Malaria is largely a preventable and curable disease. However, a delay or an inappropriate treatment can result in serious adverse outcomes for patient. Rapid, simple and cost-effective diagnostic tests that can be easily adapted and rapidly scaled-up at the field or community levels are needed.
BIOTEC researchers have developed an assay platform using the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique in combination with lateral flow dipstick for the detection of malaria parasite. The malarial dihydrofolate reductase–thymidylate synthase (dhfr-ts) gene, a target for antifolate class of anti-malarial drugs, is used as a target for this assay development. The total assay time of LAMP–LFD method is approximately 55 minutes, and the result can be visualized on the test strip. This novel method does not require sophisticated equipment, nor experienced technicians to interpret the result, making it highly suitable for field work and healthcare stations in remote area. The assays are available for Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax.
Researchers involved in this project (L-R): Ms. Wansika Kiatpathomchai,
Dr. Suganya Yongkiettrakul and Dr. Darin Kongkasuriyachai
This technology is developed by Medical Molecular Biology Research Unit and Biosensing Technology Research Unit.