Skip to main content

Could holograms help bring the end of malaria? Experts build new tool

flashing light mosquitoes malaria tiger mosquito
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Mosquitos are the world’s most deadly animal, according to the World Health Organization, making these insects more than mere pests for some 500 million people every year. Their bites may be irritating but the diseases they carry can be fatal. Of all the illnesses mosquitos transmit, malaria is by far the most offensive, causing the deaths of as many as 2.7 million people annually.

Detecting malaria is pretty straightforward in western medicine. “Currently, the gold standard technique to diagnose malaria is manual microscopic evaluation of stained blood smears by expert microscopists who are in short supply in low-resources settings,” Duke University Professor of Biomedical Engineering Adam Wax told Digital Trends. In other words, well-trained practitioners have to spend a lot of time looking through microscopes.

Recommended Videos

But experts are in short supply, especially in impoverished regions where malaria hits hardest, so the team of Duke engineers devised an innovative technique that replaces the expert with an algorithm. They published a paper on their study in the journal Plos One last week.

To start, the researchers shine a laser back and forth through a blood sample to construct a holographic image. The technique is pretty standard — one that the team has used for years. The images can depict deformations and various signs of infection in the cells, but they still need to be analyzed to determine whether the symptoms are of malaria or another disease.

Wax and doctoral student Han Sang Park identified 23 metrics — such as cellular thickness and asymmetry — that help distinguish infected cells from uninfected ones. The metrics were helpful but less reliable than the researchers desired. None of them exceeded 90-percent accuracy on their own, so they could not match the eye of a trained practitioner with a microscope. That is where the algorithm came in.

The researchers fed data on thousands of healthy and unhealthy cells into the deep learning program, which trained itself to determine which parameters in which thresholds and which combinations would most likely signal a malaria infection.

After viewing thousands of images, the algorithm learned to correctly detect malaria with at least 97 percent accuracy and process thousands of cells per minute by deconstructing the holograms into simplified data on the 23 metrics. The holograms can be easily packaged and transmitted in bulk, since the algorithm analyzes them on such simplified metrics, making the technique viable for low-resource regions where internet connection tends to be spotty.

Although successful, the instruments Wax and Park created was best suited for laboratories. They have since developed a portable and more affordable version that can be used in the field and runs about $500.

Dyllan Furness
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Dyllan Furness is a freelance writer from Florida. He covers strange science and emerging tech for Digital Trends, focusing…
How to take an ECG with your Apple Watch and see irregular heart notifications
ecg app apple watch

The ECG app is one of the most vital features of the Apple Watch, allowing you to see an electrocardiogram of your heart whenever you want. Along with this, the Apple Watch can notify you of irregular heart rhythms.

Read more
The best Black Friday air fryer deals for 2022
Best Black Friday Air Fryer Deals

Though Black Friday's over for another year, you'll still find plenty of Black Friday deals out there. If you're in the market for an air fryer, we don't blame you. It's the kitchen gadget that no one can stop talking about. After all, what other device can whip up a perfect crunchy batch of fries or delicious fried chicken while using minimal energy and providing healthier results? Big retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon have plenty of Black Friday air fryer deals on right now, so how do you know where to start? Below, we've picked some of the best available deals from brands like Bell, Insignia, Ninja, and many more, so keep reading to find your new air fryer for less.
Best Black Friday air fryer deals under $100
Bella Pro Series 2-quart Analog Air Fryer -- $20, was $45

If you're still tentative about air fryers, it's hard to go wrong buying the Bella Pro Series 2-quart Analog Air Fryer. This simple-to-use air fryer doesn't boast a stainless steel case or perform multiple functions, but it does the main job creating crispy, healthy, good-tasting snacks and appetizers. No preheating time means you're ready to cook faster than a conventional oven, and dishwasher-safe components makes cleanup quick and easy. The small Bella Pro Series air fryer is one of the best air fryer deals, priced to attract new cooks to the category.

Read more
AirPods Black Friday deals: Save on AirPods Pro and Max
Best Black Friday AirPods Deals

Black Friday may have been and gone for another year, but the best Black Friday deals are still around. Below, we've picked out all the best AirPods Black Friday deals so you can save big on some of the most popular earphones and headphones around. Whether you're looking to buy some cheap AirPods or you want to go all-in and buy the high-end but luxurious AirPods Max, there's sure to be a great deal for you here. These are just some of the best Apple Black Friday deals around with plenty more options out there. Keep reading while we take you through them all.

Read more