Microfluidic chip technology enables rapid multiplex diagnosis of plant viral diseases
A research group composed of Professor Takayuki Shibata and his colleagues at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology has applied a microfluidic chip technology to develop a multiplex genetic diagnostic device for the early detection and prevention of crop diseases. The group conducted a gene amplification experiment using four kinds of cucumber viruses on the palm-size diagnostic device, and successfully demonstrated that the rapid multiplex diagnosis can be performed within 1 hour of testing. This diagnostic device is a highly versatile technology that can be used for genetic diagnosis not only in viral diseases of crops, but also in various areas including human infections (e.g., the agriculture/livestock/fisheries industries, the food industry, and health/medical care).