THURSDAY, 9 JUNE – Two researchers from the Biotechnology Research Institute (IPB), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Associate Professor Dr. Kenneth Rodrigues and Dr. Daisy Vanitha John made a remarkable achievement when they won the BioPitch at BioMalaysia 2016 held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, recently.

Their product, “Lepto-AD” Leptospira Antigen Kit won the award for outstanding innovative solution factor in facing challenges on technical, social and environmental in medical analysis and diagnostics.

This innovative product produced by these two researchers along with their students, Mohd Iskander Ramzanah and Yuszniahyati Yaakob from the Public Health Laboratory Kota Kinabalu was based on a holistic approach in addressing the high cost of antigens which are commercially available for Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) application against leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease transmitted to humans and animals caused by Spirochaetes Leptospira, which are pathogenic microorganisms that could cause kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, respiratory problems and death in certain cases.

The research team used bioinformatics to identify important areas that exhibit high antigens against the spirochaete.

Lepto-AD Kit consists of a panel of three antigens tested together to achieve a higher level of accuracy in diagnosis, the accuracy of these kits had been confirmed by antigen detection using serum samples with leptospira positive obtained from local patients.

Production of this kit costs much lower; one tenth of the price of the commercially available product.

This product had been used by Platcomm Ventures Sdn. Bhd., a company that was funding the development of innovative products for market.

Lepto-AD product is now available for use in diagnostic laboratories involved in the detection of leptospirosis. – (fl)

Source: Biotechnology Research Institute