TyphGen

Why a test for typhoid fever

• TyphGen – a rapid test for typhoid fever, 20 million cases of typhoid fever are registered annually.
Majority of the cases involve children from low-income countries.
• Contributes 36% of all fever-related illnesses in Uganda.
• Diagnosis is difficult, with the most accessible tests ineffective while the gold standards are extremely expensive and often unavailable.
• Consequently, there are delays in initiation of appropriate treatment, unnecessary healthcare expenditure, increased missed days of work/school etc

Our product

• A strip-based rapid diagnostic test for Typhoid fever.
• Detects Salmonella typhi antigen in blood or stool samples of infected individuals within 15 minutes.
• Estimated sensitivity is >85% at an estimated cost of $2.
• It is simple to perform, suitable in resource limited setting and field screening in case of outbreak, results are interpretable with a naked eye hence eliminating the need for sophisticated machine, sample processing reagents and special training for personnel.

Technology

TyphGen is a lateral flow immunofluorescence assay that utilizes antigen-detection techniques to detects S. typhi specific antigen in blood/stool of infected individual.

How it works (Fig 1):

A patients sample is placed on the sample application pad that aids linear slow of the sample to the conjugate pad where labelled antibodies are located. The antigen-antibody complex then moves to the test and control line where it is captured by detection antibodies. A positive test will show a colored line on the test line.

Fig 1: Technology used

Developmental outline
We are validating this technology using the following stages;
• Antigen screening and selection.
• Peptide synthesis.
• Production of polyclonal antibodies.
• ELISA assays to determine the accuracy of the test.
• Production of monoclonal antibodies.
• Design of the test strip.
• Testing on clinical samples to determine sensitivity and specificity.
Why a test for typhoid fever:
• 20 million cases of typhoid fever are registered annually. Majority of the cases involve children from low-income countries.
• Contributes 36% of all fever-related illnesses in Uganda.
• Diagnosis is difficult, with the most accessible tests ineffective while the gold standards are extremely expensive and often unavailable.
• Consequently, there are delays in initiation of appropriate treatment, unnecessary healthcare expenditure, increased missed days of work/school etc.

Investing in TyphGen:
TyphGen has so far attracted 2 rounds of funding including $2000 from the Big Ideas contest of 2019 and $7000 from international society for infectious diseases. The funding will cover up to stage 4 of the developmental outline. We welcome investors to support the project up to product stage

Sharon Bright Amanya, participated in the program 2020.