Rubicon Genomics, Inc. has entered into an agreement with the Genome Institute of Singapore to use Rubicon molecular diagnostics technology to recover genetic information from clinical serum samples for a large study of the immune response to vaccination against the hepatitis B virus.

The Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) has chosen Rubicon to isolate and amplify very small amounts of genomic DNA in archived serum samples from 5,000 participants in a hepatitis B vaccine trial. Later this year, GIS will use the amplified DNA in an international study with colleagues in Indonesia and the Netherlands to discover genes important for hepatitis B prevention and treatment, states a release.

“These DNA isolation and amplification methods were originally developed for sensitive non-invasive screening for cancer from patient serum and other fluids,” Dr. John Langmore, Vice President of Commercial Development, Rubicon Genomics, said adding, “The enthusiasm of our diagnostic partners has been noticed by pharmaceutical companies and institutions, who want the same sensitive, accurate, and repeatable results for clinical trials, pharmacogenomics, drug discovery and epidemiology.”

Modern genetic research and diagnostic tests require large amounts of DNA from millions of cells; however, the most common clinical samples such as serum and urine rarely contain these amounts of DNA. The proprietary Rubicon technology efficiently isolates and amplifies DNA from 10 – 100 cells—making faithful copies equivalent to millions of cells.

Rubicon is developing diagnostic tests capable of detecting the presence of fewer than 10 cancer cells in less than three hours using DNA or methylated DNA tumor markers. Amplified DNA from one half milliliter of serum is sufficient for unlimited genetic or epigenetic research assays. Rubicon uses these same technologies to discover novel biomarkers, including DNA methylation markers that it will use in more sensitive, specific and inexpensive tests for cancer.