Challenge
Two generic members of the Filoviridae family of RNA viruses-Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus (EBOV & MARV) cause rare but highly fatal viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) in remote villages of equatorial Africa. There is a critical need for cheap, easy to use rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for early detection of VHFs at the point-of-care (POC). Whereas two RDTs for EBOV have emerged, duo-purpose RDTs for both EBOV and MARV are absent.
Description
We aimed to synthesize, test and profile an inventory of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the research and development (R & D) of a dual purpose rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for filovirus associated VHFs. Prototypes of RDTs have been developed. We are currently validating reagents with vero-expressed Sudan Ebolavirus virions in the P4 at the Center for Emerging Zoonotic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), Johannesburg, South Africa
Outcomes
Following the West African Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) pandemic that threatened to spread globally, EBOV and its sister genera MARV are pathogens of public health concern internationally. Thus, while the immediate primary beneficiaries are populations of equatorial African villages and their government ministries of health, populations and governments elsewhere are potential secondary users. At the tertiary level are global health promotion bodies such as the WHO and CDC.
