Dresden 2017 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 35: Posters - Physics of Parasites (Focus Session)

BP 35.2: Poster

Tuesday, March 21, 2017, 14:00–16:00, P2-OG1

The physical principles of a novel malaria diagnostic device — •Tamas Prok¹, Adam Butykai¹, Agnes Orban¹, Petra Molnar¹, Maria Pukancsik¹, Tivadar Zelles², Stephan Karl³, and Istvan Kezsmarki¹ — ¹Department of Physics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics and MTA-BME Lendület Magneto-optical Spectroscopy Research Group, 1111 Budapest, HU — ²Department of Oral Biology, Semmelweis University, 1089 Budapest, HU — ³Infection and Immunity Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, AU

A novel cost-effective, automated, yet sensitive diagnostic method is needed for malaria detection both as an in-field instrument and as a laboratory tool for malaria researchers. Our group has developed the prototype of such device based on the detection of the magnetically induced linear dichroism of the malaria pigment crystals (hemozoin). These micrometer-size crystals are promising malaria-diagnostic targets as they are unique indicators of the infection exhibiting specific magnetic and optical properties. I am going to present our investigations unravelling the details of their anisotropic magnetic properties and linear dichroism; and I am going to show how these findings led us to the development of a highly sensitive detection setup comprising of a cheap laser diode, permanent magnets, simple polarization optics and computer-based data collection and analysis.