Rapid bedside test for the brain‑eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri
Development of a latex-agglutination assay for the rapid detection of Naegleria fowleri
Creating a quick test that can find Naegleria fowleri in spinal fluid so doctors can diagnose infections much faster.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11230228 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will make antibodies by inoculating rabbits and purifying the antibodies that stick to Naegleria fowleri. Those antibodies will be attached to dyed latex beads to create a read‑out that clumps when the amoeba is present, giving results in under 15 minutes without extra equipment. The team will compare the new clumping test to current methods like microscopy and nucleic acid tests using prepared samples and cerebrospinal fluid from infected animals. They will also check for cross‑reaction with common bacterial and fungal causes of meningitis to make sure the test is specific.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who present with sudden meningitis‑like symptoms after freshwater exposure and who undergo a lumbar puncture would be the likely candidates for using this test.
Not a fit: People without suspected central nervous system infection or those who cannot have a spinal tap would not benefit from this test.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this test could let clinicians diagnose deadly Naegleria fowleri infections at the bedside much faster, potentially enabling earlier treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Rapid latex‑agglutination and point‑of‑care tests work for other pathogens, but applying this approach to Naegleria fowleri is largely novel and is being tested here.
Where this research is happening
Galveston, United States
- University of Texas Med Br Galveston — Galveston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rojo, Juan Ulises — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Rojo, Juan Ulises
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.