Sensitive Detection of Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Malaria with Seven Novel Parasite-Specific LAMP Assays and Translation for Use at Point-of-Care
Kenny Malpartida-Cardenas, Nicolas Moser, Felix Ansah, Ivana Pennisi, Diana Ahu Prah, Linda Eva Amoah, Gordon A. Awandare, Julius Clemence R. Hafalla, Aubrey J. Cunnington, Jake Baum, Jesús Rodríguez-Manzano, Pantelis Georgiou
Abstract
gene deletions presents a major threat to reliable point-of-care diagnosis with current rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Novel molecular diagnostics based on nucleic acid amplification are needed to address this liability. In this work, we overcome this challenge by developing sensitive tools for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum and non-P. falciparum species. Furthermore, we evaluate these tools with a cohort of symptomatic and asymptomatic malaria patients and test a subcohort locally in Ghana. The findings of this work could lead to the implementation of DNA-based diagnostics to fight against the spread of malaria and provide reliable, sensitive, and specific diagnostics at the point of care.