VPCIR™ – or Viability Polymerase Circle Reaction – is based on the principle of detection of enzymatic processes allowing quantification of the activity of specific DNA-modifying enzymes.
The Result of 20 Years of Research in DNA Modifying Enzymes
This process is done by providing a substrate that the DNA modifying enzyme recognizes and either directly or via additional enzymes turns into a circle which subsequently are amplified and visualized. The technology may be used for various purposes such as drug screening, cancer research, or for detection of pathogens.
Enzymes are biomolecules catalyzing specific biochemical reactions. Thus, the biological relevance depends on the ability to catalyze these reactions, id est, the activity of the enzymes. Unlike PCR and ELISA methods, each target enzyme can convert many DNA substrate molecules into detectable DNA product molecules - up to 500-1,000 conversions per target enzyme. Thus, the sensitivity is greatly increased both through the inherent target enzyme catalyzed conversion of substrates to products and through a subsequent isothermal amplification reaction of the generated products.
The patent pending VPCIR™ technology is based on the knowledge from more than 10 years of research in specific sensor-based assays and more than 20 years of research in DNA modifying enzymes within the VPCIR founder team.
The technology is robust and capable of accurate measurements using various inputs such as recombinant enzymes for drug screening, crude cell extract as well as tissue extract for biological and anti-cancer research, blood or saliva for pathogen detection, and food-borne bacteria detected within complex food matrices as milk and meat.
The technology is robust and capable of accurate measurements using various inputs such as saliva or blood for pathogens detection, crude cell or tissue extract for and anti-cancer research, and food-borne bacteria detected within complex food matrices as milk or meat.
The technology behind is highly sensitive and can easily be adapted to detect multiple pathogens.