Not so long ago, we witnessed a global pandemic. In our country, the first case was recorded over three years ago. After that, the situation became more complicated and less clear every day. It was precisely that era when COVID-19 was an everyday topic that showed us how important quick and accurate diagnostics are.
Diagnostics, as a process that leads to the discovery of a disease, is the first step in the treatment process. About 13 million people die yearly because they do not get a timely diagnosis. Predictions are that in 2050, about 10 million people will lose their lives annually because antibiotics will no longer be available. This statistic is followed by another 40 million people who could be at risk due to the indirect consequences of missed procedures during the diagnosis of bacterial infections.
Noxatest is a project that aims to create a rapid diagnostic test, which should reduce the waiting time for results and allow doctors to choose the proper treatment method with these quickly obtained results as soon as possible. Behind this project stands a team of Jelena and Marko Komloš, who were determined to combine the knowledge gained during their studies and many years of experience. The modern technology embodied in this project serves to identify numerous bacterial species and mechanisms of resistance to antibiotics faster and more precisely than before.
IN FOCUS:
- HOW TO DEVELOP ELECTROMOBILITY FASTER
- NOVI SAD STEPS INTO THE WORLD OF ELECTROMOBILITY
- THE FUTURE GUIDED BY INNOVATIONS
The project’s creators start from the thesis that, no matter how powerful antibiotics are, microbes have evolved to be more resistant than them. Therefore, it is important to identify the mechanism of their resistance. At the same time, the project provides the opportunity to reduce stay in hospital precisely because of the efficient way of obtaining the necessary therapy.
The initial idea was to develop a rapid diagnostic test related to milk quality for dairy cows. We gave up on that idea because of the situation in agriculture, but that didn’t stop us from developing an idea for something that would help people. The idea was born while I was working on a veterinary specialization in microbiology – explains Marko.
In addition to all the good sides, this project is also green because a product is being created that will be completely recyclable. Jelena and Marko made it for humans, as well as for animals and the alternative protein industry. In those industries, they reduce waste, thereby protecting the environment from creating negative effects. They reduce carbon dioxide production by using biodegradable materials and the low amount of energy required for production. A very important achievement is increasing the survival rate of animals on farms by more than 15 per cent, which would save more than 400 million animals per year.
Prepared by: Milica Vučković
Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine ELECTROMOBILITY.
