Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38609964›Full record

ArticleMalaria journal2024

Detection of P. malariae using a new rapid isothermal amplification lateral flow assay.

Ashenafi Assefa, Kevin Wamae, Christopher M Hennelly, Billy Ngasala, Meredith Muller, Albert Kalonji, Fernandine Phanzu, Clark H Cunningham, Jessica T Lin, Jonathan B Parr

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Malaria journal, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Ashenafi AssefaEthiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ashyaega@yahoo.com.
Kevin WamaeInstitute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Christopher M HennellyInstitute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Billy NgasalaDepartment of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Meredith MullerInstitute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Albert KalonjiSANRU Asbl, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Fernandine PhanzuSANRU Asbl, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Clark H CunninghamInstitute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Jessica T LinInstitute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Jonathan B ParrInstitute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. jonathan_parr@med.unc.edu.

Funding

Determinants of malaria transmission by submicroscopic gametocytemiaR01AI137395 · NIAID · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI LIN, JESSICA · 2018 to 2022
$3.3M
Development of novel diagnostics for African non-falciparum malariaR21AI148579 · NIAID · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI LIN, JESSICA, PARR, JONATHAN BOYD · 2020 to 2021
$420k
NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI137395NIAID NIH HHS R21 AI148579NIH HHS R21AI148579
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWhile Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax cause the majority of malaria cases and deaths, infection by Plasmodium malariae and other Plasmodium species also causes morbidity and mortality. Current understanding of these infections is limited in part by existing point-of-care diagnostics that fail to differentiate them and have poor sensitivity for low-density infections. Accurate diagnosis currently requires molecular assays performed in well-resourced laboratories. This report describes the development of a P. malariae diagnostic assay that uses rapid, isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and lateral-flow-strip detection.

methodsMultiple combinations of custom RPA primers and probes were designed using publicly available P. malariae genomic sequences, and by modifying published primer sets. Based on manufacturer RPA reaction conditions (TwistDx nfo kit), an isothermal assay was optimized targeting the multicopy P. malariae 18S rRNA gene with 39 °C incubation and 30-min run time. RPA product was visualized using lateral strips (FAM-labeled, biotinylated amplicon detected by a sandwich immunoassay, visualized using gold nanoparticles). Analytical sensitivity was evaluated using 18S rRNA plasmid DNA, and clinical sensitivity determined using qPCR-confirmed samples collected from Tanzania, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

resultsUsing 18S rRNA plasmid DNA, the assay demonstrates a detection limit of 10 copies/µL (~ 1.7 genome equivalents) and 100% analytical specificity. Testing in field samples showed 95% clinical sensitivity and 88% specificity compared to qPCR. Total assay time was less than 40 min.

conclusionCombined with simplified DNA extraction methods, the assay has potential for future field-deployable, point-of-care use to detect P. malariae infection, which remains largely undiagnosed but a neglected cause of chronic malaria. The assay provides a rapid, simple readout on a lateral flow strip without the need for expensive laboratory equipment.

Indexed as

GoldMetal NanoparticlesBiological AssayDNARNA, Ribosomal, 18SDNAGoldRNA, Ribosomal, 18SDiagnosticsIsothermal nucleic acid amplificationLateral flowP. malariaePoint-of-care testingRapid testRecombinase polymerase amplificationRPA

Identifiers

PMID38609964
PMCPMC11015614

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.