Proyectos
Proyectos de Investigación en Salud Financiados en los últimos 5 años
Proyectos de I+D+I en Salud. Acción estratégica en Salud 2021-2023. Instituto de Salud Carlos III (realización: 2023-2025)
Desarrollo de un kit basado en tecnología LAMP para el cribado molecular de enfermedad de Chagas y estrongiloidosis. Aproximación con electrónica impresa: Speed-LAMP
IP: Pedro Fernández-Soto
The project aims to develop, evaluate and validate a diagnostic kit based on LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) technology for easy molecular screening of two parasitic diseases of high prevalence in Latin American immigrant population living in Spain (Chagas disease and strongyloidosis) by colorimetric visualization of the results. In addition, a LAMP technology approach combined with screen-printed electrochemical readout electrodes (biosensors) will be used to increase the diagnostic sensitivity and easy post-treatment follow-up of both diseases. For this purpose, we will develop a ready-to-use stabilised duplex-LAMP method capable of colourimetrically detecting Trypanosoma cruzi and Strongyloides stercoralis DNA (Strongy/Tc duplex-LAMP) as etiological agents of the aforementioned diseases. Their performance and sensitivity will be assessed by comparison with real-time LAMP using urine and serum samples with and without prior nucleic acid purification for ease of use and cost reduction. LAMP reactions in kit format will be combined with electrochemical sensors in a system Speed-LAMP (Screen-printed electrodes for easy detection-LAMP) to increase sensitivity and easy readability on a hand-held potentiostat and the measurement protocol will be transferred for titration with clinical samples.Both systems (Strongy/Tc duplex-LAMP and Speed-LAMP) will be evaluated in kit format in urine and serum samples for the diagnosis and post-treatment follow-up of Latin American patients included in the study from different clinics in Spain. The results obtained could be transferred to companies to maximise opportunities for the development of future business models.
Consejería de Educación de la Junta de Castilla y León. 2020-2021 (finalizado)
COVID-19 SMART-LAMP Rapid Test: diagnóstico molecular rápido y portátil de COVID-19 mediante tecnología LAMP.
IP/CoIP: Pedro Fernández-Soto/Antonio Muro
COVID-19 SMART-LAMP Rapid Test: fast and portable molecular diagnosis of COVID-19 using LAMP technology. Design and development of a LAMP test for the amplification of SARS-CoV-2 virus RNA as a rapid and easy to perform diagnostic method (COVID-LAMP 19).
Proyectos de I+D+I en Salud. Acción estratégica en Salud 2019-2022. Instituto de Salud Carlos III (finalizado)
Multipleox LAMPortable System: una plataforma de diagnóstico molecular múltiple basado en tecnología LAMP para la identificación etiológica de eosinofilias importadas de difícil diagnóstico.
IP/CoIP: Pedro Fernández-Soto/Antonio Muro
The proposed project aims to develop, evaluate and validate an integrated molecular diagnostic system based on LAMP technology (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) with a mobile device prototype managed by a mobile application (SMART-LAMP) that allows multiple detection of DNA from Schistosoma spp., Strongyloides spp. and Mansonella spp. as the most likely etiologic agents of imported eosinophilia that is difficult to diagnose. For this purpose, two new LAMP methods for the individual detection of DNA from Schistosoma spp (Schisto-LAMP) and Mansonella spp. (Mansone-LAMP) will be developed and validated in the laboratory. The previously Strong-LAMP method developed by our e-INTRO group of IBSAL-CIETUS, will also be used for the detection of Strongyloides spp. Its operation will be individually assessed (Simplex-LAMP) by conventional LAMP and in real time and the components of the mixtures will be stabilized for use as a “ready-to-use” format for its rapid and simple application in the portable prototype. Its usefulness will be verify in a pilot study in several specialized units of Tropical Medicine in Spanish territory. A multiple LAMP method will be designed, developed, evaluated and validated in our laboratory to allow the simultaneous detection of the aforementioned parasites in the same reaction and its operation will be integrated into the portable SMART-LAMP prototype. The system is potentially applicable as a diagnostic kit in clinical practice and in endemic disease areas such as the Multipleox LAMPortable System format. The results will be transferred to the company to maximize the development opportunities of future business models.
Proyecto de Investigación en Salud. Financiación de la I+D+I Biomédica y en Ciencias de la Salud en Andalucía 2020-2022 (ampliado; en desarrollo)
Evaluación de la técnica LAMP para el cribado de esquistosomiasis y estrongiloidiasis en población inmigrante.
