Non-Invasive Malaria Detection in Sub-Saharan Africa Using a DNA-Based Sensor System

Trine Juul-Kristensen, Celine Thiesen, Line Wulff Haurum, Josephine Geertsen Keller-Socin, Romeo Wenceslas Lendamba, Rella Zoleko Manego, Madeleine Euinice Betouke, Birgitta R. Knudsen, Eduardo Pareja, Eduardo Pareja-Tobes, Rodrigo Labouriau, Mombo-Ngoma Ghyslain, Cinzia Tesauro*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Malaria poses a serious global health problem, with half the world population being at risk. Regular screening is crucial for breaking the transmission cycle and combatting the disease spreading. However, current diagnostic tools relying on blood samples face challenges in many malaria-epidemic areas. In the present study, we demonstrate the detection of the malaria-causing Plasmodium parasite in non-invasive saliva samples (N = 61) from infected individuals by combining a DNA-based Rolling-circle-Enhanced-Enzyme-Activity-Detection (REEAD) sensor system with a chemiluminescence readout that could be detected with an in-house-developed affordable and battery-powered portable reader. We successfully transferred the technology to sub-Saharan Africa, where the malaria burden is high, and demonstrated a proof of concept in a small study (N = 40) showing significant differences (p < 0.00001) between malaria-positive individuals (N = 33) and presumed asymptomatic negative individuals (N = 7) all collected in Gabon. This is the first successful application of the REEAD sensor system for the detection of malaria in saliva in a high-epidemic area and holds promise for the potential future use of REEAD for malaria diagnosis or surveillance based on non-invasive specimens in sub-Saharan Africa.

Original languageEnglish
Article number7947
JournalSensors
Volume24
Issue24
Number of pages14
ISSN1424-8220
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024

Keywords

  • diagnosis
  • malaria
  • rolling circle amplification
  • saliva
  • topoisomerase 1

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