Genomic DNA Mutation Assays and Uses Thereof

Description:

Mutations are the primary cause of genetic disorder and cancer. The ability to detect mutations in the genome holds the key to diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the disease. Recent developments in novel sequencing technology have made efforts in sequencing hundreds of thousands of human genomes a reality. However, it remains challenging to identify somatic mutations, since they often present only in a trace amount in the sample, which makes it technically challenging to distinguish true mutations from sequencing errors. In addition, the low occurrence rate of somatic mutations means sequencing efforts for identifying somatic mutations often waste the majority of the sequencing reads on regions without mutations.

 

Dr. Wang has developed a method for identifying and positioning somatic mutations across the genome for a given individual sample without prior knowledge on these mutations or on the sample. The method takes advantage of the fact that when a mutant DNA strand base pairs with a complementary DNA strand without the corresponding mutation, a mismatch is induced. These mismatched DNA can be isolated using chemical or biological agents that bind specifically to the mismatches. The isolated DNA can then be used as templates for generating a sequencing library. By using a next generation sequencing method to sequence the library, the sequence reads generated can be mapped to a reference genome, mismatch variants can be identified, and the relative allele frequency (RAF) can be estimated and used to distinguish somatic mutation from parental polymorphisms. The somatic mutation information can be used to determine disease or other physiologic state.

 

Benefits/Technology Advantages

Comparing to other available technology for early detection of disease, this method has the potential to be minimally invasive, versatile (i.e. same assay for multiple diseases), and cost effective. Moreover, the rich and quantitative information obtained from sequencing somatic mutations could be further developed for disease prognosis and for suggesting therapeutic options.

 

Potential Applications

  • Diagnosis of cancer through detection of cancer mutations in circulating DNA
  • Monitoring organ transplant rejection through detection of foreign variants
  • Genetic testing

 

Intellectual Property Status

Patent pending, U.S. Application No: 15/965,856

Available for licensing

 

Stage of Development

Pre-clinical

 

About the Investigator

Sidney Wang, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Center for Human Genetics

 

Download additional summary document here

 

 

 

Patent Information:

The preceding is intended to be a non-confidential and limited description of a novel technology created at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). This promotional material is not comprehensive in scope and should not replace company’s diligence in a thorough evaluation of the technology. Please contact the Office of Technology Management for more information regarding this technology.
Category(s):
Diagnostics
For Information, Contact:
Christine Weaver
Director, Licensing and New Venture Development
University of Texas Health Science Center At Houston
Christine.Weaver@uth.tmc.edu
Inventors:
Keywords:
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