LONGITUDE PRIZE - SCI & TECH
News: Rapid, diagnostic test for
UTIs may help stem super bug crisis
What's in the news?
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Sysmex Astrego, a Sweden-based diagnostic company,
won the £10 million Longitude Prize for developing
a high-tech UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) test called the PA-100 AST System.
Longitude Prize:
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The Longitude Prize, valued at £8 million (₹85 crore), was recently awarded for its profound
implications in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
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The prize launched in 2014, aims to revolutionize infection management
globally.
Backdrop:
Origin:
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Established in 1714
to solve the maritime longitude problem, demonstrating the critical need for
accurate navigation.
Modern Application:
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The 21st-century Longitude Prize addresses pressing global challenges like
AMR, incentivizing innovative solutions.
Goal of the Prize:
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It aims to replace
current lab-based diagnostic methods with rapid tests that guide targeted
antibiotic therapies, combating AMR effectively.
PA-100 AST System:
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It is developed by Sysmex Astrego, this system uses a phenotypic test that identifies
UTI bacteria and performs antibiotic
susceptibility testing in under 45 minutes.
Operation:
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A single-use cartridge processes less than half a
milliliter of urine, using microfluidic traps and phase-contrast imaging in a
shoe box-sized reader instrument.
Clinical Impact:
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Provides rapid “sensitive” or “resistant” results
for antibiotics, aiding doctors in immediate, accurate treatment decisions at
the point of care.
Current Challenges in
UTI Diagnosis:
Limited Accuracy:
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Current options include urine dipstick tests for
quick results but limited accuracy (50-60%) and lab cultures with 2-3 day turnaround times.
Impact on Treatment:
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Delayed diagnosis often leads to empirical
antibiotic use, contributing to antibiotic resistance worldwide.
Go back to basics:
Antimicrobial
Resistance:
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Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites
change so that medicines no longer work against them.
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This makes infections harder to treat and can lead
to more severe illness and even death.
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AMR can occur
naturally through genetic changes or when one type of microorganism picks
up resistance from another.
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It can also occur
randomly due to mutations or when resistant genes spread between different
organisms.
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The main reasons for AMR are antibiotics
incorrectly or too often, not having access to clean water and good hygiene,
not doing enough to prevent infections, and people not knowing how to use
antibiotics properly.
Global Impact of AMR:
Global Threat:
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Antibiotic-resistant infections caused nearly 1.3
million deaths in 2019, with projections to exceed cancer-related deaths by
2050.
Economic Impact:
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The global economy faces potential losses of up to
4 trillion by 2030 and 100 trillion by 2050 due to the AMR crisis.