New Publication from Exosome Diagnostics Demonstrates Proof-of-Concept for Monitoring Astronaut Health in Space

Rhea-AI Summary

Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH) announced a proof-of-concept study from Exosome Diagnostics, revealing the feasibility of using an exosome-based platform for monitoring astronauts' health in space. The peer-reviewed study, published in npj Microgravity, identifies a potential method to diagnose spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), which affects returning astronauts. Exosomes can be extracted noninvasively from biofluids, offering insights into health changes due to microgravity. This innovative approach aims to enhance astronaut health and has broader applications in precision medicine on Earth.

Positive

• Successful proof-of-concept study for exosome-based health monitoring in space.
• Potential to enhance astronaut health during long missions.
• Broad applications for precision medicine using the same technology on Earth.

Negative

• None.

Study indicates that noninvasive exosome-based liquid biopsy would be feasible for monitoring health and disease in people traveling in space

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH) today announced that Exosome Diagnostics, a Bio-Techne brand, has reported results from a proof-of-concept study for a novel exosome-based platform that could monitor key biological changes in astronauts in space. The peer-reviewed publication was issued in npj Microgravity, a Nature publication.

Astronauts who return from microgravity environments in space often suffer from vision impairment, intracranial pressure, and other health problems that are not well understood. Collectively, these symptoms are known as spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS). As astronauts are sent on longer missions, and as commercial spaceflight allows non-astronauts to reach microgravity, there is increasing demand for research into the biological mechanisms responsible for SANS and a reliable technique for diagnosing the syndrome.

Exosomes are particles packed with molecular cargo, including proteins and RNA, that are released by cells as part of a natural cell-to-cell communication system. Their molecular contents can reveal important information about health and disease. Exosomes are found in bodily fluids such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine. They can be accessed with noninvasive liquid biopsy methods, making them an ideal solution to the challenge of monitoring dynamic changes in astronauts traveling in space.

In the study reported in npj Microgravity, scientists from Exosome Diagnostics, Baylor College of Medicine, and NASA contractor KBR demonstrated that exosomes could be extracted from biofluids collected at the International Space Station and stored for future analysis, and that their molecular contents could reveal transcriptome-wide information about key pathways that could shed light on SANS.

"Exosome Diagnostics has spent years developing and optimizing a platform for whole-transcriptome profiling based on exosome isolation and analysis. Our platform is designed for noninvasive monitoring of health and disease with a depth and breadth that are not possible using other approaches," said Johan Skog, Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President at Exosome Diagnostics. "We have worked closely with NASA to ensure that this technology will be applicable for space travelers, who are exposed to microgravity, different air composition, and radiation. This demonstration clearly shows that exosome-based analysis is a feasible and powerful approach for longitudinal monitoring of the dynamic biological changes that may arise from those conditions."

"We are excited about the potential for our technology to keep astronauts healthier, and also believe that our multi-analyte exosome analysis platform will enable a wide range of precision medicine applications here on Earth," said Kim Kelderman, President of the Diagnostics and Genomics Segment at Bio-Techne. "With an extremely robust and reproducible workflow, our approach to exosome analysis is useful for any research group interested in pathway profiling, patient stratification, and biomarker development."

Paper cited: Chakrabortty, S.K., Khodor, Y.L., Kitchen, R.R. et al. Exosome based analysis for Space Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome and health risks in space exploration. npj Microgravity 8, 40 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-022-00225-4 
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41526-022-00225-4

About Bio-Techne Corporation (NASDAQ: TECH)
Contact: David Clair, Vice President, Investor Relations
david.clair@bio-techne.com 
612-656-441

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SOURCE Bio-Techne Corporation

FAQ

What is the significance of the Bio-Techne study on astronaut health?

The study demonstrates a viable exosome-based method to monitor and understand health changes in astronauts, specifically related to spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome.

When was the Bio-Techne exosome study published?

The study was published on October 18, 2022, in the journal npj Microgravity.

What are exosomes and their role in the study by Bio-Techne?

Exosomes are particles released by cells that carry molecular information. In this study, they were used to extract health-related data from astronauts in space.

How could Bio-Techne's technology impact the future of space travel?

By enabling noninvasive health monitoring of astronauts, this technology could help address health risks encountered during long-duration space missions.

What is spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS)?

SANS refers to a collection of vision impairments and intracranial pressure issues experienced by astronauts returning from space, necessitating further research and reliable diagnostic techniques.