Project

Freezing is the most commonly used method for storing DNA extracts. However, that method is non-practical and expensive, since requiring freezers and back-up generators for storage, and specific conditions/reagents for transport. In addition, even when adequate procedures are followed, the frozen extracts integrity might suffer from repeated freeze-thaw cycles or residual microorganism activity. The Institut Pasteur’s ICAReB platform hosts the biological collection related to the CoSImmGEn cohorts (Cohort and Collection to Study the Immune System with its Genetic and Environmental determinants) since 2011 (see related team publication 1). Those cohorts have been designed for providing large, duly annotated, qualified blood-derived bio-resources such as blood peripheral mononuclear cells, DNA and RNA from healthy subjects or cases suffering from diseases such as Hidradenitis Suppurativa to support genetic studies linked to the immune system (see related team publication 2 et 3). To provide over the long term genomic DNA for any kind of future genetic studies searching for immune system etio-pathogenesis, the ICAReB platform has used a newly developed DNAshells® (Imagene) which ensure nondestructive, reliable and long-term stability of DNA at low-cost (Clermont et coll, Biopreserv Biobank, 2014). That technology involves encapsulation of the genomic material such that it can be stored dry at room temperature, in small, watertight, oxidation-proof metal capsules. The first aim of the present project is to determine if SNP genotyping allows the detection of DNA damage during storage in various conditions. The second aim of the project is to demonstrate that encapsulation allows an optimal storage of human blood derived DNA at room temperature.