Summary of the technology
Leishmaniasis is an endemic parasitic disease that is found in most parts of the tropics, subtropics and southern Europe. Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common form of Leishmaniasis. It is caused by the protozoan Leishmania parasites, which are transmitted by the bite of infected female phlebotomine sand-flies. Cutaneous Leishmaniasis causes skin lesions, mainly ulcers, on exposed parts of the body, leaving life-long scars and serious disability. The skin lesions usually develop within several weeks or months after exposure.
About 95% of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis cases occur in the Americas, the Mediterranean basin, the Middle East and Central Asia. An estimated number of 0.6 million to 1 million cases occur worldwide annually.
Over two thirds of new Cutaneous Leishmaniasis cases occur in the next six countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Brazil, Colombia, Iran and Syria.
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is diagnosed by detecting Leishmania parasites in tissue specimens from skin lesions via light-microscopic examination of stained slides, specialized culture techniques, or molecular methods. This disease is treatable and curable. Early diagnosis and effective case management reduces the prevalence of the disease and prevents disabilities and death. Hence, early detection and prompt treatment of cases would therefore help to reduce transmission and to monitor the spread and burden of the diseases.
In this invention, a new system for non-invasive, early, fast and easy to use diagnosis test for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis from exhaled breath analysis has been developed.
Description of the technology
The test developed is easy to use for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis disease diagnosis from exhaled breath analysis. The test is suitable for use even in non-specialist setting (e.g., by the own patient).
The patient needs to exhale through a homologated breath sampler device. The breath sample is measured with an electronic nose system that comprised an array of chemical gas sensors and a pattern recognition algorithm. The chemical gas sensors have as sensing materials monolayers of metallic nanoparticles (Au, Cu or Pt) functionalised with different organic ligands.
The pattern recognition algorithm employed to make the discriminative model between for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is Discriminant Factor Analysis (DFA). Sensors signals are acquired, analysed and project over the DFA discriminative model, which provides a diagnostic result (either Cutaneous Leishmaniasis or Not Cutaneous Leishmaniasis). The accuracy of this new system is 96,4% (96.4% sensitivity; 96.4% specificity) in all the analysed samples.
Specifications
Current development status
Working prototypes
Applications
This invention can be used for the early and fast diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis. It is easy to use and can be performed in both specialist and non-specialists settings, including by the own patient. It is non-invasive and the results can be visualised conveniently on a display or a computer screen. It is very suitable for mass screening and it would be of great help for the medical doctors as (pre)diagnosis.
Desired business relationship
Patent licensing
Intellectual property status
Patent already applied for
ES201830379
Spain
Technology Owner
Unitat de Valorització de la URV
Licensing Manager at Fundació URV
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