HiBiT-PCR is developed by tailing PCR primers with sequences required for cell-free synthesis of HiBiT peptide which complements NanoLuc luciferase with LgBiT and generates strong luminescence in the presence of a NanoLuc substrate. HiBiT is intended to analyze proteins, but we make it available for nucleic acid detection. HiBiT-PCR achieved highly sensitive luminescence-based detection of M. tuberculosis genomic DNA.

LAMP (Loop-mediated isothermal amplification)-TRAC (TRanscription And CRISPR-Cas12) is developed using a noncanonical Cas12a activation for detection of PAM-less target DNA sequences. LAMP primers are designed to transcribe crRNA directly from LAMP products. Following LAMP, transcribed crRNA activates Cas12a together with a dsDNA activator designed for crRNA and leads to trans-cleavage of ssDNA reporters. LAMP-TRAC achieved detection of as low as 4 copies/µL of M. tuberculosis genomic DNA.

PCR-TRAC (TRanscription And CRISPR-Cas12) is developed using a noncanonical Cas12a activation for detection of PAM-less target DNA sequences. PCR primers are designed to transcribe crRNA directly from PCR products. Following PCR, transcribed crRNA activates Cas12a together with a dsDNA activator designed for crRNA and leads to trans-cleavage of ssDNA reporters. PCR-TRAC is sensitive enough to detect as low as 40 copies/µL of M. tuberculosis genomic DNA.

We developed an advanced single-cell PCR technique to measure leukocytes containing DNA sequences of interest. Following separation of leukocytes from whole blood, cells are encapsulated in droplets. Target sequences are then amplified without cell lysis by in situ PCR. Fluorescence is generated from probes intracellularly and accumulates in droplets. Leukocytes containing target DNA can be measured at the single-cell level by counting positive droplets, because every droplet contains one or no cell. We successfully measured neutrophils containing S. aureus DNA and demonstrated its advantages over blood cultute for diagnosis of bacteremia.

We created CRISPR Gel that allowed highly sensitive detection of  nucleic acids in a single-tube one-step format without the need of thermal cycler. We successfully applied CRISPR Gel to detect HIV RNA extracted from patient's plasma.

We innovated PCR Gel allowing highly sensitive detection of nucleic acids in a single-tube one-step format. We successfully detected HIV RNA extracted from patient's plasma using PCR Gel and demonstrated that PCR Gel is more sensitive and faster than one-step RT-PCR.

We developed a streamlined methodology to implement clone-specific quantification of tumor cells that were infected with HTLV-1 and caused adult T cell leukemia in a clinical setting. Clone-specific digital PCR (CS-dPCR) allows clone-based diagnostics and treatment for adult T cell leukemia in a clinical setting.

We developed a novel flow cytometry assay that can detect single-copy DNA targets in human leukocytes freshly separated from blood. The assay allowed us to analyze CD4+ lymphocytes containing HTLV-1 viral DNA by flow cytometry.