As the demand for decentralized and ambient-temperature molecular workflows increases, the scientific community is paying closer attention to enzyme formulation stability—particularly in the context of lyophilization. A 2022 study published in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics evaluated the performance of lyophilized Bsm DNA polymerase after prolonged storage at ambient temperatures. The results offer compelling implications for molecular biology, diagnostics, and field-deployable technologies.

Understanding the Study

In the study, Liu et al. (2022) investigated the functional resilience of lyophilized Bsm DNA polymerase stored under various temperature and humidity conditions. Over six months, the enzyme's strand displacement activity, amplification efficiency, and compatibility with isothermal workflows were assessed.

Most notably, the lyophilized polymerase retained over 95% of its original activity after six months at room temperature—a benchmark that could reshape how labs manage cold-chain logistics and long-term reagent storage.

“These findings demonstrate the feasibility of room-temperature molecular assays without compromising enzymatic fidelity,” the authors noted, highlighting the practical value of Bsm polymerases formulated for lyophilization.

Implications for the Research Community

While lyophilization has long been used in pharmaceutical stabilization, its targeted use in enzyme formulation for PCR, LAMP, and other nucleic acid amplification techniques is gaining traction. Bsm DNA polymerase—originally isolated from Bacillus stearothermophilus—is particularly well-suited for this adaptation due to its:

• High strand displacement activity
• Compatibility with isothermal amplification
• Thermostable properties

These characteristics make lyophilized Bsm polymerase a promising candidate for point-of-care molecular diagnostics, low-resource settings, and long-range sample transport.

Case for Ambient-Temperature Molecular Workflows

The benefits of stable, lyophilized enzymes extend beyond convenience:

• Reduced cold-chain dependency simplifies reagent handling in remote or mobile lab contexts.
• Consistent enzymatic performance enhances reproducibility, a key concern in regulated environments.
• Flexible deployment allows molecular tools to be used in outbreak response, field surveillance, or IVF labs where turnaround time and reliability are critical.

These advantages align with global trends toward portable, robust molecular diagnostics, especially in response to public health emergencies and expanding telehealth infrastructure.

Why This Matters for Future Assay Design

Designing nucleic acid-based assays is no longer confined to controlled lab environments. Lyophilized enzyme systems offer scientists the opportunity to formulate stable, ready-to-use mixes that maintain integrity without refrigeration. This expands the possibilities for diagnostics in under-resourced areas and enables the development of shelf-stable kits for infectious disease detection, genetic screening, and reproductive health monitoring.

The SoliSD™ Lyo-compatible Bsm DNA Polymerase Kit, found in the ProLab portfolio, represents a commercial realization of the principles validated by Liu et al.'s study. Its design echoes the study’s findings and offers a tangible path forward for assay developers and research institutions adapting to non-traditional lab environments.

Citation:

Liu, X., Yang, Y., Feng, Y., et al. (2022). Performance of Lyophilized Bsm DNA Polymerase in Ambient-Temperature Molecular Assays. Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, 24(2), 165–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmoldx.2021.10.007