Source: Scottish Enterprise
Date:   June 6, 2006
Author: John Gow
URL:    http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/sedotcom_home/sig/academics/proofofconcept/projects_underway/projects_underway_view.htm?ID=16538


Diagnostic Test for ME
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Potential of Technology: Our recent identification of a gene abnormality in 
patients with ME (CFS) demonstrates that there may be a direct association 
between this gene and ME.  Proving this concept will enable the development of a 
patentable diagnostic test kit which would be made widely available to health 
care professionals. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 
(CFS) is a disorder that effects as many as 100,000 people in the UK and has a 
serious social and economic impact worldwide. Diagnosis is currently one of 
differentiation and exclusion (excluding the presence of other diseases) as no 
specific diagnostic test for CFS currently exists in the marketplace. The 
resultant global market potential for ME testing is huge and growing.

Summary of Technology: Recent advances in the analysis of the human genome have 
resulted in a greater understanding of our blueprint for life and the potential 
for us to develop diseases and conditions in the presence of certain triggers. 
This knowledge has allowed the identification of a gene abnormality which is 
associated with ME which in turn allows the development of both a laboratory 
based PCR diagnostic test and a more simple antibody based ELISA test to find 
this gene associated with ME and therefore aid accurate diagnosis.  The aims 
comprise the further development of assays using existing RT-PCR technology with 
oligonucleotide primer sequences which span a specific epitope on the candidate 
gene, western blot and ELISA tests of currently available antibodies to various 
epitopes of the gene and to raise an epitope-specific antibody which will be 
incorporated into the final proof of the diagnostic kit

Concept to be proven: The concept to be proven is that an identified gene 
abnormality is linked to the development of ME, and that further, a simple 
diagnostic test may be developed to find this gene abnormality in those 
suspected of having ME as an aid to diagnosis.

Contacts

Commercial contact:     Mr Brian McGeough
                        b.mcgeough@enterprise.gla.ac.uk
Principal investigator: Dr John Gow
                        gora20@ucdf.gla.ac.uk
Institution:            University of Glasgow
                        http://www.gla.ac.uk/R-E/
Press officer:          Judith Hodgson
                        j.hodgson@admin.gla.ac.uk

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(c) 2006 Scottish Enterprise