A Novel Malaria Pf/Pv Ab Rapid Diagnostic Test Using a Differential Diagnostic Marker Identified by Network Biology

Sung Jin Cho^1*, Jihoo Lee^2*, Hyun Jae Lee¹, Hyun-Young Jo³, Mangalam Sinniah⁴, Hak-Yong Kim^2,✉, Chom-Kyu Chong^5,✉, Hyun-Ok Song^6,✉

1. Department of Bioinformatics, College of Natural Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
2. Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
3. Laboratory Medicine, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea
4. Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Pahang, Malaysia
5. GenBody Inc., Dankook Biotech Business IC, Cheonan, Chungnam, Republic of Korea
6. Department of Infection Biology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea
* Sung Jin Cho and Jihoo Lee contributed equally to this work

Abstract

Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) can detect anti-malaria antibodies in human blood. As they can detect parasite infection at the low parasite density, they are useful in endemic areas where light infection and/or re-infection of parasites are common. Thus, malaria antibody tests can be used for screening bloods in blood banks to prevent transfusion-transmitted malaria (TTM), an emerging problem in malaria endemic areas. However, only a few malaria antibody tests are available in the microwell-based assay format and these are not suitable for field application. A novel malaria antibody (Ab)-based RDT using a differential diagnostic marker for falciparum and vivax malaria was developed as a suitable high-throughput assay that is sensitive and practical for blood screening. The marker, merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) was discovered by generation of a Plasmodium-specific network and the hierarchical organization of modularity in the network. Clinical evaluation revealed that the novel Malaria Pf/Pv Ab RDT shows improved sensitivity (98%) and specificity (99.7%) compared with the performance of a commercial kit, SD BioLine Malaria P.f/P.v (95.1% sensitivity and 99.1% specificity). The novel Malaria Pf/Pv Ab RDT has potential for use as a cost-effective blood-screening tool for malaria and in turn, reduces TTM risk in endemic areas.

Keywords: Malaria antibody test, MSP1, Transfusion-transmitted malaria, Blood screening

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How to cite this article:
Cho SJ, Lee J, Lee HJ, Jo HY, Sinniah M, Kim HY, Chong CK, Song HO. A Novel Malaria Pf/Pv Ab Rapid Diagnostic Test Using a Differential Diagnostic Marker Identified by Network Biology. Int J Biol Sci 2016; 12(7):824-835. doi:10.7150/ijbs.14408. Available from http://www.ijbs.com/v12p0824.htm