Example Applications

The X-tractor Gene has been used successful for a wide variety of applications. Collected here are some examples for you to download. Topics cover diverse applications of general interest and focus on the practical use of the X-tractor Gene in a particular field of study. In the case of PowerPoint seminars, most are self-running with audio of the original presenter's voice. You can sit back and watch the presentation just like you were there on the day! If you have similar material and would like to contribute to this collection, please contact us at info@corbettlifescience.com.  

	A comparative evaluation of the sensitivity of two autmoated and two manual nucleic acid extraction methods for the detection of norovirus by RT-PCR KJ Witlox, TN Nguyen, LD Bruggink, MG Catton, JA Marshall Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, 10 Wreckyn St, North Melbourne, Victoria 3051, Australia J. Virol. Methods (2008) Abstract The aim of the study was to compare the sensitivity of a norovirus RT-PCR method using two manual RNA extraction methods [Qiagen (QM) and Roche (RM)] and two automated RNA extraction methods [Qiagen (QA) and Corbett (CA)]. All four RNA extraction methods gave similar sensitivities although the automated methods, especially the Corbett, required significantly less labour than the manual methods. The automated methods also enabled RNA extraction of approximately two to three times the number of specimens in a given time period compared to manual methods. Summary The QM and RM methods each took approximately 2 h to extract RNA from 36 specimens and the operator was busy for most of those 2 h. The QA method took approximately 2.5 h to extract RNA from 96 specimens and the operator was busy for approximately 25 min. The CA method took approximately 1.5 h to extract RNA from 96 specimens and the operator was busy for approximately 15 min. Noroviruses are one of the most important causes of gastroenteritis worldwide and rapid, sensitive detection of large numbers of specimens is advantageous in outbreaks and epidemics. This study shows that the new generation of automated nucleic acid extraction robots, as well as having the same sensitivity as the manual methods, offer the advantages of more rapid specimen throughput and decreased operator fatigue. View full article
	Staphylococcus aureus Genotyping Using Novel Real-Time PCR Formats Flavia Huygens,1† John Inman-Bamber,1† Graeme R. Nimmo,2 Wendy Munckhof,3 Jacqueline Schooneveldt,2 Bruce Harrison,4 Jennifer A. McMahon,4 and Philip M. Giffard1* Cooperative Research Centre for Diagnostics, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, QUT, Brisbane, Australia1; Queensland Health Pathology Service, Brisbane, Australia2; Princess Alexandra Hospital and District Health Service, Brisbane, Australia3; and Corbett Life Science, Eight Mile Plains, Brisbane, Australia4 2006 JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Oct. 2006, Vol. 44, No. 10, p. 3712–3719 Overview This paper describes a SNP-plus-binary-marker-based approach to genotyping Staph. aureus. Two novel real-time PCR formats were used to interrogate the markers; biplexed LUX (light upon extension) and a streamlined modification of kinetic PCR using SYBR Green 1. In addition, the paper illustrates a fully automated genotyping workflow that integrates the following Corbett Life Science instrumentation: 1. an X-tractor Gene to extract DNA from the tough gram positive MRSA-type bacteria, 2. a CAS-1200 PCR setup robot for reaction setup and 3. a Rotor-Gene for real-time fluorescent analysis. Abstract and link to the Full Article  Text (use this link:  http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/44/10/3712
	Using Corbett Extractor Gene on Forensic DNA Samples David Markwell Gribbles Molecular Science Forensic Laboratories, Brisbane, Australia Abstract Forensic molecular casework requires DNA samples of high quality, prepared carefully and without cross-contamination. Highly desirable is an extraction system that simplifies and consolidates workflow, is cost-effective and suitable for downstream processing on an ABI 3130 capillary electrophoresis system (Applied Biosystems, Foster City CA). We tested a variety of DNA extraction systems and found the Corbett X-tractor Gene (Corbett Robotics, Australia) to be the most suitable and also highly effective. A large collection of samples covering a wide range of sample types were tested, including cloth, paper, blood, tissue scrapings, hair, swabs, chewing gum, cigarette butts, nail clippings, tape lifts, urine, semen etc. A single standard protocol was found to be suitable for all samples, greatly simplifying and consolidating workflow. The Corbett system provided huge savings in time and running costs over other methods, was space efficient and reduced the paperwork needed for chain of evidence requirements. The system was successful on the most demanding samples, including ancient DNA extracted from a 150 year-old hair sample used in a suspected maternal relationship case. Download PowerPoint Presentation (4.89MB file, includes audio)
