A modular platform for instant diagnosis of Tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the 10 deadliest diseases
worldwide, causing around 1.3 million deaths in 2017 and
nearly 3 million people are left undiagnosed, each year.
Once Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes the disease,
dies in a patient’s lung, it releases DNA fragments into
the blood that eventually appear in urine. We developed a
diagnostic test that detects these fragments by targeting
the specific gene IS6110. After 4 rounds of amplification
including isothermal amplification, in vitro
transcription/translation of a toehold switch and a
colorimetric readout enabled by b-lactamase, the results
can be visualized with a naked eye. Our design can be
easily implemented for several diseases due to its
universality and modularity. As TB is a leading health
threat for populations affected by crises, our test is
destined to be applied in refugee camps in Greece, as well
as worldwide, making a step towards achieving universal
health coverage.