Rapid ‘triage’ using molecular probes and low cost portable optical devices: Due to its low cost and long history of use, sputum smear microscopy is widely used to screen for suspected pulmonary TB. However, these microscopy tests depend on stain-based methods that were developed over 100 years ago and require extensive processing and washing steps, resulting in detection levels as low as ~30%, depending on factors such as experience of the user and quality of sample. Therefore, we have developed fluorescent compounds (under evaluation in India and Russia) that will specifically stain Mycobacteria, avoiding non-specific labelling of other Gram +ve and –ve bacteria and other components in the sputum, thereby providing a ‘no-wash’ visualisation of the bacteria that cause tuberculosis.
Rapid ‘in-field’ molecular diagnosis of TB using DestiNA technology: ARREST-TB is well on its way to deliver a low cost, and reliable nucleic acid detection platform for diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, Non-tuberculosis Mycobacteria, as well as their drug-resistant mutations in the field. Up until now, such testing has required laborious, and time-consuming culture or expensive PCR based techniques that require specialised expertise and instrumentation, high installation, running and maintenance costs, cold-chains and so-forth, scarce in many primary care and low resource settings.
Non-sputum test for detecting TB with DestiNA technology using microRNAs as biomarkers: Biomarkers in easy-to-collect specimens such as saliva, urine, serum and whole blood have the potential to detect tuberculosis exposure and differentiate between active TB disease and latent TB infection and monitor treatment response. Despite significant investments in research over the past decades resulting in numerous reports on new biomarker candidates, a versatile biomarker-based test has not materialised for active TB, latent TB and to predict t the risk of progression from latent to active TB. Therefore, we are developing efficient and affordable microRNA-based assays using the Destina-Optoi platform.
Mobile phone ‘app’ for data interpretation, collection and remote collation: The aim here is to have the all the detection (and extraction) devices run by an ‘app’ on mobile phones. This ‘app’ will also enable telemetry, i.e. interpretation of results, logging of the details of the experiment and location (GPS), as well as transmitting the data and results to the cloud for collation and reporting. This will reduce under-reporting of TB cases, help track treatment outcomes as well as rapidly identifying ‘hot spots’ of TB.
