About

Jane F. Emerson, MD, PhD, is a faculty member in the Department of Pathology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Her professional focus includes pathology, with an emphasis on research and education within the department. Her background combines medical training and doctoral research, contributing to her expertise in the field. As part of the faculty, she is involved in advancing research and training future healthcare leaders, although specific details of her research contributions are not provided on the page.

Research topics

• Genetics
• Medicine
• Biology
• Virology
• Computational biology
• Molecular biology
• Internal medicine
• Environmental health

Selected publications

• Analytical performance of a point-of-care CBC hematology analyzer, including a 5-part differential: A prospective study to evaluate a microfluidic flow cytometry–based analyzer in waived settings

  American Journal of Clinical Pathology · 2024-11-09 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  OBJECTIVES: A microfluidic flow cytometer-based point-of-care (POC) analyzer was validated against an in-laboratory hematology analyzer (Sysmex XN Automated Hematology System). Concordance on a full complete blood cell count (CBC) with 5-part differential, as performed by operators with no prior clinical laboratory experience, was evaluated. METHODS: We prospectively collected 376 venous blood specimens (376) from individuals with self-reported medical conditions and from apparently healthy individuals. Forty-six additional remnant specimens were acquired to ensure coverage of analytic measuring ranges. Parallel testing was performed, with up to 7 hours between testing on the POC and Sysmex XN analyzers. RESULTS: Regression analysis resulted in r values of 0.998 to 0.932 for all parameters of a 5-part differential CBC other than basophils (0.709). The mean percentage bias from the reference method, inclusive of the upper and lower reporting limits, was less than 2% for parameters other than lymphocytes (-6.4%), monocytes (25.9%), eosinophils (12.2%), and basophils (-15%). Overall agreement on abnormal flagging was 93.3%. CONCLUSIONS: The Cito CBC microflow cytometer (CytoChip Inc) provides a CBC with a 5-part differential with accuracy, precision, and abnormal flagging equivalent to a moderate-complexity hematology analyzer. It has the key features required of a POC device that can be operated in a waived setting: minimum space requirements, rapid results, single-action measurement (no sample processing or dilution), ease of use, and minimal blood volume.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• SARS-CoV-2 viral variants can rapidly be identified for clinical decision making and population surveillance using a high-throughput digital droplet PCR assay

  Scientific Reports · 2023 · 3 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Biology
  • Computational biology
  • Virology

  Epidemiologic surveillance of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants is essential to assess impact on clinical outcomes and vaccine efficacy. Whole genome sequencing (WGS), the gold-standard to identify variants, requires significant infrastructure and expertise. We developed a digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) assay that can rapidly identify circulating variants of concern/interest (VOC/VOI) using variant-specific mutation combinations in the Spike gene. To validate the assay, 800 saliva samples known to be SARS-CoV-2 positive by RT-PCR were used. During the study (July 2020-March 2022) the assay was easily adaptable to identify not only existing circulating VAC/VOI, but all new variants as they evolved. The assay can discriminate nine variants (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Eta, Epsilon, Lambda, Mu, and Omicron) and sub-lineages (Delta 417N, Omicron BA.1, BA.2). Sequence analyses confirmed variant type for 124/124 samples tested. This ddPCR assay is an inexpensive, sensitive, high-throughput assay that can easily be adapted as new variants are identified.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Surveillance of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 and Variants Using Digital Droplet Polymerase Chain Reaction at a Large University and Healthcare System in California