IP: Joaquín Salas Coronas. Investigadores: Pedro Fernández-Soto/Antonio Muro
The significant increase in the arrival of immigrants to the European Union has made it necessary to implement common policies in the field of health. Although the majority of immigrants are healthy and do not pose a risk to the local population, some subgroups have a disproportionate burden of communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV and viral hepatitis B and C. There are diseases such as schistosomiasis or strongyloidiasis which, although they pose a limited risk to the local population, cause significant morbidity and mortality to those who suffer from them. The European health authorities have considered these parasitic diseases as a priority for systematic screening in populations from endemic regions. In relation to the diagnosis of both parasitic diseases, direct diagnosis techniques (detection of Schistosoma eggs in faeces/urine and Strongyloides larvae in faeces) have a low sensitivity, requiring also expert microscopists. Serological techniques have limitations in interpretation and are generally expensive, not being available in most microbiology laboratories. Finally, molecular techniques (PCR) are performed almost exclusively in reference laboratories. In this project we intend to use the LAMP (Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification) technique on urine samples for the screening of both diseases, which could provide important advantages such as: 1) handling samples easier to obtain and manipulate than blood or faeces; 2) having an objective result not dependent on the experience of the observer and 3) reducing costs in relation to serological techniques. On the other hand, due to the phenomena of globalisation and climate change, there is a risk of introduction of diseases into regions where they previously did not exist. Schistosomiasis is a clear example, with recent evidence of indigenous transmission on the island of Corsica. Since in the last years the presence of the intermediate host snail of urinary schistosomiasis (Bulinus truncatus) has been evidenced in some Spanish provinces including Almería, the disease is also considered potentially transmissible in our environment. In the transmission in Corsica it was demonstrated the intervention of pure and hybrid forms of Shistosoma haematobium (S. haematobium with S. bovis), which can have a great importance at the epidemiological level. Demonstrating the possible presence of hybrid forms of schistosomes in our environment and the capacity of detection by serological and LAMP techniques is of great importance to evaluate the real risk of introduction of the disease in our environment.
Proyecto de Desarrollo Tecnológico en Salud. Convocatoria 2016. Acción estratégica en Salud 2013-2016. Instituto de Salud Carlos III (finalizado)
SMART-LAMP: Technological development of a Multiple Remote System Analysis of Tropical Diseases by loop mediated isothermal amplification of DNA (LAMP) and sample identification, processing, storage and delivery of results by geolocation.
IP: Antonio Muro. Investigador: Pedro Fernández-Soto
According to the different methods by loop mediated isothermal amplification of DNA (LAMP) for the diagnosis of the main Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) by helminths developed by our research group (e-INTRO, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, IBSAL-CIETUS) and close collaboration with the research group BISITE (Bioinformatics, Intelligent Systems and Technology Education-IBSAL) with extensive experience in developing computer systems, data fusion, sensors and communications, together with the company FIW consulting, specializing in product development and engineering services by plate design, software and hardware development and integration of components, we intend to approach this project with the overall goal of developing a new technology, called SMART-LAMP applied to the diagnosis of NTDs by helminths. This automated system will consist of three separate modules, which together provide the service identification of samples, processing, storage and shipment of geo-localized signals. The specific objectives to develop this diagnostic device are: (i) To develop an automated technology called SMART-LAMP system for the diagnosis of NTDs. The system will consist of both the reading device in situ data, such as a backend that facilitate the management of all stored data, falling this management in a social machine. (ii) To evaluate SMART-LAMP in samples from patients diagnosed with different NTDs.
Proyecto de Investigación en Salud. Convocatoria 2016. Acción estratégica en Salud 2013-2016. Instituto de Salud Carlos III (finalizado)
Diagnosis “point of care” by LAMP for mapping and monitoring of schistosomiasis using a geopositioning integrated system portable device: e-LAMP.
IP/CoIP: Pedro Fernández-Soto/Antonio Muro
The project aims to develop, test and validate a system for mapping and monitoring schistosomiasis based on molecular diagnosis by LAMP (Loop-mediated isothermal amplification) using a portable platform, without electricity and laboratory infraestructure, integrated with a digital system to gather and systematize information and facilitating geolocate results in real time. To do this, first be validated two LAMP methods previously designed by IBSAL-CIETUS group in lab for Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium detection and the components for LAMP reactions will be adapted for “ready to use” format for quick and simple application in a portable device. A system of registration and geolocate of the diagnostic results on a portable platform based on mobile phone technology will be developed. The system usefulness will be tested in a pilot study in several specialized units of Tropical Medicine in Spanish territory and subsequently evaluate, integrate and validate as point-of-care-LAMP system under field conditions in African endemic area (Manhica, Mozambique). The system is potentially aplicable in simple and economical kit format way for schistosomiasis diagnosis in endemic areas as e-LAMP: easy, electronic and endemic-LAMP. The results will be transferred to the company to maximize the development opportunities of future business models.
