Typhoid fever or more commonly known as typhus is a disease caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi. Typhus is still often found in developing countries located in subtropical and tropical areas such as Indonesia.
Data on typhoid fever infection in Indonesia is quite high, reaching 500 cases per 100,000 population per year. Symptoms include prolonged fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, stomach ache, and constipation or diarrhea. Severe cases can cause serious complications or even death.
This is the basis for collaboration between students of the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Brawijaya, through Simbiot. Simbiot was initiated by Jordy Billionis Musa Napitupulu, Benny Dewantoro, Kevin Alexander Simbolon, Az Zahra Putri Henata, Vitry Aisyah Ramadhani and Sulthana Aulia Yasmine who were supervised by Eka Maulana, S.T., M.T., M.Eng., and dr. Yuanita Mulyastuti, M.Sc.
Vitry, as the team member, said that the typhus testing method commonly used is a semi-quantitative method. “Therefore, we are working to develop tools which can provide quantitative results so that the results are expected to be more accurate,” explained this FK student.
The simbiot works by adapting the TUBEX TF test method, namely by detecting antibodies through its ability to block the bond between the anti-O9 S. typhi monoclonal reagent (antibody-coated indicator particle) and the antigen reagent. O9 S. typhi (antigen-coated magnetic particle) resulting in deposition and color changes. Range of color changes due to the deposition of these antigens will be read by shooting light with a wavelength of 400nm.
This tool uses Magnetic Particle Antigen liquid as a reagent and the test result will be connected to an Internet of Things-based application integrated with Fuzzy Logic.
In the future, it is hoped that Simbiot will be ready to become a new face in the world of health in Indonesia. “Simbiot succeeded in obtaining PKM 2024 funding held by the Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia,” she explained.
Symbiot works by adapting the TUBEX TF method in collaboration with the ELISA Reader Vis-Light reading principle. The reading results will later be displayed on an LCD screen and the data will also be sent to the smartphone mobile application of health workers and patients.
The research, manufacturing and development process of this tool was carried out at the Electronics Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering and Microbiology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya from April to August 2024.
Jordy, as team leader, said that Simbiot was a new innovation in dealing with typhoid fever problem that hit Indonesia. Simbiot have smaller shape than previously existing spectrophotometric tools, so it’s easy to carry anywhere. This tool also has a high level of readability so it can diagnose patients more precisely and can help medical personnel in taking medical action.
“With its smaller size and practical that is easy to use, it is hoped that Simbiot can be used by community health centers and hospitals in less accessible areas as an accurate, safe, early detection tool and affordable for all groups,” explained Jordy. (Jordy/VQ/ UB PR/ Trans. Iir)
