Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for amplifying nucleic acids that avoid problems associated with primer-dimer formation. The present methods are referred to herein as dimer avoided multiplex polymerase chain reaction (dam-PCR). The methods disclosed herein generally comprise the steps of reverse transcribing at least one first strand of DNA, for example cDNA from an RNA sample, wherein each first strand of DNA incorporates a reverse common primer binding site; selecting each first strand of DNA; synthesizing at least one second strand of DNA from each of the at least one first strand of DNA, wherein each second strand of DNA incorporates a forward common primer binding site; selecting each second strand of cDNA; and amplifying the DNA strands using common primers. Alternatively, the method may be performed using a gDNA template.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates a method of amplifying TCR alpha chain VDJ and/or TCR beta chain VDJ sequences by reverse transcribing at least one first strand of cDNA from mRNA containing at least one target sequence using an oligo-dT primer, using a multiplex primer mix of primers configured to bind to TCR alpha chain VDJ and/or TCR beta chain VDJ sequences to amplify the cDNA, using probe capture to capture TCR VDJ-specific amplicons and elute non-TCR VDJ-specific amplicons, performing an additional round of PCR to further enrich TCR alpha chain VDJ and TCR beta chain VDJ amplicons, and sequencing the resulting amplicons using next generation sequencing.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for the collection of exhaled aerosols. In some embodiments, the device disclosed herein comprises a cup and an attachable lid, wherein the cup has a conical base and the lid includes a pipette access port with a removable cap and a sealed buffer reservoir. In some embodiments, the method for a subject to collect exhaled aerosols disclosed herein comprises the steps of placing a collection cup against the subject's mouth, the subject coughing into the collection cup at least once, immediately closing the device by reattached a lid to the collection cup, placing the collection cup in a transport bag, and providing the transport bag to a processor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for amplifying nucleic acids that avoid problems associated with primer-dimer formation. The present methods are referred to herein as dimer avoided multiplex polymerase chain reaction (dam-PCR). The methods disclosed herein generally comprise the steps of reverse transcribing at least one first strand of DNA, for example cDNA from an RNA sample, wherein each first strand of DNA incorporates a reverse common primer binding site; selecting each first strand of DNA; synthesizing at least one second strand of DNA from each of the at least one first strand of DNA, wherein each second strand of DNA incorporates a forward common primer binding site; selecting each second strand of cDNA; and amplifying the DNA strands using common primers. Alternatively, the method may be performed using a gDNA template.