* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Black Box Players presents ‘The Three Musketeers’ – CBS 19 News

    Experience the Adventure: Black Box Players Bring ‘The Three Musketeers’ to Life!

    AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 1:51 p.m. EDT – Channel 3000

    Entertainment Highlights: Key Updates You Can’t Miss

    ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ casts Anne Hathaway’s love interest replacing Adrian Grenier’s Nate – Entertainment Weekly

    Devil Wears Prada 2′ Casts New Love Interest for Anne Hathaway, Replacing Adrian Grenier’s Nate

    12 ‘Late Show’ Moments Proving Stephen Colbert Can’t Be Replaced – The Mountaineer

    12 Unforgettable ‘Late Show’ Moments That Prove Stephen Colbert Is Truly One of a Kind

    Canes owner Tom Dundon’s real estate firm eyes entertainment complex near RDU – The Business Journals

    Canes Owner Tom Dundon’s Real Estate Firm Unveils Plans for Thrilling New Entertainment Complex Near RDU

    Inspired Entertainment, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:INSE) Price Is Right But Growth Is Lacking After Shares Rocket 29% – simplywall.st

    Inspired Entertainment Soars 29% but Growth Momentum Falls Short

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Behind the Screens: The Impact of Technology on Real Estate – TRREB

    Behind the Screens: How Technology is Transforming the Future of Real Estate

    Sustainserv and Palau Announce Technology Partnership to Leverage Innovative AI Platform to Advance Sustainability Reporting – Business Wire

    Sustainserv and Palau Team Up to Transform Sustainability Reporting with Breakthrough AI Technology

    Morgan Adamski Joins PwC in Newly Created Cyber, Data & Technology Risk Division – HSToday

    Morgan Adamski Leads the Charge in PwC’s Cutting-Edge Cyber, Data & Technology Risk Division

    Transformative technology, support for food entrepreneurs spotlighted – University of Hawaii System

    How Cutting-Edge Technology and Strong Support Are Revolutionizing Food Entrepreneurs’ Success

    Cold Weather Alloy Opens New Possibilities for Space Technology – Universe Today

    Revolutionary Cold Weather Alloy Unlocks New Frontiers in Space Technology

    Defence Holdings PLC Transitions from Esports to Pioneering Defence Technology

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Black Box Players presents ‘The Three Musketeers’ – CBS 19 News

    Experience the Adventure: Black Box Players Bring ‘The Three Musketeers’ to Life!

    AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 1:51 p.m. EDT – Channel 3000

    Entertainment Highlights: Key Updates You Can’t Miss

    ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ casts Anne Hathaway’s love interest replacing Adrian Grenier’s Nate – Entertainment Weekly

    Devil Wears Prada 2′ Casts New Love Interest for Anne Hathaway, Replacing Adrian Grenier’s Nate

    12 ‘Late Show’ Moments Proving Stephen Colbert Can’t Be Replaced – The Mountaineer

    12 Unforgettable ‘Late Show’ Moments That Prove Stephen Colbert Is Truly One of a Kind

    Canes owner Tom Dundon’s real estate firm eyes entertainment complex near RDU – The Business Journals

    Canes Owner Tom Dundon’s Real Estate Firm Unveils Plans for Thrilling New Entertainment Complex Near RDU

    Inspired Entertainment, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:INSE) Price Is Right But Growth Is Lacking After Shares Rocket 29% – simplywall.st

    Inspired Entertainment Soars 29% but Growth Momentum Falls Short

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Behind the Screens: The Impact of Technology on Real Estate – TRREB

    Behind the Screens: How Technology is Transforming the Future of Real Estate

    Sustainserv and Palau Announce Technology Partnership to Leverage Innovative AI Platform to Advance Sustainability Reporting – Business Wire

    Sustainserv and Palau Team Up to Transform Sustainability Reporting with Breakthrough AI Technology

    Morgan Adamski Joins PwC in Newly Created Cyber, Data & Technology Risk Division – HSToday

    Morgan Adamski Leads the Charge in PwC’s Cutting-Edge Cyber, Data & Technology Risk Division

    Transformative technology, support for food entrepreneurs spotlighted – University of Hawaii System

    How Cutting-Edge Technology and Strong Support Are Revolutionizing Food Entrepreneurs’ Success

