Coupling molecular diagnostics and nanotechnology for development of a next generation neglected tropical disease detection platform
Supervisors:
Dr Yu Chen, Physics (University of Strathclyde)
Dr Paul McVeigh, School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Global Food Security (Queen's University Belfast)
Summary:
Helminth (worm) parasites infect >2Bn people worldwide, causing serious health and economic problems for much of the economically developing world. However, as neglected tropical diseases, so far these infections have not received sufficient funding or research support, so we have insufficient tools to tackle them. Diagnostics is a particular area of need, since most helminth infections are diagnosed by microscopic identification of parasite eggs in faecal samples that is not suitable for large scale surveys. This interdisciplinary project aims to leverage state-of-the-art research in molecular parasitology and nanotechnology to develop a smartphone-based fluorescence sensing technique, enabling detection of parasite-secreted RNAs in host blood samples. The project will combine the QUB team’s research in profiling circulating RNAs in parasite infections, with the Strathclyde team’s expertise in plasmonic nanoprobes for detection of these RNAs in a portable fluorescence detection device based on a LED and a smartphone. This simplified test process will facilitate rapid sample screening, thus helping to support parasite disease elimination efforts.