For a long time, the proteome has been regarded as the magic key for knowing, understanding, and predicting phenotypes, but unlocking the proteome comes with many challenges. For many years, high multiplexing methods were not on offer to customers.
Tala Khosroheidari, Senior Director of Global Scientific Engagement at SomaLogic, explained that her company has developed a high-throughput, high-multiplex technology that allows researchers to connect biological processes to phenotypes by analysing a wide range of proteins. Their latest panel covers an impressive 11,000 proteins, representing over half of the human proteome. With over two decades of expertise, SomaLogic has challenged and re-envisioned multiplexing in a way that offers an alternative to traditional mass spectrometry.
SomaLogic’s main offering, SOMAmers (Slow Off-Rate Modified Aptamers), use single-stranded DNA with specific modifications to bind to protein epitopes with high specificity and sensitivity. Khosroheidari explained that this tool enables the detection of a large number of proteins without compromising accuracy.
Khosroheidari stressed that although her company has spent a long time developing and refining their technology, which is highly validated, they do not dismiss other technologies: over 75% of their protein targets have been confirmed by mass spectrometry. Furthermore, orthogonal validation of proteomic data was emphasised.
Many scientists seek to scale up, but sometimes an adequate solution is not always available. With SomaLogic’s technology, one can run 8 plates in a 96-well format per week easily, making scale-up more feasible. Furthermore, SomaLogic requires a very low sample volume and accepts diverse samples from different animals and various sample matrices. The technology offers femtomolar to micromolar in the same sample without additional treatment.
To move into the clinical space, SomaLogic has developed tests, such as the SomaSignal test, which uses AI and machine learning to predict diseases years in advance. For example, their dementia test can predict the risk of developing dementia up to 20 years in advance. Many of these risk scores are going through regulatory phases right now.
The Litmus Consortium commissioned a study on SomaLogic’s Nash test, which shared samples from liver biopsies that could confirm Nash disease or advanced fibrosis. The results showed that SomaLogic’s test outshone 17 other clinical tests in detecting NASH disease or advanced fibrosis. Additionally, it demonstrated the highest accuracy and diagnostic ability with the lowest sample number required for a 95% confidence interval.
In summary, Khosroheidari reiterated the importance of expanding protein coverage and validating technologies. She also explored how these techniques can be applied to clinical diagnostics to predict and manage diseases effectively.
