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After approximately 10 years of
work, researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have
built an inexpensive, portable, easy-to-use device to quickly diagnose HIV/AIDS
and other diseases. Axel Scherer and George Maltezos began investigating how to
manipulate biological fluids on a chip in 2004. Maltezos then started working
on applying these techniques to real-world problems. They applied the
technology to diagnosing H5N1 with satisfactory results. Maltezos built a
prototype of a less expensive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine that
performed well in H5N1 diagnostic field tests in Thailand. However, it did not
give results quickly enough to make it a commercial success.
Maltezos and Scherer teamed up with
David Baltimore, professor of biology, to work on an improved device that would
detect other viruses or diseases. By the end of 2006, a newer version of the
device could evaluate a sample in 94 seconds, compared to 45 minutes with
regular PCR machines. A company, Helixis, was formed to manufacture and sell
the device. The first Helixis product was a pathogen-detection PCR instrument
called the Eco, which cost $13,000. It was fast and relatively cheap, but its
size—about that of a microwave—made it too bulky to be easily carried to rural
areas of developing countries.
Maltezos teamed up with Baltimore’s
and Scherer’s labs to build a new-generation PCR machine specifically meant for
use in remote areas of the developing world. The newest prototype is a
push-button model that uses a rechargeable battery. It consists of a chip that
can analyze a blood sample to detect different pathogens, including TB, HIV,
acute lower-respiratory diseases, diarrheal diseases, malaria, and other
conditions. The latest goal is to bring the machine’s cost below $1,000 and the
cost of each test below $5. According to Maltezos, preliminary results of
clinical tests show the device is working well. The next step is to move beyond
laboratory testing and into real-world use for those who need it.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
