Sickle Cell Sperm Selection with Hb-S Mab: A Future Application for Intracytoplasmic Genotypically Selected Sperm Injection (IGSI)

Abstract

There is no clear scientific consensus on the possibility of characterizing sperm cells based on the expression profile of the Hbb gene which codes for hemoglobin. Sickle cell births on the other hand is being facilitated by the union of heterozygous carriers whose genetics predispose them to a twenty-five per cent chance of birthing a sickle cell child. Current conventional assisted conception procedures such as IVF/PGD are expensive and ethically controversial. This short research review therefore suggests the possibility of being able to further characterize sickle cell sperms with specific sickle cell hemoglobin monoclonal antibodies (Hb-S Mab). This may also have a future application in being able to select sperm cells for micro-injection IVF procedures.

Emerging technologies for home‐based semen analysis

“…Microfluidic devices are being developed for various applications in medicine including disease diagnosis, tissue culture, and cryopreservation (Asghar et al ., , , ; Hafeez et al ., ; Miki & Clapham, ; Seiringer et al ., ; Tasoglu et al ., ,; Islam et al ., ; Shafiee et al ., ; Safavieh et al ., 2016; Adenmosun et al ., ; Coarsey et al ., ; Kanakasabapathy et al ., ). Like paper‐based devices, these microfluidic devices also provide a quick way to evaluate semen with a simple readout.…”

Smartphone-based sickle cell disease detection and monitoring for point-of-care settings

“…The children born in resource-limited settings are at a greater risk of SCD [9]. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reported about 100,000 cases of individuals with homozygous genotype from a 2008 census in the USA population mainly in African Americans [10]. SCD is the most prevalent disease in sub-Saharan Africa with the highest incidence of deaths in children under 5 years of age [11].…”