Researchers at the University of the Philippines-Diliman (UPD) and international collaborators have developed a new detection method for Trichomonas vaginalis, the parasite causing the infection.
Instead of traditional antibody-based tests, the team, led by Dr. Christine Aubrey Justo and Dr. Windell Rivera of UPD’s Institute of Biology, utilized aptamers, short DNA strands that bind to specific target proteins.
“We conducted sandwich enzyme-linked aptamer-based assays (ELAAs) to identify aptamer pairings capable of detecting low concentrations of the parasite,” Dr. Justo said.
The study found a combination of a short and long aptamer, A1_14mer and A6 respectively, effective in detecting T. vaginalis in clinical samples. This allows for the development of more affordable and rapid tests, including aptamer-based lateral flow assays.
“The flexible and amplifiable nature of aptamers offers potential for point-of-care tests,” Dr. Justo said. However, she noted limited funding and attention to trichomoniasis research, calling for increased financial and clinical partnerships to implement these tests in healthcare settings.
