Glass-fiber membranes for storing, transportation and further characterization of agricultural plant biomaterial

Abstract

The modified glass-fiber membranes possess high mechanical strength, good wetting and storage capacity, these properties render them a promising medium for storing dry biomaterial collected from agricultural plants. We have studied the applicability of this method for storing biomaterial collected from cucumber, tomato and potato in the form of dried spots on glass-fiber matrices for further ecological and phytosanitary studies. Also preservation of Phytophthora infestans deoxyribonucleic acid in the potato tuber and tomato fruit biomaterial stored on glass-fiber membranes has been evaluated. It has been revealed via real time polymerase chain reaction assays that in dried spots on glass-fiber membranes more than 90% of the plant deoxyribonucleic acid is preserved after seven-day storage. The method of electrophoretic isolation has shown that the condition of Phytophthora infestans deoxyribonucleic acid in the plant biomaterial stored on glass-fiber membranes is similar to the control after any storage period. In all the studied cases the storage conditions of the dried spots on glass-fiber matrices had no influence on the target deoxyribonucleic acid preservation. The obtained results prove usability of membrane carriers for crop science as a whole and detection of plant diseases in particular, and for food quality monitoring, especially carried out in the field.

A large-volume sputum dry storage and transportation device for molecular and culture-based diagnosis of tuberculosis

“…When a biological fluid is introduced into a cellulose-based paper membrane, the components of the fluid are absorbed into the cellulose fibers; in contrast, in glass fibers, the components dry out as films 21 . Glass fiber membranes also have higher mechanical strength compared to cellulose-based membranes 21,22 .…”

A large-volume sputum dry storage and transportation device for molecular and culture-based diagnosis of tuberculosis

“…A promising alternative to cellulosic membranes is glass fibers, which have recently been shown to have certain advantages for specimen storage. 23,24 Unlike cellulose-based membranes, glass fibers have larger pore sizes, higher volumetric capacity, and less resistance to flow. 25 Lower resistance to flow is an important feature for wicking viscous fluids like sputum.…”

“…Finally, glass fiber membranes have higher mechanical strength compared to cellulose-based membranes. 23,24 While most DBS cards are based on cellulosic materials, two commercial DBS cards -Agilent Bond Elut DMS (Santa Clara, CA, USA) and Sartorius glass microfiber filters (Goettingen, Germany)are made from glass fibers. 27 In this work, we present a prototype called SPECTRA-tube (specimen transportation tube) that enables spreading and rapid drying of a large volume of mock sputum over glass fiber membranes placed inside a centrifuge tube.…”

“…Finally, glass fiber membranes have higher mechanical strength compared to cellulose-based membranes. 23,24 While most DBS cards are based on cellulosic materials, two commercial DBS cards – Agilent Bond Elut DMS (Santa Clara, CA, USA) and Sartorius glass microfiber filters (Goettingen, Germany) – are made from glass fibers. 27…”