[Interview] Commercialization of Tuberculosis Protein Chip Utilizing Biosensors Is Imminent

Professor Jang Sianen of the Shenzhen Institute of Technology:
"China has secured 4,000 genes and completed the chip"
Most biosensors remain at the laboratory stage...
Technical and social barriers persist

The commercialization of the "tuberculosis protein chip" utilizing biosensors is imminent.

On September 24, Jang Si-an, a professor at the Shenzhen Institute of Technology in China, stated in an interview with Asia Economy at the 'KSBB-AFOB Conference 2025' that "China has established a tuberculosis gene bank, securing 4,000 genes, and has produced 4,000 proteins from these genes to complete the 'tuberculosis protein chip.'"

Jang Si-an, a professor at the Shenzhen Institute of Technology in China, is being interviewed by Asia Economy. Photo by Kim Joungho

Professor Jang is recognized as an international authority in the field of biosensors (chips) based on engineered proteins, to the extent that he is often called the face of synthetic biology in China.

His research focus, "biosensors," involves reading information from the biological processes of all living organisms. These sensors are used to detect glucose and lactate in human blood, inflammation signals, cancer markers, and immune responses in real time, assisting in diagnosis and treatment.

In plants, biosensors are used in agriculture to detect stress responses such as nutrient levels or excessive salinity in the soil. In the environmental sector, they measure pollutants in water, toxic gases in the air, and marine plankton reactions, serving as diagnostic devices for human health and as life science tools for monitoring ecosystems, agriculture, and the environment.

Professor Jang noted, "Currently, biosensors for blood glucose measurement have been successful, but most biosensors remain at the laboratory stage." He identified the tuberculosis protein chip as the biosensor closest to commercialization in recent years.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been promoting the "End TB Strategy" since 2015, aiming to reduce tuberculosis-related mortality by 95% and the number of patients by 90% by 2025. However, low vaccine efficacy and increasing drug resistance have made even the detection of tuberculosis challenging.

Once the tuberculosis protein chip is commercialized, it will be possible to integrate a large number of tuberculosis proteins, enabling the early detection of multiple antibody responses in blood and other samples, which will allow for rapid diagnosis and treatment.

Professor Jang explained, "This chip is used as a platform to screen for unknown pathogenic proteins using clinical samples," adding, "Through this, we are discovering new genes and developing new detection kits for use in clinical settings." This means commercialization is imminent.

Jang Si-an, a professor at the Shenzhen Institute of Technology in China, is being interviewed by Asia Economy. Photo by Kim Joungho

Regarding the reason why most biosensors remain at the laboratory stage, he acknowledged, "There are technical and social barriers." Professor Jang said, "Biochips can detect bacteria or viruses and provide clues for treatment, but using engineered proteins can be problematic." He added, "Bio-safety, which involves checking for toxicity, infectivity, and environmental hazards, is a social barrier."

He further stated, "It is necessary to develop new biosensors that address the issues of low sensitivity and low stability found in existing biosensors. On the social side, biosafety verification for the use of engineered proteins must be carried out."

Despite these barriers, he expressed confidence that they can be overcome soon. Professor Jang emphasized, "Synthetic biology is a new biotechnology with infinite possibilities," and "By designing new circuits and new cells, we can solve existing problems."

When asked about the level of research in Korea, he said, "I have visited Korea several times at the invitation of the Ministry of Science and ICT, and each time I was deeply impressed by the education, creativity, and passion."

Professor Jang recalled visiting the LG Research Institute at that time, stating, "Although the country has a small territory, the slogan that it is a powerhouse in technology left a strong impression on me." He added, "This passion in Korea is an important aspect that even inspires colleagues."

He continued, "Korea is an innovative and advanced country and a member of the OECD advanced economies. It is important to maintain this spirit of innovation. The government and public institutions should invest more actively in research."