Browsing by Autor "Anshule Takyar"

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A specific, stable, and accessible LAMP assay targeting the HSP70 gene of Trypanosoma cruzi
(2025) Sneider Alexander Gutierrez Guarnizo; Luciana Basma; Shirley Equilia; Beth Jessy Condori; Edith Málaga; Siena Defazio; Eugenio Arteaga; Jean Karla Velarde; Mateo Obregón; Anshule Takyar
Diagnostic delays prevent most Chagas disease patients from receiving timely therapy during the acute phase when treatment is effective. qPCR-based diagnostic methods provide high sensitivity during this phase but require specialized equipment and complex protocols. More simple and cost-effective tools are urgently needed to optimize early Chagas disease diagnosis in low-income endemic regions. Here, we present a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) that targets a highly conserved region in the HSP70 gene of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. This assay demonstrates species-specific amplification across multiple parasite genetic lineages while maintaining stability after 2 hours of incubation and at least 8 months of storage at -20°C. Moreover, the assay is at least 12 times less expensive than the TaqMan qPCR that is currently routinely used for acute Chagas diagnostics. Population-based validation in 100 infants born to Chagas-positive mothers in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, yielded a specificity of 100% and sensitivity exceeding 77% when compared to a TaqMan qPCR that targets satellite DNA. This cost-effective assay holds promise for large-scale diagnosis of Chagas disease in endemic regions with limited resources.
A specific, stable, and accessible LAMP assay targeting the HSP70 gene of Trypanosoma cruzi
(American Society for Microbiology, 2025) Sneider Alexander Gutierrez Guarnizo; Beth Jessy Condori; Luciana Basma; Shirley Equilia; Edith Málaga; Siena Defazio; Eugenio Arteaga; Jean Karla Velarde; Mateo Obregón; Anshule Takyar
Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a life-threatening illness that disproportionately affects resource-limited communities. Congenital Chagas disease, if diagnosed early, presents a unique opportunity for intervention, as treatment in newborns is highly effective with minimal side effects. However, early diagnosis is hindered by the high cost and limited availability of current molecular diagnostic methods in endemic regions. Our study introduces a simple, low-cost, and highly specific LAMP assay targeting the HSP70 gene of T. cruzi. This assay is user-friendly, stable under varying storage and incubation conditions, and designed for accessibility in underserved areas. By providing a detailed, open-access protocol and primers, we aim to facilitate the widespread adoption of this diagnostic assay, enabling earlier detection and treatment. This assay lays the groundwork for a new approach to Chagas disease management, potentially reducing the spread of Chagas disease and improving public health outcomes in vulnerable populations globally.
Genome Sequences of Chikungunya Virus Isolates from Bolivia
(American Society for Microbiology, 2020) Caio M B França; Roxana Loayza; Yelin Roca; Ana Maria Montaño Arias; Freddy Tinajeros; José R. Loaiza; Anshule Takyar; Robert H. Gilman; Matthew J. Miller
We generated nine coding-complete chikungunya virus genome sequences from blood samples collected during the early 2015 outbreak in Bolivia. Relative to other publicly available chikungunya sequences, the Bolivian samples represent a monophyletic group, suggesting that a single lineage was widely circulating in the country between February and May 2015.