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Ms. Maurine Mutua is a graduate student pursuing molecular medicine at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology with a background in biochemistry from the University on Nairobi. She is a resourceful and solution-driven research scientist with a unique combination of molecular biology, microbiology and biochemistry skills. Ms. Mutua has two years’ experience working in a research laboratory setting at Nagasaki University-KEMRI. Her responsibilities included devising experimental techniques in serological and molecular analysis of viruses, data analysis, data collection, preparing standard operating procedures (SOPs), troubleshooting and manuscript writing. She has also co-authored two publications in peer reviewed journals presented her research work at KEMRI Annual Scientific and Health (KASH) conference (oral presentation) and African International Biotechnology and Biomedical conference (poster presentation). Her research interests are in infectious diseases, bioinformatics and precision medicine. Currently, Maurine is part of a research team that is developing a Lateral Flow Antigen test for point-of-care diagnosis of COVID-19 under the supervision of Dr Ernest Wandera. This project is supported by the EDCTP2 programme.
Development and Deployment of Lateral Flow Antigen Test for COVID-19
Ernest’s research project is being implemented at GitakaLab in the Directorate of Grants and Development, Mount Kenya University, with funding from the EDCTP2 programme
COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, continues to pose serious threat to global health, devastating world economy and lifestyles. Testing has been recognised as a key step in mitigation of spread of the disease since it allows for prompt clinical and well-tuned public health interventions including physical distancing measures. The current predominant testing strategy is based on RT-PCR, which although highly sensitive, is expensive, requires skilled manpower, equipment and has a long turnaround time of up-to 24 hours. This has greatly restricted its large-scale deployment especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) including Kenya. Similarly, serological tests for COVID-19 have been observed to have low sensitivity and specificity, reducing their utility. Moreover, they provide information on historical infection which may not be clinically useful. Thus, antigen-based tests for SARS-CoV-2 offer an attractive alternative solution to testing needs and possibly the only viable solution for most LMICs. Lateral Flow Antigen (LFA) tests in particular are suitably inexpensive, can be rapidly mass-produced, are easy to use, return results in minutes, and crucially, like RT-PCR and unlike serological tests, can reveal an active infection. Hence, to address these diagnostic challenges, we are developing an LFA test for SARS-CoV-2 that will be affordable, easy to use and will not require skilled personnel, expensive reagents nor machines. Since sufficiently accurate performance of an LFA test requires highly optimized antibodies and assay conditions, we are leveraging on an innovative high-throughput eukaryotic wheat germ cell free system to generate SARS-CoV-2 antigens derived from locally circulating SARS-CoV-2 sequences. We are using these antigens to produce monoclonal antibodies in mice and the most efficient capture and detector pairs of antigen specific antibodies will be mounted on lateral flow strips for rapid point-of-care diagnostic test. We shall then evaluate the implementation outcomes- feasibility, acceptance, and cost effectiveness and user friendliness- of the LFA point-of-care test to inform adaptation and future scale up. This project (TMA2020CDF-3212) has received funding from the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP-2) Career Development Fellowship supported by the European Union. Our point-of-care lateral flow antigen test will boost decentralization of COVID-19 testing in Kenya by making the test available in primary healthcare centres, in community settings, and potentially even at home. Additionally, this venture will strengthen the domestic capacity in diagnostic technology for COVID-19 and other emerging infectious diseases since the prototype could be readily adapted to any emerging pathogen.
