Non-invasive detection of circulating hemozoin during malaria – MALA-EYES

Malaria elimination and eradication will be difficult to reach since evidence exits that asymptomatic carriers are an important reservoir of circulating malaria parasites in the population. Malaria elimination, once obtained in a country, will require a surveillance system and continued measures that can prevent re-establishment of transmission in new malaria-free areas. The detection of circulating parasites in the whole population will thus be a cornerstone of the malaria elimination certification. Detecting these asymptomatic carriers cannot be based on blood sampling. This should be made in a disruptive non-invasive way with a highly sensitive and specific tool. This project will develop an innovative non-invasive method for malaria parasites detection in the population living in endemic area.
Hemozoin (Hz) produced by malaria parasites offer a great opportunity to address this need. Our project focus on the new properties, that we recently depicted, of real native HZ packed inside the parasite and circulating in whole blood. An innovative technical approach will be the basis for a low cost, portable, real-time, noninvasive medical device urgently required for malaria surveillance.