Laura FitzGerald1, Cara M. Doherty1, Erin E. Hahn2, Mark Wallace3, Oliver F. Berry5, Sarah A. Stephenson4
1Manufacturing, CSIRO, Clayton South, VIC Australia, , , 2National Research Collections Australia, CSIRO, Canberra, ACT, Australia, , , 3CSIRO National Collections and Marine Infrastructure, Black Mountain, ACT, Australia, , , 4Environment, CSIRO, Hobart, TAS, Australia , , , 5Environomics Future Science Platform, National Collections and Marine Infrastructure, CSIRO, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia, ,
Biography:
Laura FitzGerald is a postdoctoral research fellow at CSIRO, specialising in encapsulating biomolecules with metal-organic frameworks to improve their stability. She joined CSIRO in 2021 after completing a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) and a Master of Engineering (Chemical) at the University of Melbourne, followed by a PhD in chemical biology at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS). Her previous research centred on designing fluorescent sensors to investigate nanomaterial-cell interactions.
Abstract:
Capturing and preserving environmental DNA (eDNA) is challenging due to its low concentration and susceptibility to degradation. Traditional active filtration methods are often time-consuming and cumbersome, especially in field settings. This study introduces a novel filter-free approach using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), known for their high porosity, to enhance eDNA collection and protection.
We developed a method using Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8) to efficiently capture eDNA from diverse water sources, including aquariums, rivers, and oceans. This one-pot synthesis captures eDNA in situ, simplifying the collection process. The high porosity of ZIF-8 ensures effective capture and safeguards eDNA from environmental degradation.
Our method addresses the limitations of conventional techniques, providing a more practical solution for eDNA collection and long-term preservation. These findings underscore the potential of MOFs to advance eDNA research by streamlining capture and improving sample stability.