DNASEQUENCE
Redefining Public Health

The world around humans is predominantly composed of the built environment. Yet, what is not widely appreciated is that these environments are home to different microorganisms that impact our Lives in ways we do not understand. The global health crisis unveiled by the Covid-19 pandemic only reaffirmed our ignorance of this ‘known unknown’ element. It compelled us to avoid contact with infected surfaces. It brought traditional social interaction patterns into question. The invisible pathogens that colonize these environments remain active and infectious in air, water, and on solid surfaces. They can shape the human microbiome in a way that alters the trajectory of our health and increases the rapid spread of health hazards, combined with human behaviour.

Steering attention to this much-ignored yet potentially disruptive and even life-threatening implications, DNASequence is leveraging metagenomics of the built environment (MBE) analysis to identify, monitor, and study microbial communities — and subsequently prevent disease outbreaks within the anthroposphere. The company is integrating innovations like cutting-edge DNA technology into business operations to exhaustively detect and monitor microbial presence across agriculture, archaeology, critical infrastructures, transport, tourism and other sectors with focus on biosafety and biosecurity. Based in Greece and formed by internationally renowned Greek scientists, DNASequence is supported by the Ministry of Development and Investment and is part of Elevate Greece — an initiative intending to nurture innovative startups across the country.

Aiming for the application of metagenomics in the entire scope of human activities, DNASequence is helping companies across various business sectors to monitor the spread of infectious disease or mitigate biodeterioration and keep buildings or monuments safe.

“Our goal is to create a cost-effective, in-depth microbial monitoring and protection system without prior knowledge of what type of microbiome we are looking for, and identify all microorganisms of concern present at any location and accordingly address customers’ needs,” says Christos Ouzounis, Chief Scientific Officer of DNASequence.

The distinct strategy of DNASequence for devising an appropriate solution for microbial protection is to design specific protocols that start with the mapping, sampling, and detection of microbiomes, and end with the analysis of the results to advise clients on measures necessary for safeguarding their premises. This ability to detect the presence of any harmful microorganism helps companies track biothreats and diseases in real time, while developing sophisticated early warning systems.

As an upshot of using DNASequence’s MBE analysis techniques, companies can revisit their approach to designing new buildings and city spaces with the microbiome in mind.

The revised approach can drastically improve the health of employees and visitors, while promoting energy efficiency sustainability, or protect the country’s rich cultural heritage.

Customer-centric approach

What differentiates DNASequence from its industry peers is its unique modus operandi that starts from the planning and sampling of strategy to the bioinformatics analysis of the big data produced, followed by interactive reporting of the results. Before kickstarting new projects, DNASequence plans the strategy for sampling. For instance, in a case of a hotel interested in a safety assessment, the team conducts a full inspection of the premises. They interview the entire staff about sanitation measures throughout the hotel and its grounds and take swab samples from surfaces. Once the process is complete, the samples are analyzed with detected DNA that identifies microbes along with all associated measurements. The results are then processed by proprietary algorithms in order to be interpreted and presented in DNASequence’s interactive platform. Clients have access to the results to determine what precautionary measures they should take.

DNASequence produces metadata that encompasses a variety of factors, including temperature, humidity, substrate type and even interior lighting, to better understand the cause of a problem and favourable conditions for microbial growth. After linking the metadata with various other types of information, such as the pathogenicity of detected species, the results are relayed to the clients. Based on the findings, DNASequence advises clients to take preventive measures and implement appropriate cleaning protocols, Once the entire process is complete, DNASequence restarts the sampling-to-analysis cycle in order to systematically monitor the impacts of mitigation measures.

Public Spaces and Cultural Monuments

DNASequence adds a whole new level of efficacy to the traditional sanitation process, exemplified by a decontamination check-up during a restoration project of the Holy Grail church in Jerusalem. DNASequence made an alarming discovery. Swab samples from the monument’s marble surfaces revealed the existence of two kinds of microorganisms. The first kind, extremophiles, can survive in nutrient-poor conditions but can cause corrosive damage to the surfaces they inhabit, posing a threat to buildings and other infrastructure. The second kind were anthropogenic microbes, the kind of bacteria that thrives in an unsanitary environment that can be breeding ground for Salmonella or relatives.

This discovery of the potential threat of both human disease and structural corrosion by unknown species of Bacteria or Fungi can bring about some truly significant changes in the way cultural heritage objects and monuments are managed. During operations intended to gain an insight into the activities and behavior of microbial communities, the company started to factor in elements such as materials, lighting, temperature, and humidity to calibrate microbial signatures and improve tourist access for a safer site visit and a healthier monument.

Last but not least, as we are stepping into a post pandemic world, the ability to track biothreats in near real-time and develop proactive, rather than reactive, measures is of utmost importance. Understanding the nature of the coronavirus, its tendency to mutate and the potential for developing drug and vaccine countermeasures is vital to ensure the end of this global health crisis. This is where DNASequence’s MBE analysis techniques can bring a world of difference. They can provide the much awaited solution for eliminating highly related lineages, and rethink outbreak detection, especially across healthcare institutions. In essence, DNASequence’s custom, end-to end genomic solutions are set to transform workspaces, communities, and the world in the near future.