ONGOLE: A post doctoral researcher of Harvard University, Sudheer Babu Vaddela, who hails from Prakasam district, has discovered a low cost diagnostic method for Buruli Ulcer, a disease that cripples thousands every year in South Africa, North America, Australia, China and Japan.

The disease not only makes a person handicapped but also leaves him disfigured. Every year 6,000 to 8,000 people contract the disease.

Buruli Ulcer is a devastating skin disease caused by the Mycobacterium Ulcerans bacteria. The new method enables doctors to diagnose the disease early and start antibiotic therapy.

Sudheer says the early stage of the infection is characterised by a painless swelling. This nodule can turn ulcerous. As the disease progresses the bone can get infected. Buruli Ulcers usually affect the arms or legs.

Mycobacterium Ulcerans releases a toxin named mycolactone which affects the immune system and results in tissue death. How the disease spreads is not known. There is no vaccine.

Cases detected early can be cured with antibiotics. Other treatments include cutting away the ulcer. Surgical intervention is the most practical form of treatment for the disease. But that is expensive.

Sudheer developed a cheap, highly sensitive method to detect the disease. Using this the disease can be diagnosed early. Earlier, Sudheer synthesised Tami Flu which is now used against swine flu and was awarded Ph.D.

Sudheer said, "The new method will reduce at least 30 to 40 per cent of the treatment and is affordable. Due to early diagnosis, the patient can be saved. I am doing research on Buruli Ulcer under the guidance of Prof. Yoshitio Kishi at Harvard University.

Earlier, Sudheer synthesised the drug Tami Flu which is now used against swine flu and was awarded Ph.D.

Sudheer Babu V., a post doctoral researcher at Harvard University, who hails from the Chilakapadu village in Prakasam district, discovered a low cost treatment for Buruli Ulcer which cripples thousands in South Africa, North America, Australia, China and Japan every year.

Buruli Ulcer is a devastating skin disease caused by the Mycobacterium ulcerans bacteria a cousin of the Mycobacterium species that causes TB and Leprosy.

Using this new method doctors can diagnose the disease early and start antibiotic therapy. The early stage of the infection is characterised by a painless nodule or swelling. This nodule can turn into an ulcer. Ulcerans releases a toxin named mycolactone which hits the immune system.