquely positioned IntegenX to accomplish the requirements that DTRA has requested," added Ezra van Gelder, Executive Vice President of Research and Development. "IntegenX technology integrates the processes to incorporate the complex steps into a complete and straightforward sample-to-sequence workflow."