| PUBLICATIONS |
| 1. Wandera EA, Kathiiko C, Muriithi B, Wachira M, Mutunga F, Nono J, Tinkoi J, Meiguran M, Akumu P, Ndege V, Mozichuki R, Inoue S, Kaneko S, Morita K, Ouma C and Ichinose Y. Impact of integrated water, sanitation, hygiene, health and nutritional interventions on diarrhoea disease epidemiology and microbial quality of water in a resource-constrained setting in Kenya: A controlled intervention study. Trop Med Health. 2022; 1-9. DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13793. 2. Xiaobo Y, Seiji K, Koki Y, Atsushi O, Wandera EA, Hirokazu S, Ta-kashi K, Ichinose Y and Hasegawa M. Analysis of environmental and pathogenic bacteria attached to aerosol particles size-separated with a metal mesh device. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 2022; 19: 5773. 3. Wandera EA, Hatazawa R, Tsutsui N, Kurokawa N, Kathiiko C, Mumo M, Waithira E, Wachira M, Mwaura B, Nyangao J, Khamadi SA, Njau J, Fukuda S, Murata T, Taniguchi K, Ichinose Y, Kaneko S and Komoto S. Genomic characterization of an African G4P[6] human rotavirus strain isolated from a diarrheic child in Kenya: Evidence for porcine-to-human interspecies transmission and reassortment. Infect. Genet. Evol. 96 (2021) 105133. 4. Ngamsom B, Wandera EA, Iles A, Kimani R, Muregi F, Gitaka J, Pamme N. Rapid detection of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) from artificial urine samples based on IFAST and ATP bioluminescence assay: from development to practical challenges during protocol testing in Kenya. Analyst. 2019;144(23):6889-6897. 5. Mwebia M, Mohammad S, Odoyo E, Kathiiko C, Wandera EA, Miringu G, Guyo S, Irura Z, Langat D, Tonui W, Ogoyi D, Morita K and Ichinose Y. Evolution of V. cholerae O1 biotypes responsible for cholera outbreaks in Kenya between 1975 and 2017. Microbiology and Immunology. 2019;63:350–358. 6. Wandera EA, Komoto S, Mohammad S, Bundi M, Nyangao J, Galata A, Kathiiko C, Odoyo E, Guyo S, Miring’u G, Taniguchi K and Ichinose Y. Genomic characterization of uncommon human G3P[6] rotavirus strains that have emerged in Kenya after rotavirus vaccine introduction, and prevaccine human G8P[4] rotavirus strains. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2019; 68:231–248. 7. Wandera EA, Mohammad S, Bundi M, Nyangao J, Galata A, Kathiiko C, Odoyo E, Guyo S, Miring’u G, Komoto S and Ichinose Y. Impact of rotavirus vaccination on rotavirus hospitalization rates among a resource-limited rural population in Mbita, Western Kenya. Tropical Medicine & International Health. 2018. DOI:10.1111/tmi.13040. 8. Muriithi BK, Miring’u G, Bundi M, Wandera EA, Galata A, Kathiiko C, Odoyo E, Kamemba M, Amukoye E, Huqa S, Shah M, Inoue S, Ichinose Y. Biosafety and biosecurity capacity building: insights from implementation of the NUITM-KEMRI training model. Trop Med Health. 2018. DOI : 10.1186/s41182-018-0108-7 9. Yin X, Yamamoto K, Wandera EA, Ichinose Y, Kanba S, Kondo T and Hasegawa M. Separation, Sensing, and Metagenomic Analysis of Aerosol Particles Using MMD Sensors. 2018 IEEE SENSORS. DOI: 10.1109/ICSENS.2018.8589778. 10. Wandera EA, Mohammad S, Bundi M, Komoto S, Nyangao J, Kathiiko C, Odoyo E, Miring’u G, Taniguchi K and Ichinose Y. Impact of rotavirus vaccination on rotavirus and all-cause gastroenteritis in peri-urban Kenyan children. Vaccine. 2017; 35:5217-5223. 11. Wandera EA and Ichinose Y. Rotavirus Disease Epidemiology and Molecular Characteristics of Circulating Strains before and after Vaccine Introduction in Kenya. A thesis submitted to the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Japan, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Science). Nagasaki University (長崎大学), 博士(医学) (2017-03-21). http://hdl.handle.net/10069/37185. 12. Wandera EA, Mohammad S, Ouko J, Yatitch J, Taniguchi K and Ichinose Y. Variation in Rotavirus Vaccine Coverage by Sub-counties in Kenya. Trop Med Health. 2017;45:9. DOI: 10.1186/s41182-017-0051-z. 13. Hasegawa M, Wandera EA, Inoue Y, Kimura N, Sasaki R, Mizukami T, Shah M, Shirai N, Takei O, Shindo H and Ichinose Y. Detection of rotavirus in clinical specimens using an immunosensor prototype based on the photon burst counting technique. Biomed Opt Express. 