Summary: A novel LAMP assay has been developed for detection of Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) in patient samples. Six sets of unique primers have been designed which dramatically improve sensitivity of Nm detection and enable discrimination of the six major Nm serogroups (A, B, C, W-135, X, and Y) with limits as low as 1 (one) genomic copy per reaction. LAMP diagnostic kits provide a simple, rapid and cost effective genetic test method for detecting pathogens.
Applications:
The Nm bacterium is one of the main pathogens responsible for bacterial meningitis with thousands of cases in the US and global epidemics reported every year. Despite treatment with appropriate antimicrobial agents and medical care, bacterial meningitis due to Nm can be a devastating disease with high fatality rates. While several different vaccines are available, they are serogroup specific and the first B specific version was only just developed by Novartis. Having a serogroup specific Nm LAMP diagnostic kit that can be used at the point-of-care without need for specialized culture or PCR equipment could be critical in managing vaccination programs and rapidly evaluating clinical outbreaks.
Stage of Development:
The clinical usefulness of this method has been confirmed using around 3,000 CSF samples (collected in past surveillance of meningitis) in a bio-repository of specimens collected in China, South Korea and Vietnam. LAMP reaction kits complete with simple visual color indication are available.
*Pending patent application filed
Note the inventors of this technology have related issued LAMP patents for the two other sources of meningitis bacteria: Haemophilus influenzae type b and pneumococcus also available for license
References:
• “Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for Detection of Haemophilus influenzae Type b in Cerebrospinal Fluid” JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Oct. 2011, p. 3621–3626