2nd Joint Call: MalHivPOCTs

Background

Malaria and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are two highly dangerous global infectious diseases that cause major harm especially to societies in the Southeast Asia (SEA) region. Current diagnostic technologies are cumbersome, expensive and require sophisticated equipment that can only be maintained in specialized hospitals. This means unfortunately that diagnostics are not available where and when truly needed. Specifically, current diagnostic tests for Malaria are based on microscopy, antigen/antibody detection and nucleic acid-based assays. The gold standard for the detection of mutations in HIV is Sanger sequencing. At the same time, recent advancements in biosensor and rapid-test diagnostics have demonstrated their powerful potential in addressing exactly these complex diagnostic needs in resource-limited settings. Based on our joint diverse and broad strong expertise in Malaria, HIV infectious diseases, biosensors, and nucleic-acid based systems, we propose the development of paper-based and biosensor technologies for the simultaneous detection of Malaria or HIV drug resistance, leading to a simple and low-cost, yet highly reliable and sensitive diagnostic kit.

The Project

The MalHivPOCTs project aims to develop rapid point-of-care diagnostic devices that will detect Malaria (Plasmodium genus and two species of Plamodium) and HIV drug resistance to antiretroviral using isothermal amplification methods, paper-based microfluidics and visual readout.

This project will involve parallel developments of the different components of the paper-based device from 4 partners (Germany, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand) and hence take advantage of their respective expertise in a collaborative effort.

The Science

The MalHivPOCTs will be based on developing strategies to lyse the pathogens in the blood sample, extract DNA/RNA, amplify specific target sequences, and finally detect the product in a set of paper-based analytical devices (PADs). The device will be made from a patterned piece of chromatography paper with wax ink functioning as hydrophobic barriers and hydrophilic channel. It will integrate all sample assay steps from lysis to detection. Electrospun nanofibers will be studied to enhance DNA/RNA extraction. The recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) is used to amplify DNA/RNA and single or simultaneous detection using colloidal gold or liposomes will result in visual detection.

The Team:

The MalHivPOCTs partners are:

• • Dr. Patsamon Rijiravanich: National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Pathum Thani, Thailand, (Project Coordinator)
  • King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangkok, Thailand
  • Prof. Dr. dr. Fitri Engga Luki: Universitas Brawijaya (UB), Brawijaya, Indonesia,
  • Angelo dela Tonga: University of the Philippines Manila, Manila (UPM), Manila, Philippines
  • Prof. Dr. Antje Bauemner: University of Regensburg (UREG), Regensburg, Germany
  • Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII), Yogyakarta, Indonesia,

Contact:

Patsamon Rijiravanich: patsamon.rij@biotec.or.th

Featured image from unsplash.com