Canadian investigators partner through WIPO Re:Search to improve diagnosis of Chagas disease—a significant public health problem in Latin America
Callie Weber, Senior Program Manager at BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH)
Chagas disease, caused by the insect-borne parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, affects as many as eight million people worldwide, primarily in Mexico, Central America, and South America. If not diagnosed early, Chagas disease can lead to serious and potentially deadly heart and digestive tract complications.[1] Due to global migration and travel, Chagas disease has been detected in Canada, although the total number of cases is unknown.[2]
The standard antibody diagnostic test for Chagas disease is inadequate. It cannot reliably detect the earliest stages of the disease because of its low specificity.[3] Early detection is crucial—once Chagas disease reaches the chronic phase, medications may help slow progression and treat symptoms, but they will not cure the disease.[4] The current antibody test is also unable to detect the low levels of circulating parasites in the blood during the chronic phase of disease.[5] So, it cannot be used for rapid assessment of treatment efficiency or failure or certification of parasite clearance following treatment. Despite its shortcomings, the antibody test remains the diagnostic standard due to its relatively low cost, minimal training requirements, and point-of-care application.3
New biomarkers and testing platforms that are able to transcend the current diagnostic limits are critically needed.
Dr. Momar Ndao at McGill University has identified novel Chagas disease biomarkers that could facilitate timely and accurate diagnosis as well as assessment of cure after treatment. Dr. Ndao is originally from Senegal and has seen firsthand the suffering that tropical diseases can cause.
“Early diagnosis of parasitic diseases is vital. When I was a child, both my uncle and mother contracted tropical diseases. My mother was misdiagnosed, and, as a result, was completely blind. I have dedicated my life to improving the diagnosis of, and alleviating the suffering caused by, infections such as Chagas disease. Partnerships, such as my collaboration with Dr. Horacio Bach through WIPO Re:Search, make that possible.”
BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH) connected Dr. Ndao and Dr. Horacio Bach—an antibody engineering expert at the University of British Columbia — through WIPO Re:Search, enabling them to combine their expertise and join forces to address the gaps in Chagas disease diagnostics. Dr. Bach has engineered single-chain recombinant antibodies against Dr. Ndao’s biomarkers. Dr. Ndao and his lab at McGill are currently conducting validation testing for the engineered antibodies. If successful, Dr. Ndao and Dr. Bach will incorporate the antibodies into a simplified point-of-care diagnostic assay.
Dr. Horacio Bach
Dr. Momar Ndao
WIPO Re:Search is a global public-private initiative—co-led by BVGH and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)—that stimulates innovation and collaboration to address unmet medical needs for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), malaria, and tuberculosis and drive progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. McGill University is an active Consortium Member. McGill scientists engaged in NTD, malaria, or tuberculosis research and development are encouraged to contact Callie Weber (cweber@bvgh.org) to discuss opportunities to advance their own work through WIPO Re:Search collaborations.
References
[1] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC. Chagas Disease FAQ.
[2] Plourde, PJ, et al., Congenitally transmitted Chagas disease in Canada: a family cluster. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2017. https://www.cmaj.ca/content/189/48/E1489
[3] Balouz, V, et al., Chagas disease diagnostic applications: present knowledge and future steps. Journal of Advances in Parasitology. 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5363286/
[4] Mayo Clinic. Chagas disease Diagnosis & treatment.
[5] Remesar, MC, et al., Estimation of sensitivity and specificity of several T. cruzi antibody assays. Transfusion Journal. 2009. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2841448/
About the Author
Callie Weber is a Senior Program Manager at BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH), a Seattle-based nonprofit organization working at the crossroads of the private and public sectors to advance research and improve health. Callie graduated magna cum laude from Santa Clara University with a bachelor’s degree in bioengineering and a minor in chemistry. Beyond her commitment and career in global health, Callie is passionate about the outdoors and climate action.