Nanobody Technology and New Molecular Biology Methods to Advance Rapid Diagnostic Test for Neglected Tropical Diseases

Abstract

Worldwide, the cumulative annual disabilities and deaths due to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are in the millions, with most cases found in the low-income countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed a road map to eliminate NTDs by the year 2030. Core interventions being implemented to achieve this target are vaccinations, chemotherapeutic treatments, vector control, and practicing hygiene. Whereas multiple successes have been registered so far, inadequacies or the complete absence of diagnostics for some of the diseases being targeted, are however hampering ongoing eradication campaigns. Current diagnostics for NTDs are costly, require sophisticated gadgets, depend on electricity, are time consuming and labor intensive, have low detection/discriminatory power, or require trained personnel for operation. For these reasons, the use of such diagnostics is limited to only well-equipped laboratories, often inaccessible to the poor who are the most affected by the NTDs. To increase accessibility to diagnostics by those who need it the most, Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) are being developed by translating existing diagnostic technologies, or by invention of new technologies. Here, we reviewed conventional diagnostics for NTDs as well as their RDT translated formats, and explored nanobodies (Nbs) as alternative reagents for the development of the RDTs.