	Optimising Extraction from Plant Samples Brendan Rodoni & Mai Hlaing Loh (voice) Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Knoxfield, Victoria, Australia Abstract A primary objective of DPI Knoxfield is the control and prevention of plant disease outbreaks through early diagnosis. Early diagnosis can ensure crops remain virus free, control disease outbreaks and, in collaboration with Australian quarantine services, keep pathogens from entering the country. Our requirement was for a system to streamline and consolidate our molecular diagnostic procedures. As an initial project, we investigated and optimized a quantitative RT-PCR test for PPV (plum pox virus) using robotic extraction, robotic reaction setup and real-time PCR. Because plants are fibrous and often inhibitors like polyphenolics and polysaccharides co-purify with nucleic acids, we tested various extraction chemistries and methods on the X-tractor Gene system. We showed that an automated system was less hazardous, increased accuracy, allowed multitasking, increased throughput and produced electronically scored results. Importantly, it also saved time and money over manual methods. Our total cost (including all labor) dropped from $200 to $17.50 per test and labor was reduced from 80 hours to 20 hours using the automated Corbett system. Download PowerPoint Presentation (6.33MB file, includes audio)
	High Throughput Automated DNA Extraction of Archived Samples: the Robot is the Easy Bit! Andrea Tesoriero Acting Head, Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory Department of Pathology, University of Melbourne, Australia (Note: After completing this project Andrea joined the Corbett Life Science team) Abstract The Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Melbourne, is a collaborative laboratory that has a comprehensive range of expertise developed to support high through-put genetic epidemiological studies.  We have developed our biospecimen handling, tissue culture and molecular methods to efficiently manage these valuable and extensive resources in order to address important public health issues. The Corbett CAS1820 X-tractor Gene was successfully used to extract DNA from a large-scale genetic epidemiology study (n~9000). The automation and accuracy of this instrumentation allowed us to overcome many of the challenges of extracting and cataloguing DNA from varying biospecimen types processed at multiple sites over a decade. The DNA has been successfully used to investigate prospectively the possible interactions between lifestyle exposures and common genetic variants in causing various chronic diseases. Download PowerPoint Presentation (5.19MB file, includes audio)
	Extraction and Analysis of Gram Positive Bacteria Flavia Huygens Co-operative Research Centre for Diagnostics, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia Abstract At the CRC we develop diagnostics for routine clinical use. The focus of this presentation is on MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) strains that can cause a wide range of pathogenic infections in humans. Our project is aimed at epidemiological typing, new detection strategies, early control strategies and long-term surveillance. Epidemiological typing was done by SNP detection using allele-specific kinetic PCR, a real-time technique on the Rotor-Gene. This method is robust and inexpensive, using only SYBR Green I dye for detection. The tough cell wall structure of gram positive bacteria makes them notoriously difficult to lyse and extract DNA from. However, we were able to obtain high yields of high quality DNA from as little as half a colony of S.aureus using the automated X-tractor Gene system. Compared to our previous spin column extraction procedure, the X-tractor Gene reduced per extraction costs from $6 to $1.60, and also reduced the extraction time and effort substantially. Our entire S.aureus diagnostic procedure was successfully automated using Corbett Life Science instrumentation; specifically an X-tractor-Gene robot for DNA preparation, a CAS-1200 precision liquid handling robot for PCR setup, and a Rotor-Gene for real-time PCR and SNP detection. Download PowerPoint Presentation (6.22MB file, includes audio)
	LIMS Implementation with Corbett Life Science Products Hospital Group Twente, The Netherlands Download PDF
	Making Microcongenic Mouse Lines To Localise Gastritis Genes Margaret Jordan Comparative Genomics Centre, James Cook University, Australia Abstract Autoimmune chronic (type A) gastritis is an organ-specific inflammatory disease leading to gastric atrophy, vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anaemia, and is associated with increased susceptibility to gastric cancer. Thymectomy of BALB/c mice on the third day of life is a well-characterized model of the disease and results in experimental autoimmune gastritis (EAG) in approximately 70% of treated mice. Our previous genetic linkage study of an F2 intercross of the BALB/c susceptible and C57BL/6 resistant strains identified two distinct susceptibility regions on distal chromosome 4 (Gasa1 and Gasa2). To further elucidate the genes involved, microcongenics of the region were produced. This daunting task of generating several microcongenic lines was greatly facilitated by the use of the X-tractor Gene™ (Corbett Robotics) robotic work station as the extraction of several thousand DNA samples from the tails of pups at every generation needed to be carried out accurately and efficiently. The diluting and plating of DNA samples was quickly achieved using the CAS3800 liquid handling system (Corbett Robotics). Quick and accurate results were imperative in order to screen for informative recombinations while the mice were young enough to breed and before too many new litters from original breeders were being produced. Genotyping by fluorescently labeled micro-satellite markers (polymorphic between BALB/c and C57BL/6 mouse strains) within the Gasa1 and Gasa2 regions was carried out using the MegaBACE 1000 capillary sequencer (GE Healthcare) and MegaBACE Fragment Profiler v1.2. Mice bearing subcongenic regions identical by descent were intercrossed to produce homozygous recombinants. To date, 27 lines bearing different micro-congenic segments have been established.. Download PowerPoint Presentation (2MB file, no audio)