MycEXomics: identifying diagnostic markers for mycetoma

MycEXomics

MycEXomics is a marker discovery project which uses an transcriptomic approach to discover new diagnostic markers for mycetoma caused by Madurella mycetomatis, Nocardia brasiliensis, Streptomyces somaliensis and Actinomadura madurae, the main causative agents of mycetoma. The markers discovered will in the future be used to develop novel point-of-care diagnostic markers for mycetoma.

Partners

In this project, four partners will identify diagnostic markers for each of the four causative agents of mycetoma.

• RIKEN: Manages GHIT investment & will sequence the RNA isolated from the exosomes and characterize the expression profile of the individual markers.
• Mycetoma Research Centre (MRC) & Hospital General de México “Dr. Eduardo Liceaga”: will be responsible for collecting blood and urine from mycetoma patients. They will also diagnose the patients according to the protocols used in their institutes.
• ErasmusMC: will verify the species identification by sequencing and isolate the exosomes and purify RNA from them.

Mycetoma

Mycetoma is a neglected tropical disease of the subcutaneous tissue and is characterized by large tumor-like lesions. It is caused by more than 70 different causative agents, but four of these are responsible for 79.5% of all mycetoma cases world-wide. Appropriate treatment outcome depends on proper identification of the causative organism. The current mycetoma diagnostics tools are tedious, invasive of low sensitivity and specificity and expensive. Presently there is no point-of-care diagnostic test for mycetoma.

Objective of MycEXomics

To identify species-specific markers for the 4 most common causative agents of mycetoma in urine and plasma of mycetoma patients.

Project design

In order to identify species-specific markers a five step-approach will be taken:

1. Urine and plasma will be isolated from patients with mycetoma
2. The causative agent will be identified by PCR
3. Exosomes will be isolated from urine and plasma, as they will most likely contain species specific markers
4. RNA will be isolated from the exosomes and sequenced. The transcriptomes will be profiled and markers identified
5. The markers identified in MycEXomics can later be used to develop Point-of-Care diagnostic tools to detect early cases of mycetoma.

• Imad Abugessaisa, PhD
  RIKEN
  Yokohama
  Japan
  
  
• Professor Ahmed Fahal, MD
  Mycetoma Research Centre 
  University of Khartoum
  Khartoum
  Sudan
  
  
• Professor Alexandro Bonifaz, PhD, MD
  Hospital General de México “Dr. Eduardo Liceaga”
  Mexico City
  Mexico

Principal investigator:

• Wendy van de Sande
  w.vandesande@erasmusmc.nl

Team members

• Mickey Konings
  m.konings@erasmusmc.nl