  Open Forum Infectious Diseases · 2023 · 1 citations

  • Medicine
  • Virology
  • Internal medicine

  Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants with different infectivity, transmission potential, and morbidity change the characteristics of local epidemics and affect vaccine effectiveness. As part of the University of Southern California COVID-19 Pandemic Research Center's efforts to understand, control, and inform local community on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we implemented a SARS-CoV-2 surveillance program among students, employees, and USC Keck Medical Center patients. We present the epidemiology and distribution of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants among the population. Methods: We used digital droplet reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to analyze in real-time remnant SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive saliva specimens stored at the USC Keck Medicine laboratory between September 2020 and April 2022. Samples were tested for the original strain (A20) and 9 SARS-CoV-2 variants: α(B.1.1.7, Q.1-Q.8), β(B.1.351, B.1.351.2, B.1.351.3), γ(P.1, P.1.1, P.1.2), δ(B.1.617.2), δ+(or δ417N), ε(B.1.427 and B.1.429), η(B.1.525), λ(C.37) and ο(B.1.1.529, ΒΑ.1, BA.2). We reviewed deidentified health information from positive cases including demographics, history of COVID-19 (eg, symptoms, hospitalizations, and repeat infections), and COVID-19 vaccination status. Results: We reviewed 1169 cases and determined the variant type of 482 specimens: 77 specimens were original strain, 119 "Delta", 165 "Omicron". The original strain was detected during the third and fourth quarters of 2020. The Delta variant appeared during the second quarter of 2021, whereas Omicron appeared in the fourth quarter of 2021. Conclusions: Prospectively tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants in a university population and a hospital system, utilizing a low-cost, high-throughput PCR assay, was feasible. Local variant monitoring remains important to inform prevention and control efforts among university and clinical settings.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• In Memoriam: David Bruce Endres, PhD, DABCC (1945-2021)

  The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine · 2021-05-05

  article1st authorCorresponding

  Dr. David Bruce Endres, internationally renowned endocrine clinical chemist for nearly 4 decades, died of complications from esophageal cancer on January 25, 2021, at age 75. He was born on September 26, 1945 in Muskegon, MI, completed his secondary education in LaGrange, IN, and received his BA in Biology and Chemistry from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI in 1969. He received his PhD in Biochemistry from Roswell Park Memorial Institute/State University of New York at Buffalo in 1976, and then completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Physiology and Biophysics (Endocrinology) at Colorado State University in Fort Collins in 1978. He was immediately recruited to the Nichols Institute in San Juan Capistrano, CA. Dr. Endres became board-certified by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry in 1985. During his tenure at the Nichols Institute from 1978 to 1986, he served in multiple leadership roles: Chief Chemist, Scientific Director, Director of the Calcium...

  PublisherDOI

• High-precision and cost-efficient sequencing for real-time COVID-19 surveillance

  Scientific Reports · 2021 · 24 citations

  • Computational biology
  • Biology
  • Genetics

  COVID-19 global cases have climbed to more than 33 million, with over a million total deaths, as of September, 2020. Real-time massive SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing is key to tracking chains of transmission and estimating the origin of disease outbreaks. Yet no methods have simultaneously achieved high precision, simple workflow, and low cost. We developed a high-precision, cost-efficient SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing platform for COVID-19 genomic surveillance, CorvGenSurv (Coronavirus Genomic Surveillance). CorvGenSurv directly amplified viral RNA from COVID-19 patients' Nasopharyngeal/Oropharyngeal (NP/OP) swab specimens and sequenced the SARS-CoV-2 whole genome in three segments by long-read, high-throughput sequencing. Sequencing of the whole genome in three segments significantly reduced sequencing data waste, thereby preventing dropouts in genome coverage. We validated the precision of our pipeline by both control genomic RNA sequencing and Sanger sequencing. We produced near full-length whole genome sequences from individuals who were COVID-19 test positive during April to June 2020 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. These sequences were highly diverse in the G clade with nine novel amino acid mutations including NSP12-M755I and ORF8-V117F. With its readily adaptable design, CorvGenSurv grants wide access to genomic surveillance, permitting immediate public health response to sudden threats.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Electromagnetic acoustic imaging methods: resolution, signal-to-noise, and image contrast in phantoms