    Cold Weather Alloy Opens New Possibilities for Space Technology – Universe Today

    Revolutionary Cold Weather Alloy Unlocks New Frontiers in Space Technology

    Defence Holdings PLC Transitions from Esports to Pioneering Defence Technology

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Health

Lives could be saved from tropical disease with new rapid test

March 14, 2024
in Health
Lives could be saved from tropical disease with new rapid test
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

blood test

Credit: Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Globally, more than half of patients die after infection with the neglected tropical disease, melioidosis, often before they are diagnosed. A new rapid test could save lives by diagnosing patients in hours rather than several days taken by current bacterial culture methods, meaning they receive the correct antibiotics faster.

The test uses CRISPR to detect a genetic target that is specific to Burkholderia pseudomallei, the bacterium that causes melioidosis, with 93 percent sensitivity. It was developed by researchers at the Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Chiang Mai University, Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC) in Thailand, and the Wellcome Sanger Institute in the UK.

The results, published in Lancet Microbe, mean more lives could be saved from melioidosis with a rapid, easy-to-use diagnostic test that could be rolled out globally.

Melioidosis is a neglected tropical disease that is estimated to affect 165,000 people worldwide each year, of whom 89,000 die from the disease. It is caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, which lives in soil and water in tropical and subtropical regions and enters human bodies via inoculation through skin abrasions, ingestion, or inhalation.

It is difficult to diagnose melioidosis as symptoms vary from localized abscess or pneumonia to acute septicemia or may present as a chronic infection. As a result of this, and the locations of isolated communities in rural areas that it mostly affects, the disease remains hugely underreported.

Currently, melioidosis is diagnosed in patients after bacterial samples are cultured, which takes three to four days. In Thailand, approximately 40 percent of patients with melioidosis die, many of whom die within the first one to two days following admission to hospital, while waiting for a diagnosis.

There is no licensed vaccine for melioidosis, but patients can be effectively treated with intravenous antibiotics—ceftazidime or carbapenem—during the first intensive phase of treatment. However, current practices often involve initially treating patients with a range of unnecessary antibiotics to target the various symptoms the disease produces, which can waste time and resources.

In a new study, the team set out to develop a new rapid test to reduce the time taken to diagnose and treat patients with melioidosis correctly.

The researchers identified a genetic target specific to B. pseudomallei by analyzing over 3,000 B. pseudomallei genomes, most of which were sequenced at the Sanger Institute. They searched for conserved regions of the genome and screened the targets against other pathogens and human host genomes to ensure their chosen target was specific to B. pseudomallei.

Their test, called CRISPR-BP34, involves rupturing bacterial cells and using a recombinase polymerase amplification reaction to amplify the bacterial target DNA for increased sensitivity. Additionally, a CRISPR reaction is used to provide specificity, and a simple lateral flow ‘dipstick’ read-out is employed to confirm cases of melioidosis.

To assess the efficacy of the test, the team collected clinical samples from 114 patients with melioidosis and 216 patients without the disease at Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital, a hospital in northeast Thailand where melioidosis is endemic. The CRISPR-BP34 test was then applied to these samples.

The new test showed enhanced sensitivity at 93 percent, compared to 66.7 percent in bacterial culture methods. It also delivered results in less than four hours for urine, pus, and sputum samples and within one day for blood samples. This is a significant improvement over the current bacterial culture diagnostic method, which typically takes three to four days.

This new rapid diagnostic test will enable health professionals to prescribe the correct antibiotics faster, meaning fewer patients will die while waiting for a diagnosis. While saving precious time, the new test will also save resources and money, with fewer unnecessary antibiotics prescribed and less time for patients in the hospital.

In the next steps for the team, they are currently designing randomized clinical trials to show the effectiveness of these tests in hospital settings. Plus, members of the team will begin investigating the role of human genetics in susceptibility and immune response to melioidosis infection.

Dr. Claire Chewapreecha, co-lead author at the Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Thailand, and Wellcome Sanger Institute International Fellow, said, “Working in rural Thailand has many limitations. But we have shown that limitations breed innovation, and what succeeds here can succeed anywhere.”

“I am so proud of the team behind this new, robust, rapid diagnostic test for melioidosis, and I hope that it can potentially be used anywhere in the world to get the right treatments to patients faster, ultimately saving lives.”

