Skip to main content
Ir a la página de inicio de la Comisión Europea (se abrirá en una nueva ventana)
español es
CORDIS - Resultados de investigaciones de la UE
CORDIS

Development of a simple and rapid assay for early diphtheria diagnosis.

Descripción del proyecto

Una innovadora prueba diagnóstica para la difteria

El agente patógeno de la difteria, «Corynebacterium diphtheriae», constituye un grave riesgo para la salud de las personas no vacunadas o con un sistema inmunitario débil. Teniendo en cuenta el aumento de casos de difteria entre los migrantes asiáticos y africanos, los científicos del proyecto financiado con fondos europeos DIFTERIA se han centrado en obtener un método de diagnóstico fiable ante una posible epidemia. El método propuesto detectará la toxina de la difteria mediante una tira inmunocromatográfica en tan solo seis horas. La utilización de esta novedosa prueba mejorará la precisión del diagnóstico de la difteria y permitirá un inicio temprano del tratamiento, evitando así la propagación comunitaria del patógeno.

Objetivo

During 1990s, there was an epidemic of diphtheria in Russia and other countries of the former USSR affecting about 200, 000 people with 5000 deaths. Although diphtheria incidence in Russia has declined substantially, recent reports from several EU countries indicate circulation of toxigenic C. diphtheriae among migrants from Asia and Africa as well as children’s deaths among indigenous population. Toxigenic C. diphtheriae poses a serious risk for unvaccinated persons and persons with low level of immunological protection, the number of which in recent times in Europe has increased. The International system of quality control revealed poor state of laboratory diagnosis of diphtheria in EU countries, which means we are not prepared for the possible outbreaks. This is mostly due to the absence of simple, standard and reliable diagnostic methods.

The leading element in the diphtheria laboratory diagnostic approach is a detection of the bacterial toxin. In this regard, it is proposed to develop non-apparatus immunochromatographic strip (ICS) test for diphtheria toxin (DT) indication. In addition a liquid selective medium for the clinical sample cultivation will be designed. A combination of the ICS test and the medium will represent a novel assay for early diphtheria diagnosis. The reagent kit will be commercially produced. The availability of simple, reliable and affordable ICS assay for DT detection will increase the accuracy of diphtheria diagnosis in EU and other countries and reduce the duration of its execution up to 6 hours (instead of 5-7 days as recommended by the WHO manual). The efficient early diphtheria diagnosis will enable timely initiation of anti-diphtheritic treatment that will save lives, prevent the development of complications (heart failure, paralysis), as well as stop the spread of the disease through initiation of preventive measures (vaccination and antibiotic prophylaxis) in case of disease outbreaks.

Ámbito científico (EuroSciVoc)

Palabras clave

Programa(s)

Tema(s)

Régimen de financiación

MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

Ver todos los proyectos financiados en el marco de este régimen de financiación

Convocatoria de propuestas

(se abrirá en una nueva ventana) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018

Ver todos los proyectos financiados en el marco de esta convocatoria

Coordinador

SENOVA GESELLSCHAFT FUR BIOWISSENSCHAFT UND TECHNICK MBH
Aportación neta de la UEn
€ 174 806,40
Dirección
INDUSTRIESTR. 8
99427 Weimar
Alemania
Pyme
Sí
Región
Thüringen Thüringen Weimar, Kreisfreie Stadt
Tipo de actividad
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Enlaces
Coste total
€ 174 806,40