  Journal of Medical Imaging · 2021-12-20

  articleOpen access1st author

  Purpose: Electromagnetic acoustic imaging (EMAI) is a hybrid imaging technique using radio-frequency irradiation to induce ultrasound (US), providing an US image in which spatial conductivity differences provide image contrast. The method is potentially clinically important in that the added diagnostic parameter has been shown to be useful in cancer detection and vascular space delineation. Approach: We report the development of coil configurations and imaging processing techniques designed to address the low signal-to-noise of EMAI and demonstrate achievable resolution and contrast in phantoms along with EMAI signals in excised animal tissue. Experiment results are compared with theoretical calculations. Results: EMAI signal intensities depend on the square of the ampere-turns in the coil radio frequency coil as predicted theoretically. Resolution is shown to be comparable to conventional US imaging with contrast and signal intensity depending on source conductivity. Optimizing signal-to-noise depends on coil design, orientation of the electromagnetic fields, and coherent processing. Conclusions: Two-dimensional EMAI images are shown to have the expected resolution of conventional US with image contrast dependent on conductivity. Achievable signal-to-noise is sufficient to form potentially clinically useful images.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• An Initial Evaluation of the Agreement between Two SARS-CoV-2 Serologic Assays

  The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine · 2020-07-01 · 1 citations

  letterOpen access

  studies (1-3). However, there are limitations to this retrospective observational study. Preexisting cardiovascular conditions are known to be a risk factor for poor outcomes in COVID-19 disease (4) and we were not able to sufficiently determine the presence or absence of preexisting cardiovascular comorbidities. Yet, in the New York study, the presence of preexisting cardiovascular disease/risk factors did not affect the hazard ratios for mortality among patients with elevated cTnI values (3). The finding that having no cTnI ordered resulted in a reduced OR of ARDS suggests selection bias in our study that we minimized by using those with cTnI ordered but undetectable results as the reference population. It is also important to note that we cannot diagnose AMI in these patients as cTnI is a marker of cardiac injury and not myocardial infarction. Without evidence of thrombotic events or ischemic signs and symptoms we can only state the prevalence of cardiac injury. Nonetheless, it is becoming clear that cardiac troponin can be an ally in managing patients with COVID-19 (5). Combining troponin with other biomarkers may result in even better prognosis and future studies will be important to determine this (5).

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Low Frequency Eddy Current Testing of Insulators and Composites

  Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation · 2018-07-17 · 7 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Sterilizing photocurable materials by irradiation: preserving UV-curing properties of photopolymers following E-beam, gamma, or X-ray exposure

  Journal of Materials Science Materials in Medicine · 2017-10-17 · 2 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Electromagnetic acoustic imaging

  IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control · 2013-01-24 · 17 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding

  Electromagnetic acoustic imaging (EMAI) is a new imaging technique that uses long-wavelength RF electromagnetic (EM) waves to induce ultrasound emission. Signal intensity and image contrast have been found to depend on spatially varying electrical conductivity of the medium in addition to conventional acoustic properties. The resultant conductivity- weighted ultrasound data may enhance the diagnostic performance of medical ultrasound in cancer and cardiovascular applications because of the known changes in conductivity of malignancy and blood-filled spaces. EMAI has a potential advantage over other related imaging techniques because it combines the high resolution associated with ultrasound detection with the generation of the ultrasound signals directly related to physiologically important electrical properties of the tissues. Here, we report the theoretical development of EMAI, implementation of a dual-mode EMAI/ultrasound apparatus, and successful demonstrations of EMAI in various phantoms designed to establish feasibility of the approach for eventual medical applications.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant R42CA133986

  NIH · $745k · 2012

Frequent coauthors

• M A Ibrahim

  Foundation for the National Institutes of Health

  9 shared

• Carl W. Cotman

  University of California, Irvine

  9 shared

• Gerald J. Kost

  Center Point

  5 shared

• Ira T. Lott

  University of California, Irvine

  5 shared

• William R. Shankle

  University of California, Irvine

  5 shared

• Keane K. Y. Lai

  Beckman Research Institute

  5 shared

• Orhan Nalcioğlu

  4 shared

• Fred Greensite

  4 shared

Labs

• PathologyPI