Dr. Somsakul Wongpalee, co-lead author at Chiang Mai University, Thailand, said, “We carefully designed the rapid diagnostic test based on CRISPR-BP34, with a robust algorithm, and tested its performance in vitro. We are thrilled that the CRISPR-BP34 test demonstrates outstanding diagnostic efficacy when tested on clinical samples, showcasing its potential to significantly impact patient outcomes and potentially save lives in the near future.”

Professor Nick Thomson, senior author and Head of Parasites and Microbes at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said, “This research is a testament to international collaboration and how the application of genomics at scale leads to clinical intervention. Using a genetic target mined from a bank of thousands of bacterial genomes, the team was able to produce an incredibly sensitive test that is specific to the bacterium behind melioidosis. I look forward to seeing the clinical impacts of this research.”

Professor Nick Day, senior author and Director of the Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Thailand, and the Wellcome Trust Thailand Asia and Africa Programme, said, “Melioidosis has been neglected despite its high mortality rate and high incidence in many parts of Asia. Early diagnosis is essential so that the specific treatment required can be started as soon as possible. The new rapid diagnostic tool developed through this collaboration has the potential to be a game-changer.”

More information:
Claire Chewapreecha et al, Benchmarking CRISPR-BP34 for point-of-care melioidosis detection in low-income and middle-income countries: a molecular diagnostics study., The Lancet Microbe (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S2666-5247(23)00378-6

Citation:
Lives could be saved from tropical disease with new rapid test (2024, March 13)
retrieved 14 March 2024
from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-03-tropical-disease-rapid.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Medical Xpress – https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-03-tropical-disease-rapid.html

Tags: healthlivessaved
Previous Post

Modest rise in UK cancer cases but substantial decline in deaths over last 25 years: Study

Next Post

Study shows potential for using AI tools to detect health care-associated infections

Nutrition and lifestyle hold the key to overcoming obesity risk – The Hans India

Unlocking the Secret to Beating Obesity: How Nutrition and Lifestyle Make All the Difference

July 24, 2025
He ‘found his place in the world’ through football. Then came 15 years of suffering – The New York Times

He Found His Place in the World Through Football – Then Endured 15 Years of Struggle

July 24, 2025
How Nuclear Fusion Could Revive This State’s Startup Economy – Inc.com

How Nuclear Fusion Could Spark a Revival in This State’s Startup Scene

July 24, 2025
Hollywood’s writers won the strike but lost the work – Spectrum News

Hollywood Writers Win Strike Victory but Confront New Challenges Ahead

July 24, 2025
Health For All reminds Brazos Valley of healthy habits, resources during summer months – KBTX News 3

Stay Healthy This Summer: Must-Know Tips and Resources for Brazos Valley Residents

July 24, 2025
Democrat Roy Cooper expected to run for Senate from North Carolina, sources tell CNN – CNN

Democrat Roy Cooper Launches Thrilling Campaign for North Carolina Senate Seat

July 24, 2025
Behind the Screens: The Impact of Technology on Real Estate – TRREB

Behind the Screens: How Technology is Transforming the Future of Real Estate

July 24, 2025
Gustavus hires Jordan Benson as Sports Information Director – Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Gustavus Welcomes Jordan Benson as New Sports Information Director

July 24, 2025
Join the Neighborhood Ecology Corps – RaleighNC.gov

Join the Neighborhood Ecology Corps – RaleighNC.gov

July 24, 2025

WEBS Program Ignites Passion for Science with Exciting Hands-On Labs

July 24, 2025

Categories

Archives

July 2025
MTWTFSS
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031 
« Jun    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (736)
  • Economy (760)
  • Entertainment (21,642)
  • General (16,075)
  • Health (9,798)
  • Lifestyle (768)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (761)
  • Politics (769)
  • Science (15,975)
  • Sports (21,257)
  • Technology (15,742)
  • World (743)

Recent News

Nutrition and lifestyle hold the key to overcoming obesity risk – The Hans India

Unlocking the Secret to Beating Obesity: How Nutrition and Lifestyle Make All the Difference

July 24, 2025
He ‘found his place in the world’ through football. Then came 15 years of suffering – The New York Times

He Found His Place in the World Through Football – Then Endured 15 Years of Struggle

July 24, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version