Page 17 - Issue 5 Cornwall Hill

ESTATE NEWS

HEALTH & WELLNESS

LUCAS LÖTTER

HAS THE RIGHT STUFF

By Nicole Zerwick Image by Ivan Muller

o say I learnt a lot over and immediately administer treatment with • Reagents and primers are added to
coffee – my first for the medication on hand, a brilliant idea that has the extracted sample. Primers are used
morning, but already caught the attention of various role players to target the virus’ genetic code to see if
Lucas’ third – is an in the field. They have won awards and it is present in the test subject’s sample.
understatement. I met recognition, amongst which are: Depending on the reagent kit used and
Twith this young Cornwall • Winner of the GAP BioSciences the testing unit of the laboratory, the
Hill Estate resident and ex-Cornwall Hill Competition 2017; analysis of the sample can take one to
College boy with the view to finding out • Secured a TIA grant from the Savant three hours.
more about Covid-19 testing: to follow Technology incubator 2017;
the trail, as it were, from sample taking • Represented South Africa at Collision During the process of amplification, the
until the positive or negative result. I 2018 in New Orleans with a prototype sample is exposed to laser light and the
came away with so much more than I of the device and engaged with the presence (or absence) of the virus RNA
bargained for. Canadian Red Cross; can be detected due to light emission of
• Work performed with the Red Cross and certain reporter chemical molecules.
Lucas is a scientist, or more accurately, a the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation;
biotechnologist from Rhodes University, • Partnership with Netcare Hospital Group Thus just the testing, excluding sampling
having worked on stem cell research, through Founders Factory Africa. and reporting by a pathologist, takes a
cancer studies and IoT tech development. minimum of eight hours of labour if all
He is also an entrepreneur who strives The dark Covid-19 cloud hanging over goes absolutely to plan. Lucas tells me it
to advance molecular diagnostics, assist the world had a silver lining for Akili Labs. often does not. There is a lot of trouble-
South African companies to garner Their simplified testing methods using shooting and tweaking in a test run and in
greater global exposure and aspires the Akili Mdx meant they could perform the case of inconclusive results, the tests
to – one day – lecture and mentor. He is a test in just 20 minutes at a reduced cost, will need to be re-run. Even simple things
also passionate about connecting other compared to traditional testing. I was like throat sprays or mouthwash used by
young business people with the correct amazed at the time Lucas quoted when I the test subject can mess up the results,
structures, investors and programmes to considered that one hears of test results and all this accounts for why test results
grow their ideas into viable businesses. taking 24 to 48 hours to be available to take so long to receive and why the tests
He met business partner Charles Faul at patients. He quickly set me right…the are expensive to run.
Rhodes. Charles, too, is a biotechnologist actual test is a very small part of a long and
with a background in software thorough procedure. To understand the Akili Labs have been involved with
development. testing, one must know that the Corona Covid-19 testing where time was of the
virus is an RNA virus, which means it is essence for passengers on repatriation
In 2017 the two founded Akili Labs, an not based not on DNA, but on a closely flights, and emergency testing of business
innovative biotechnology company that is related molecule, RNA. To detect the virus, travellers. They are currently part of
pioneering molecular diagnostics through tests must detect the RNA that is unique the multi-disciplinary team involved in
innovative products. In 2018 the company to this virus, purify it then convert it into clinical trials for Covid-19 therapy,using
became international with the addition cDNA (Reverse Transcription of RT-PCR) novel stem cell based treatment where
of business partner Dr Farhan Pervaiz of and then amplify that DNA (essentially, small particles are fed through a patient’s
Baltimore, Maryland. making copies of it) via a process called ventilator into the lungs to calm the
PCR (polymerase chain reaction). The inflammatory response that leads to ARDS
To make healthcare more accessible purification and amplification require (advanced respiratory distress syndrome)
to people that historically and various chemicals, all of which are and lung damage that can ultimately kill
geographically have not had access to collectively known as reagents, and are the patient.
reliable diagnostics and therefore do sold to laboratories in “kits”.
not receive adequate treatment, they Where to from here, I ask? The next
designed a field diagnostic device, the A typical testing procedure is thus: step, Lucas responds, is to get funds
Akili Mdx, that could quickly test for • A sample of genetic material is taken for prototypes to go into clinical
pathogens such as HIV, Influenza and from the nose or throat by a registered testing. He mentions huge amounts
SARS-Cov2 (aka Covid-19) at a genetic nurse using a cotton or polyester swab. of money, but seems confident that
level and accurately make a diagnosis. • The sample is sealed in a viral transport through partnerships, grants and fund
The Akili Mdx is a game changer for medium and sent to the laboratory for raising, it is an achievable goal. I think
healthcare workers and nurses working testing. he is right. From a Grade 5 child who
among rural populations in Africa and • The sample is received at the lab, logged competed with the school tuckshop for
elsewhere in the world, where doctors and labelled. cold drink sales by filling his school bag
are very few in number and often very • The sample is then moved to the with ice and drinks, to a bright young
far away from patients. Now community extraction room, one of the most entrepreneur with a dream to leave a
healthcare workers and nurses can easily important steps, where the RNA is legacy beyond money, I think Lucas
and accurately test patients in the field extracted/purified. Lötter has the right stuff.

Cornwall View • Issue 5 2020 15