The demand for automated diagnostic facilities has increased due to the rise in high-risk infectious diseases. However, small and medium-sized centers struggle to implement full automation because of limited resources. An integrated molecular diagnostics automation system addresses this issue by integrating small-scale automated facilities for each diagnostic process. Nonetheless, determining the optimal number of facilities and human resources remains challenging. This study proposes a methodology combining discrete event simulation and a genetic algorithm to optimize job-shop facility layout in the integrated molecular diagnostics automation system. A discrete event simulation model incorporates the number of facilities, processing times, and batch sizes for each step of the molecular diagnostics process. Genetic algorithm operations, such as tournament, crossover, and mutation, are applied to derive the optimal strategy for facility layout. The proposed methodology derives optimal facility layouts for various scenarios, minimizing costs while achieving the target production volume. This methodology can serve as a decision support tool when introducing job-shop production in the integrated molecular diagnostics automation system

The recent increase in the occurrence of common bed bug and tropical bed bug in shared areas highlights the need for rapid species identification at infestation sites, which is crucial for implementing targeted control measures due to differences in genetic and physiological traits. In this study, molecular diagnostic methods were developed using species-specific ITS2 sequences. Both multiplex PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) protocols with a DNA release method successfully distinguished between the two bed bug species regardless of developmental stages in 0.5~2.5 hours, even with dead specimens. Especially, LAMP's simplicity and speed make it applicable for rapid and accurate bed bug diagnosis at infestation sites.

Rice serves as the staple food for many Asian countries. However, it faces a significant threat from various Hemiptera species, including Nilaparvata lugens, Sogatella furcifera, Laodelphax striatellus, and Nephotettix cincticeps, which can cause devastating diseases. These species are economically significant pests of rice. Traditional morphology-based methods have proven inefficient in accurately distinguishing these pests at the species level. In this study, we present a successful approach for designing species-specific primers and their application in both general and multiplex PCR as well as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays, widely adopted molecular tools for species identification. Each primer set incorporates a species-specific sequence of at least 2 base pairs in both the forward and reverse primers. These primers have demonstrated exceptional diagnostic accuracy in conventional and multiplex PCR. Additionally, our study showcases the high sensitivity of LAMP, successfully achieving positive amplification with genomic DNA quantities ranging from 100pg to 10pg. In summary, these techniques provide an efficient means of diagnosing planthoppers in a large number of field-collected or individual samples.

Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019), the infection has spread worldwide due to the highly contagious nature of severe acute syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). To manage SARS-CoV-2, the development of diagnostic assays that can quickly and accurately identify the disease in patients is necessary. Currently, nucleic acid-based testing and serology-based testing are two widely used approaches. Of these, nucleic acid-based testing with quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-qPCR) using nasopharyngeal (NP) and/or oropharyngeal (OP) swabs is considered to be the gold standard. Recently, the use of saliva samples has been considered as an alternative method of sample collection. Compared to the NP and OP swab methods, saliva specimens have several advantages. Saliva specimens are easier to collect. Self-collection of saliva specimens can reduce the risk of infection to healthcare providers and reduce sample collection time and cost. Until recently, the sensitivity and accuracy of the data obtained using saliva specimens for SARS-CoV-2 detection was controversial. However, recent clinical research has found that sensitive and reliable data can be obtained from saliva specimens using RT-qPCR, with approximately 81% to 95% correspondence with the data obtained from NP and OP swabs. These data suggest that self-collected saliva is an alternative option for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

오리엔탈과실파리(Bactrocera dorsalis)는 주요 검역 대상으로 지정된 해충이다. 이 해충에 대한 고감도 모니터링과 진단 기술이 초기 방역 처리에 요구된다. 본 연구는 오리엔탈과실파리를 유인하여 치사시킬 목적으로 메틸유제놀과 생물농약을 혼합한 왁스형 방출기를 제작하였다. 본 연구는 또한 5종의 주요 검역 과실파리(오리엔탈과실파리, 오이과실파리, 퀸즐랜드과실파리, 말레이시아과실파리, 지중해과실파리)에 대한 PCR 진단프라이머를 개발하였다. 이상의 모니터링용 왁스방출기과 분자진단기술을 말레이시아 코타키나발루 지역에서 실증 시험하였다.

Three insect pests internally feed pome fruits in Korea. These include oriental fruit moth (Grapholita molesta), plum fruit moth (Grapholita dimorpha) and peach fruit moth (Carposina sasakii). Molecular markers discriminating these three species were developed using PCR-RFLP technique. Mitochondrial (mt) genomes were analyzed to locate polymorphic loci. Six mtDNA regions (CO-Ⅰ, CO-Ⅱ, CB, 16SrRNA-12SrRNA, ND3, ND4) of G. dimorpha were cloned and sequenced. These six sequences of G. dimorpha were aligned with those of C. sasakii and G. molesta to determine polymorphic restriction sites. Predicted PCR-RFLP markers were confirmed with known insect samples. With the validated PCR-RFLP markers, field male adults collected in traps baited with rubber sept lures impregnated with different ratios of major sex pheromone components of G. molesta were analyzed.