Biotechnology advances for diagnosis of infectious and parasitic diseases

Abstract

Recent epidemic outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging diseases have shown
the importance of control and prevention measures. In order for such measures
to be effective, the development of accurate diagnostic methods is relevant.
Tools arising from improvements in molecular and cell biology have allowed
for diagnostic techniques that produce reliable results in minutes or hours.
Immunochromatographic assays, PCR and its variants, technology involving DNA micro-arrays, flow cytometry, and proteome analysis are some examples. Some of
these methods are already available in laboratories, especially in the private sector.
However, the interpretation of results requires new levels of knowledge. There is,
therefore, a need to train staff to ensure that these methods are more widely known
and made use of. It is thereby expected that the emergence of new technologies will
result in the development of new drugs and treatments, and especially in diagnostic
methods for epidemiological investigations, and will lead to improvements in the
quality of life of the population, as treatment will be able to be started prompter.