Cape Verde: Innovation in Sickle Cell Anemia.
A research group called “BioAnalysis” which includes nine researchers from Cape Verde, recently discovered new, innovative ways of diagnosing sickle cell anemia, a disease that kills 100 people annually.
António Maximiano Fernandes, leader of the group, revealed that the new detection method, developed over seven years, promises to revolutionize the early identification of this genetic disease which, in Cape Verde, specifically in Santiago, has a prevalence rate between 5 and 8 %.
In technical terms, the conclusion of the study published on the portal American Chemical Society, from the United States of America (USA), describes the technique as a rapid polymerization of defective hemoglobin within cells, providing an effective diagnosis in urgent situations.
The method surpasses previous techniques, including that adopted by the World Health Organization (OMS), invented by Linnus Pauling in the 30s.
Research in Cape Verde
The discovery could save lives and represents not only a scientific victory for Cape Verde, but also for the world.
“Sickle cell anemia is often a silent disease, and if left undiagnosed it can cause various complications, from severe pain to strokes.”
“The current method has surpassed the technique adopted by the WHO, and can be applied in urgent analyses, encouraging people to seek exams more frequently.”
Explained António Maximiano Fernandes, the Cape Verdean scientist responsible for the investigation.
The study focused on Santiago, an island in the Cape Verdean archipelago, where the results indicate a significant prevalence of sickle cell anemia. According to Maximiano Fernandes, the gene responsible for the disease is present in approximately 1 in every 40 individuals, even though the majority are asymptomatic.
This discovery, based on the first studies on the island of Santiago, reinforces the importance of early diagnosis. Maximiano Fernandes highlighted that, at this point, the new method can now be implemented in emergency analyses, providing a crucial advantage for the rapid and accurate detection of sickle cell anemia.
What is Sickle Cell Anemia?
Sickle cell anemia is one of the most common genetic diseases in Africa. It is characterized by a change in red blood cells which, due to a genetic defect, hemoglobin (a protein that transports oxygen through the circulation), acquires a sickle or half-moon shape, instead of the traditional, rounded shape.
Sickle cells, unlike normal cells, are not very flexible and cannot pass properly through smaller blood vessels, obstructing them in different organs of the body.
In addition to causing anemia from birth, due to the poor distribution of oxygen to the body due to defective hemoglobin – hemoglobin S –, the disease causes jaundice, that yellowish appearance of the skin and eyes, due to the early death of blood cells and pain in bones, muscles and joints, resulting from vessel occlusion, also called sickling crises.
As if that weren't enough, these crises are also precipitated by exposure to cold temperatures and dehydration, as people with the condition tend to lose more water than normal because they are unable to concentrate their urine.
Vulnerability to infections is another characteristic of sickle cell anemia. It turns out that the destruction of the vessels brutally affects the spleen, an important organ that produces antibodies and lymphocytes, and undermines its function, which opens up space for invaders to proliferate.
Therefore, the appearance of a fever is a warning sign, especially in younger people, as infections are the main cause of death in children with the condition.
Clogging of capillaries, veins and arteries by sickle cells can also cause serious complications, such as acute myocardial infarction, chronic kidney disease, pulmonary embolism and stroke, in addition to harming other organs.
BioAnalytics on the Front Line
The leadership of the BioAnalysis group in the development of these innovative techniques is not limited to the diagnosis of sickle cell anemia. Additionally, the team announced the discovery of advanced methods for detecting parasites in humans and animals.
The methods, called Parasimax Multicolor and Parasimax Concentration Staining Hair (PCSC), demonstrated superior effectiveness to globally recognized methods.
Maximiano Fernandes revealed that the team attracted the attention of researchers from several countries, such as India, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Germany, Singapore and Nigeria. He further revealed that the advantages of these methods, including the ability to perform diagnoses in seconds and the observation of still-living organisms, provide a more comprehensive understanding of parasitic infections.
In concrete terms, the group is announcing two discoveries: new methods for diagnosing sickle cell anemia and detecting parasites in animals and people.
“Regarding sickle cell anemia, it is a type of genetic anemia, often unknown to patients, but which can cause people to die suddenly.”
“In Cape Verde, we have genetics, but there has never been a major concern because it is a gene originating in Africa and we tend or believe that we are more European”. He detailed.
BioAnalógica produces its own reagents, which allows them to carry out diagnosis in the laboratory, allowing early detection of the disease. This way, it is possible to cover a greater number of people and prevent more people from being born with this genetic predisposition in Cape Verde.
Who is Maximiliano Fernandes?
António Maximiano Fernandes, has a degree in Food Technology and Science, from the Nanotechnology department at Jiangnan University in China. He worked as a researcher for the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the National Institute of Public Health and has published several articles abroad.
In the private sector, he is a professor at Jean Piaget University and is a researcher at the BioAnalysis Group since 2016, where he studies diagnostic methods for Sickle Cell Anemia and, more recently, parasitic diseases.
The future
Despite extraordinary scientific achievements, Maximiano Fernandes expressed great concern about the lack of financial support from Cape Verdean authorities.
He highlighted the need for registration and certification of reagents, as well as the importance of exporting them to other countries. The scientist explained that there needs to be an openness to carrying out tests by international experts, aiming for the validation and global acceptance of the discoveries.
“While a student in China, I published articles in England and the United States.”
“But this type of discovery cannot be published before registration, in order to safeguard copyright.”
“We have already registered in Cape Verde, at the Institute for Quality and Intellectual Property Management (IGQPI)”.
“But we have to be careful in its dissemination because we may achieve some international recognition, but other countries and researchers may take ownership of our idea.”
Maximiano Fernandes lamented.
The discovery could open up job prospects for young researchers in the country and, from the archipelago, reagents can be produced, for example, and distributed abroad. Regarding the diagnosis of parasites in humans and animals, it is worth remembering that parasitic diseases kill more than 200 thousand people worldwide each year.
Conclusion
The discoveries made by the BioAnalysis group led by António Maximiano Fernandes represent a significant milestone in scientific research in Cape Verde and the world.
Innovation in the diagnosis of sickle cell anemia and the detection of parasites not only puts Cape Verde on the map of scientific excellence, but also offers crucial solutions to public health problems.
The challenge now lies in overcoming financial obstacles and establishing partnerships that allow for the global application of these innovative methods.
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