BoSL Beater 3D

Environmental monitoring of microorganisms is critical for the protection and enhancement of human and ecosystem health. Molecular-based environmental microbiology has overtaken traditional culture methods due to its less invasive nature and reduced turnaround times. Even though these molecular methods have become more accessible, these techniques still require expensive equipment and dedicated facilities to process samples which in the context of a global pandemic, remote sampling areas or low-income countries can be extremely challenging. Sample preparation and sample homogenisation is critical for the extraction of DNA and RNA. This study developed a low-cost, open-source, freely available 3D printed homogenizer for the processing of DNA and RNA extraction. The BoSL Beater 3D is a portable device that allows researcher to perform bead-beating steps commonly required for environmental sample extraction protocols in the field and without access to power. The BoSL Beater 3D was tested using filtered wastewater samples and passive samplers exposed to wastewater over a 24-hour period and showed similar or better performance to the traditional bead beater for both the extraction of DNA and RNA. The cost of this 3D homogenizer part is roughly $18 AUD ($296 AUD with the jigsaw which is roughly 57 times cheaper than a traditional bead beater) and has the added usability of being portable. In combination to newly developed portable PCR machines, this 3D homogeniser could provide the tool necessary for remote testing and allow for timely reporting. In combination to newly develop field extraction kits, this tool facilitates the extraction process and gives more flexibility to researchers while sampling, shipping, and processing DNA and RNA samples.

微生物环境监测对于保护与改善人类健康及生态系统健康至关重要。基于分子技术的环境微生物学已凭借更低的侵入性与更短的检测周转时间，超越了传统培养方法。尽管这类分子技术的可及性持续提升，但仍需昂贵设备与专用设施来处理样本，这在全球疫情背景下、针对偏远采样区域或低收入国家而言，均极具挑战。样本制备与样本均质化是提取DNA和RNA的关键环节。本研究开发了一款低成本、开源且可免费获取的3D打印均质器，用于DNA与RNA提取的样本处理流程。BoSL Beater 3D是一款便携式设备，可让研究人员在野外无电源供应的场景下，完成环境样本提取流程中常用的珠磨均质（bead-beating）步骤。研究人员采用过滤后的废水样本以及在废水中暴露24小时的被动采样器对BoSL Beater 3D进行测试，结果显示其在DNA与RNA提取方面的性能与传统珠磨均质器相当甚至更优。该3D均质器的单件成本约为18澳元（搭配曲线锯的总成本为296澳元），其售价仅约为传统珠磨均质器的1/57，同时兼具便携性这一额外优势。结合最新开发的便携式聚合酶链式反应（Polymerase Chain Reaction, PCR）仪，这款3D均质器可为远程检测提供必要工具，并支持及时的结果报告。结合新型野外提取试剂盒，该工具可简化提取流程，为研究人员在采样、运输及处理DNA与RNA样本时提供更多操作灵活性。