Systems and methods for detection of cells using engineered transduction particles

A method of detecting the presence of a target cell within a biological sample, comprising:

• coupling a reagent module to a sample container such that a reaction chamber defined by the sample container is fluidically isolated from an exterior volume, the reaction chamber containing the biological sample, the reagent module containing a plurality of transduction particles associated with the target cell and a reagent;
• disposing, after the coupling, at least a distal end portion of the sample container into an instrument;
• and
• actuating the instrument to cause the instrument to:
• manipulate the reagent module to convey the plurality of transduction particles into the reaction chamber of the sample container, the plurality of transduction particles associated with a target cell, the plurality of transduction particles engineered to be non-replicative and to include a nucleic acid molecule formulated to cause the target cell to produce a plurality of reporter molecules;
• maintain the biological sample and the plurality of transduction particles within the reaction chamber within a predetermined temperature range to allow the plurality of reporter molecules to be produced within the reaction chamber when the target cell is present in the biological sample;
• move the reagent module within the instrument to place a seal surface of the reagent module contact with a corresponding surface of the instrument to optically isolate the reaction chamber from the exterior volume, the seal surface in a fixed location relative to the sample container;
• manipulate the reagent module to convey the reagent into the reaction chamber of the sample container, the reagent formulated to react with the plurality of reporter molecules to catalyze production of a signal, the seal surface being maintained in contact with the corresponding surface when the reagent module is manipulated;
• and
• receive the signal associated with a quantity of the plurality of reporter molecules.

A method of detecting the presence of a target cell within a biological sample, comprising:

• coupling a reagent module to a sample container such that a reaction chamber defined by the sample container is fluidically isolated from an exterior volume, the reaction chamber containing the biological sample, the reaction chamber devoid of a reporter molecule before the coupling, the reagent module defining a first volume and a second volume, the first volume containing a plurality of transduction particles associated with the target cell, the second volume containing a reagent;
• disposing, after the coupling, at least a distal end portion of the sample container into an instrument;
• and
• actuating the instrument to cause the instrument to:
• manipulate the reagent module to convey the plurality of transduction particles from the first volume into the reaction chamber of the sample container, the plurality of transduction particles associated with the target cell, the plurality of transduction particles engineered to be non-replicative and to include a nucleic acid molecule formulated to cause the target cell to produce a plurality of reporter molecules;
• maintain the biological sample and the plurality of transduction particles within the reaction chamber in fluidic isolation from the exterior volume for a time period to allow the plurality of reporter molecules to be produced within the reaction chamber when the target cell is present in the biological sample;
• exert a force on the reagent module to place a seal surface of the reagent module in contact with a corresponding surface of the instrument to optically isolate the reaction chamber from the exterior volume, the seal surface in a fixed location relative to the sample container;
• manipulate the reagent module to convey the reagent from the second volume into the reaction chamber of the sample container, the reagent formulated to react with the plurality of reporter molecules to catalyze production of a signal, the seal surface being maintained in contact with the corresponding surface when the reagent module is manipulated;
• and
• receive the signal associated with a quantity of the plurality of reporter molecules.