A clinically validated human saliva metatranscriptomic test for global systems biology studies

Toma, Ryan; Cai, Ying; Ogundijo, Oyetunji; Gline, Stephanie; Demusaj, Diana; Duval, Nathan; Torres, Pedro; Camacho, Francine; Banavar, Guruduth; Vuyisich, Momchilo

We report here the development of a high throughput, automated, inexpensive, and clinically validated saliva metatranscriptome test that requires less than 100 microliters of saliva. The RNA in the samples is preserved at the time of collection. Samples can then be stored and transported at ambient temperatures for up to 28 days without significantly affecting the test results. Another important feature of the sample preservative is that it inactivates all classes of pathogens, enabling safe transportation globally. Given the unique set of convenience, low cost, safety, and technical performance, this saliva metatranscriptomic test can be integrated into longitudinal, global scale, systems biology studies that will lead to an accelerated development of precision medicine diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Method Summary This report describes an important improvement to saliva transcriptome analysis. While current methods are complicated and expensive, the method reported here includes at-home sample collection, global shipping at ambient temperatures and pathogen inactivation at the point of collection; it uses fully automated, clinically validated and licensed laboratory and bioinformatic analyses.