Colorimetric Detection of Plasmodium vivax in Urine Using MSP10 Oligonucleotides and Gold Nanoparticles.

Yossef Alnasser,Dionicia Gamboa,Uri S Mckakpo,Kwabena M Bosompem,Maritza Calderon,Isabella A Quakyi,Joseph M Vinetz,Robert H Gilman,Alejandro Gurbillon,David J Sullivan,Cusi Ferradas,Taryn Clark,Eric Dumonteil

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005029

Abstract

Plasmodium vivax is the most prevalent cause of human malaria in the world and can lead to severe disease with high potential for relapse. Its genetic and geographic diversities make it challenging to control. P. vivax is understudied and to achieve control of malaria in endemic areas, a rapid, accurate, and simple diagnostic tool is necessary. In this pilot study, we found that a colorimetric system using AuNPs and MSP10 DNA detection in urine can provide fast, easy, and inexpensive identification of P. vivax. The test exhibited promising sensitivity (84%), high specificity (97%), and only mild cross-reactivity with P. falciparum (21%). It is simple to use, with a visible color change that negates the need for a spectrometer, making it suitable for use in austere conditions. Using urine eliminates the need for finger-prick, increasing both the safety profile and patient acceptance of this model.

Highlights

Malaria is the most common infectious disease in the tropics and subtropics [1]
The two Merozoite Surface Protein 10 (MSP10) oligonucleotides utilized in this study were a generous gift from Professor Mirko Zimic (Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru) and designed by Dr Joseph Vinetz (University of California San Diego, United States)
Crafted to represent the C-Terminal segment of MSP10, the first oligonucleotide has a sequence of 5 ́CACCATGGAACAGTTT ATCCTGAAGAC3'

Summary

Introduction

P. vivax is endemic across Asia, the South Pacific, North Africa, Middle East, and South and Central America [2], and has recently reappeared in regions where it had previously been eradicated, including North America and Europe [3]. An estimated 2.9 billion people live at risk of P. vivax infection [4]. Relying on microscopic identification of malaria species jeopardizes malaria control due to its limitations [8,9]. The WHO recognizes a need for rapid, accurate, and easy diagnostic tools in order to control malaria and need for such a test is mounting in developing countries [10]. Available rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are controversial due to their sensitivity and specificity, and differentiate poorly between plasmodium species [11,12,13]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion