Wolf Trap continuation study Final report

Critical evaluation of light and X ray scatter, conductivity, and fluorescence as part of Wolf Trap extraterrestrial life detector developmen

Engineering Breadboard Model, Wolf Trap Microbe Detection Device Final Report

Engineering breadboard model of microorganism detection device for Mars landing application

Light-weight wolf trap study Final report

Light scattering cells to measure particles in liquid solution

Control of Tungiasis through Intermittent Application of a Plant-Based Repellent: An Intervention Study in a Resource-Poor Community in Brazil

Tungiasis is a parasitic skin disease caused by the female sand flea Tunga penetrans. The disease is frequent in resource-poor communities in South America and sub-Saharan Africa and affects the poorest of the poor. Sand flea disease is associated with a considerable morbidity and may lead to tetanus in non-vaccinated individuals. The degree of morbidity depends on the intensity of infestation, i.e., the number of embedded sand fleas a person has. Since tungiasis is a zoonosis involving a host of animal reservoirs, and because an effective treatment is not at hand, in resource-poor settings elimination is not feasible. Preventing morbidity to develop is therefore the only means to protect exposed individuals from sand flea disease. Similar to other arthropods, sand fleas can be repelled before they penetrate into the skin. In this study we show that the intermittent application of a plant-based repellent, of which the major component is coconut oil, reduces the intensity of infestation dramatically during the whole transmission season and prevents tungiasis-associated morbidity from developing. The prevention can be performed at the household level by the affected individuals themselves with minimal input from the health sector

Comparison of Hand-Held Test Kits, Immunofluorescence Microscopy, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, and Flow Cytometric Analysis for Rapid Presumptive Identification of Yersinia pestis▿

An in-house immunochromatographic test, Plague BioThreat Alert test strips, ABICAP columns, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence microscopy were compared for the detection of the fraction 1 capsular antigen of Yersinia pestis, using spiked buffer and clinical specimens. Hand-held test kits proved to be excellent benchtop tools