Researchers are constantly working towards better solutions to health and disease issues. One such new solution is in the field of malarial disease. I asked Jody Victor® to give us the breakthrough news.
Jody Victor®: Working with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Andrew Fung and his colleagues at the University of California, Los Angeles are developing a malaria-detecting gum called Maliva. Fung hopes to have a working prototype of Maliva by next year and begin field-testing the gum soon after.
A person becomes infected with malaria when a female Anopheles mosquito, searching for blood to feed her young, bites the person. Various symptoms occur in six to fourteen days after exposure: fever, chills, vomiting, lack of energy and, sometimes, convulsions. The lack of energy is caused by the malaria parasites bursting out of red blood cells.
If malaria is suspected, doctors now draw a small blood sample and examine it under a microscope. They search for darker than normal red blood cells, which show infection by malaria parasites. Many regions in the world where malaria is prevalent have no microscopes or experienced staff. In those regions doctors use an antigen test. Using a single drop of blood, the tests detect the presence of several molecules made by malaria parasites, which are released into the blood. Some areas of the world can’t afford the antigen tests. And some areas have a taboo against even drawing a single drop of blood.
Maliva could solve all those problems. Three of the proteins that the blood antigen tests detect can also be found in saliva. The current idea for providing the gum with its malaria-detecting properties is to incorporate magnetic nanoparticles into the gum. When a person chews the gum their saliva containing the molecules produced by the malaria parasites pour into their mouth. The magnetic nanoparticles are tipped with antibodies that latch onto the molecules. After a few minutes of chewing, the gum would be removed and placed on a paper strip. The nanoparticles, which are now bound to the malaria proteins, would show up as a thin line. No line- no malaria.
Doctor David Wong at UCLA who is not involved with Fung’s research recently lead a National Institutes of Health consortium. The consortium has been mapping the various proteins in human saliva. Wong is encouraged with the use of saliva for disease detection to replace painful needle sticks. He believes saliva testing will become commonplace in the next few years for all kinds of diseases. He has stated that Maliva “is just the tip of the iceberg. There is no reason why this method can’t be used to detect other conditions as well.” Disease-detecting gum could offer a cheap new way to diagnose or monitor diseases. Distribution would be easy. The disease-detecting gum could be sold anywhere candy is distributed.
All the Best!