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Bioscience

Microbial measurements

Projects/Programs

Displaying 1 - 25 of 34

RM 8376 Microbial Pathogen DNA Standards for Detection and Identification

Ongoing
RM 8376 consists of 20 individual gDNA components from 19 bacterial strains and 1 human reference genome. Its purpose is to enable developers and regulators to evaluate the analytical performance of metagenomic next generation sequencing (mNGS) tools. The material is certified for chromosomal copy
cell free assay plate with notional data

Assay Development for Cell-Free Expression Systems

Ongoing
Current practices for characterizing cell-free expression systems are limited and unsuitable to advance these technologies beyond the state-of-the-art. To meet this measurement need, the Cellular Engineering Group is developing quantitative assays to benchmark cell extracts, reagents, and cell-free
Streptococcus mutans

Biofilm Models to Evaluate Structure-Function Relationships

Ongoing
Biofilms are complex 3D microbial structures that exist throughout nature including on our skin and gut mucosa, in waterways, and in soil. They are typically composed of multiple microbial species surrounded by proteins, polysaccharides, and extracellular DNA woven together into a hydrated matrix

Biosurveillance and Pathogen Detection

Ongoing
NIST has established partnerships with other federal agencies to develop standards and measurement solutions to support biosurveillance. These efforts are supported in part through interagency agreements with partner agencies listed below to address their standards needs. PROGRAMS Standards for

Combating Antibiotic Resistance

Ongoing
We are developing in vitro systems to generate controlled chemical and community environments that mimic the features of real-world that are important determinants for evolutionary rate and resistance potential. In addition, we are developing tools to isolate and analyze single bacteria along the

Development of Enhanced mRNA Amplification Using Microfluidics

Completed
Intended Impact Tissue samples frequently contain multiple cell types. New methods (e.g. laser capture microdissection) enable the segregation of small quantities of individual cells and cell types, but the current methods to analyze global gene expression do not provide highly efficient profiling
Map of the world with the engineering biology topics covered in Americas, Europe, and Asia meetings

Engineering Biology Metrics and Technical Standards for the Global Bioeconomy

Ongoing
Stakeholders from the Americas, Asia and Australia, and Europe and Africa, came together through a series of regional workshops in Washington D.C., Singapore, and Brussels, respectively, to identify specific areas for development, both technical and non-technical towards continued scale-up and economic growth across the bioeconomy.
GPCR

Engineering of G Protein-Coupled Receptors

Ongoing
A trait of all life is the ability to sense and respond to changing environments, and the largest family of eukaryotic proteins that sense and respond to extracellular signals are called G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs). In humans, over 800 GPCRs detect a wide range of biological and chemical

Human Gut Microbiome Reference Material

Ongoing
The most common measurements currently being used to describe these complex microbial communities are: NGS-based metagenomics Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics In either case, no fit-for-purpose standards exist that enable researchers to compare results generated across different laboratories and
Unit of RGTM 10263 -- H5N1 Avian flu synthetic RNA fragments

H5 Influenza Positive Controls

Ongoing
In response to the current H5N1 avian influenza outbreak, NIST has developed a research grade test material (RGTM) for PCR-based assays. This material contains 3 vials with RNA fragments for HA (Part A), NA (Part B), and MP (Part C). A NIST Reference Material is also under development. The guidance
RM2Yeast

Living Yeast Cell Reference Material (RM 8230)

Ongoing
Quantification of total and viable microbial cells is critical for applications ranging from assessment of DNA extraction efficiency in support of microbial metagenomics to characterization of antimicrobial efficacy. In addition, safe biological materials are needed to substitute for true biothreat

Measuring Antimicrobial Resistance

Ongoing
Antibiotic resistance has been identified in the Nation’s Action Plan to improve the health and wellbeing of the American people. NIST scientists are leveraging a wide range of measurement capabilities to study microbial community dynamics with regard to antimicrobial resistance. Using a range of
Absolute quantitation of mRNA molecules in bacterial cells

Methods for Absolute Quantitation of Transcription

Ongoing
The ability to engineer novel, useful functions into microbial cells for manufacturing or therapeutic applications has accelerated rapidly over the last few decades. However, the measurements required to underpin predictive engineering of these systems are typically not comparable across different

Methods to Quantify Microbial Viability

Ongoing
Validating DNA-based methods to quantify viable bacteria ( S. Da Silva , G. Pinheiro) Microbial detection technologies based on nucleic acid measurements, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), are powerful detection tools that can provide relatively rapid results as compared to traditional

Microbial Genomic Measurements

Completed
The RM 8375 is a stable and homogeneous material whose intended use is whole genome sequencing quality control and proficiency testing. The genomic DNA is intended to be analyzed in the same way as any other sample a laboratory would analyze extracted DNA, such as through the use of genome assembly
Figure showing four components of metabolomics with samples and processing

Microbial Metabolomics

Ongoing
Mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy are widely used and complementary analytical platforms for the characterization, identification, and quantification of a metabolome. MS techniques, typically coupled to chromatography, provide a chemical fingerprint of complex
MPXV RGTM wrapped linear insert

Mpox (MPXV) Synthetic DNA PCR Standards

Ongoing
A new material from NIST can aid in the evaluation and development of selected qPCR assays for the mpox virus. We are offering a unit free of charge in exchange for your feedback, which will help us improve and further develop the material. Questions? Contact MPXV-RGTM [at] nist.gov (MPXV-RGTM[at]nist[dot]gov) . NIST supports the
Nanocalorimeter Measurements Project

Nanocalorimetry Measurements

Ongoing
Accurate thermodynamic measurements are essential to understand fundamental properties of materials, providing direct and quantifiable insight into the thermodynamics of thin film reactions and phase transitions. Going forward, new classes of materials may only be synthesized as thin films, a scale
NIST Foundry for Living Measurement Systems

NIST Living Measurement Systems Foundry

Ongoing
To enable the production of high-throughput, high-quality data that meets the rapidly evolving needs of current and future stakeholders, NIST has established an automation facility for the growth, manipulation, sample preparation, and measurement of engineered microbes. The core of the facility
Microbial Strain

NIST Microbial Strain Collection

Ongoing
Microorganisms of interest include but are not limited to those relevant to: biomanufacturing of advanced therapy products; rapid microbial testing; microbial therapeutics (e.g., live biotherapeutic products, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantations (FMTs)); infectious disease

NIST Rapid Microbial Testing Methods Consortium

Ongoing
The safety and quality of advanced therapies, including cell therapy, gene therapy, and tissue engineered products, must be maintained prior to patient administration. The culture-based compendial methods currently used to assess product purity (specifically to ensure absence of microbial

Pathogen Detection and Identification: The Next Generation of Analyses

Ongoing
Human disease resulting from pathogens represents a tremendous burden on the health care system. Many hospitals have adopted new, rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection systems because the time to diagnose and begin effective treatment has a direct impact on patient survival and