Using lasers and ultrasound, the ‘cytophone’ detects a key byproduct of all malaria parasites.

Transcript

Among the most commonly used malaria diagnostic tests is the rapid diagnostic test (RDT), which detects malaria antigens from a drop of blood. Whilst RDTs are small and cheap, they're invasive and new strains of the parasite have evolved that can escape RDT diagnosis. Now, engineers have developed new diagnostic technology – a cytophone – which doesn’t require a blood draw. About the size of a desktop printer, the cytophone uses lasers and ultrasound to detect infected red blood cells in the vein on a patient’s hand or forearm. The cytophone works by detecting hemozoin, a byproduct of all malaria parasites from their consumption of hemoglobin for energy. When hemozoin absorbs a certain amount of the laser energy, it heats up and expands, generating ultrasound waves that indicate malaria infection within the red blood cell. In a trial of 20 adults in Cameroon with symptomatic malaria, the cytophone prototype performed as well as current point-of-care diagnostic methods.

Source

Noninvasive in vivo photoacoustic detection of malaria with Cytophone in Cameroon

About The Podcast

The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

Today, how DNA from a single patient in Ethiopia can shed light on the big picture of malaria.

• Why is Plasmodium vivax significant in malaria research, especially in Ethiopia?
• How does genomic sequencing contribute to understanding and controlling malaria?
• How are advances in sequencing technology influencing malaria research?

With Jane Carlton, Delenasaw Yewhalaw, and Francisco Callejas Hernandez

About The Podcast

The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.

'Comparative genomics' helps identify genes that can serve as targets for future drugs and vaccines.

Transcript

Not all parasites are alike. Genetic mutations mean that malaria parasites evolve differently in different regions – and even within the same region. One species thought to be particularly genetically diverse is Plasmodium vivax. It’s the second most common species of malaria, found in South East Asia, South America, and some parts of Africa. In Ethiopia, 20% of malaria cases are thought to be caused by P. vivax. In a new paper, scientists made a ‘reference genome’ from a sample of P. vivax in Ethiopia. They collected blood from an infected patient, extracted the DNA, and ‘read’ its fragments to form the parasite genome. This allows scientists to compare P. vivax samples across regions – and understand their similarities and differences. Importantly, this study of ‘comparative genomics’ ie comparing genomes will help identify the genes that stay the same – the conserved genes – and those which are different - the unique genes -which could serve as targets for future drugs and vaccines.

Source

Assembled genome of an Ethiopian Plasmodium vivax isolate generated using GridION long-read technology

About The Podcast

The Johns Hopkins Malaria Minute podcast is produced by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute to highlight impactful malaria research and to share it with the global community.