2017; 8(7):3383-3394. 14. Shah M, Odoyo E, Wandera EA, Kathiiko C, Miringu G, Guyo S, Komoto S, Nyangao J, Bundi M, Karama M, Tsuji T, Taniguchi K, Morita K and Ichinose Y. Burden of rotavirus and enteric bacterial pathogens among children under five years old hospitalized with diarrhea in suburban and rural areas in Kenya. J Infect Dis. 2017.DOI: 10.7883/yoken.JJID.2016.398. 15. Hasegawa M, Inoue Y, Kimura N, Wandera EA and Ichinose Y.Detection of rotavirus in clinical specimens using an immunosensor based on the principle of fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy. Proceedings of IEEE Sensors. 2017. DOI: 10.1109/ICSENS.2016.7808799. 16. Miring’u G, Bundi M, Muriithi BK, Wandera EA, Galata AA, Kathiiko CN, Odoyo EO, Guyo SH, Ongubo ON, Ouko JO, Karama M, Shah M, Inoue S and Ichinose Y. Knowledge and Practices Regarding Usage of Biological Safety Cabinets. Appl Biosaf. 2017; 1-6. DOI: 10.1177/1535676016685790. 17. Wandera EA, Mohammad S, Komoto S, Maeno Y, Nyangao J, Ide T, Kathiiko C, Odoyo E, Tsuji T, Taniguchi K and Ichinose Y. Molecular epidemiology of rotavirus gastroenteritis in Central Kenya before vaccine introduction, 2009-2014. J Med Virol. 2016; DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24691. 18. Ochi S, Shah M, Odoyo E, Bundi M, Miringu G, Guyo S, Wandera EA, Kathiiko C, Kariuki S, Karama M, Tsuji T and Ichinose Y. An Outbreak of Diarrhea in Mandera, Kenya, Due to Escherichia coli Serogroup O-Nontypable Strain That Had a Coding Gene for Enteroaggregative E. coli Heat-Stable Enterotoxin 1. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2016; 16-0310. 19. Shah MM, Odoyo E, LarsonPS, Ernest Apondi, Kathiiko C, Miringu G, Nakashima M and Ichinose Y. First Report of a Foodborne Providencia alcalifaciens Outbreak in Kenya. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2015; 93(3):497-500. DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0126. Epub 2015 Jun 29. 20. Yamamoto K, Kitanishi-Shirai E, Inoue Y, Hasegawa M, Wandera EA, Ichinose Y, Kanba S, Kondo T. Use of metal mesh sensors with periodic microstructures to sense and separate aerosol particles in Kenya. Proceedings of IEEE Sensors. 2015. DOI: 10.1109/ICSENS.2015.7370221. 21. Komoto S, Wandera EA, Shah M, Odoyo E, Nyangao J, Tsuji T, Tomita M, Wakuda M, Maeno Y, Shirato H, Ichinose Y and Taniguchi K. Whole genomic analysis of human G12P[6] and G12P[8] rotavirus strains that have emerged in Kenya: Identification of porcine-like NSP4 genes. Infect Genet Evol. 2014; 27:277–293. 22. Bundi M, Miring’u M, Inoue S, Muriithi B, Ashur S, Wandera EA, Kathiiko C, Odoyo E, Narita C, Kwallah A, Galata A, Makumi A, Huka S, Shah M, Karama M, Shimada M, Bii C, Kariuki S, Horio M and Ichinose Y. BSL-3 Laboratory User Training Program at NUITM-KEMRI. Trop Med Health. 2014; 42(4): 171–176 doi: 10.2149/tmh.2014-08. 23. Ichinose Y, Inoue S, Shimada M, Miring’u G, Muriithi B, Makumi A, Wandera EA, Bundi M, Narita C, Ashur S, Kwallah A, Galata A, Odoyo E, Huqa S, Shah M, Karama M and Horio M. 2014. Operations at Biosafety Level III: The P3 Laboratory. Available at www.iconceptpress.com. 24. Inoue S, Wandera EA, Miringu G, Bundi M, Narita C, Ashur S, Kwallah A, Galata A, Abubakar M, Huka Shah M, Karama M, Horio M, Shimada M and Ichinose Y. The NUITMKEMRI P3 Laboratory in Kenya: Establishment, Features, Operation and Maintenance. Trop Med Health. 2013; 41: 27–37. 25. Taniguchi K, Wandera EA, Ogino M, Ichinose Y et al. Study on the distribution of G Type and P type of human rotavirus associated with acute gastroenteritis in Kenya. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2012; 27:68-68. 26. Wandera EA, Omondi JVM and Ichinose Y. Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Rotavirus Strains Isolated from Children Admitted to Selected Health Facilities in Kiambu District, Kenya. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Science (Biotechnology) in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences of Kenyatta University. October 2012. http://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6509. |
