Transcript CHEWING GUM DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR MALARIA TRACY WAWERU BME 281 SEMINAR

CHEWING GUM DIAGNOSTIC
TEST FOR MALARIA
TRACY WAWERU
BME 281 SEMINAR
HOW MALARIA WORKS:
Malaria is caused by a parasite that is passed
from one human to another by the bite of
infected Anopheles mosquitoes.
 After infection, the parasites (called
sporozoites) travel through the bloodstream to
the liver, where they mature and release
another form, the merozoites.
 The parasites enter the bloodstream and infect
red blood cells.
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HOW MALARIA WORKS CONTINUED…
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The parasites multiply inside the red blood cells, which then break open
within 48 to 72 hours, infecting more red blood cells.
The first symptoms usually occur 10 days to 4 weeks after infection, though
they can appear as early as 8 days or as long as a year after infection. The
symptoms occur in cycles of 48 to 72 hours.
MAIN PROBLEMS WITH MALARIA:
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This disease is extremely widespread, especially in the tropics
and subtropics places like Africa and Asia.
There are approximately 300-500 million people with the virus
in the world, while 2 million people die from it each year.
Another impending issue developing is that most of the
mosquitoes carrying the disease are developing resistance to
the insecticides and antibiotics. This makes it very hard for the
disease to be controlled.
Many of the people in malaria infested areas develop an
immunity to the disease, but it makes it very hard for visitors to
travel to warm areas .
PROBLEM BEING SOLVED BY ENGINEERS:
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Developing malaria diagnostic tests is a global health
issue. The quickness of malaria makes a fast test
essential.
Currently, all malaria diagnostic tests, including existing
rapid malaria tests, require a blood sample. The
problem with these tests is that some can cause
accidental infections and there are many communities
that have blood taboos and believe that blood is sacred.
Diagnosis by microscopes costs money to maintain
facilities and train technicians, which can be hard in
rural areas.
Blood can also go bad being transported in warmer
climates.
MALIVA
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UCLA researcher Andrew Fung, and his research team have invented Maliva,
which is a chewing gum that helps detect specific malaria antigens in saliva.
The steps involved with using Maliva would include:
A person starts chewing on flavored piece of gum
The flavor of the gum stimulates saliva production, which contains various
antigens and molecules made by malaria parasites.
The saliva would then enter the inner chambers of the gum where magnetic
nanoparticles and polystyrene beads would be located.
The saliva’s antigens and biomarkers would then latch onto the magnetic
nanoparticles.
After a few minutes of chewing, the gum is removed and put on a paper strip. The
nanoparticles that are latched onto the malaria biomarkers and antigens, would
show up as a thin line.
No line, no malaria.
ADVANTAGES:
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Cost-effective, especially in poorer regions where people do not
have much access to facilities and microscopic equipment.
Less invasive than the process of taking blood samples.
Diagnosis can be achieved within minutes
Improved diagnosis accuracy prevents misuse of anti-malarial
drugs and prevents development of drug resistance
Can be self-administered
Chewing gum is more attractive to people, especially children.
FUTURE:
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Since Maliva is just in its beginning phases, there has not been
any testing done on whether the diagnostic test works.
Andrew Fung and his research team hope to have a working
prototype of Maliva by next year. They plan to begin field tests
with the gum soon after that.
Since more and more researchers are being drawn into the
project, they are hoping that by being able to test for malaria
faster, they will be able to control the disease a bit more.
Maliva will help lead the way for a cure of malaria.
WORK CITED:
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"Chewable Saliva Diagnostic for Malaria Antigens, Enabled by a Magnetic
Immunoassay." Chewable Saliva Diagnostic for Malaria Antigens, Enabled
by a Magnetic Immunoassay. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.research.ucla.edu/tech/ucla10-132.htm>.
Bl, Eric. "Chewing Gum Could Detect Malaria." Msnbc.com. Msnbc Digital
Network, 16 Dec. 2009. Web. 28Oct.2012
.<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34446452/ns/health-oral_health/>.
"A Chewing Gum Diagnostic Test for Malaria." â€
” UCLA Engineering. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. <http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/newsroom/morenews/archive/2010/malaria-gum>.
"Mosquito Immune System Engineered to Block Malaria." ScienceDaily.
ScienceDaily, 11 Jan. 2012. Web.28Oct.2012.
<http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120105111946.htm>.
Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. Malaria. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Nov.
0000. Web. 28 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001646/>.