NAU is part of a project with the goal of creating an accurate diagnostic test for Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne illness in the United States.<\/p>\n
NAU researchers, led by\u00a0Paul Keim<\/strong>,\u00a0Regents\u2019 professor and director of TGen-North,\u00a0will use targeted DNA sequencing to develop and validate the test, measuring the presence and severity of Lyme disease at the genomic level.<\/p>\n Current testing methods regularly miss the presence of Lyme bacteria or get false positives from bacteria that resemble\u00a0Lyme\u0010.<\/p>\n \u201cWith recent advances at TGen and genomics overall, we can finally develop a diagnostic test that will put more actionable information into the hands of the physician than previously possible,\u201d Keim said.<\/p>\n Lyme disease affects\u00a0an estimated 300,000 people each year. The bacterium that causes Lyme disease occurs naturally in mice, squirrels and other small animals. The infection spreads as ticks feed on animals and then bite humans.<\/p>\n The infections can manifest as a rash, flu-like symptoms, fever, headache and body aches.\u00a0Undiagnosed and untreated cases can lead to fatigue, memory loss, insomnia, heart palpitations, difficulty with concentration and other changes, complicating a clinical diagnosis.<\/p>\n By analyzing DNA, the new test should be able to pinpoint Lyme disease and identify specific strains.<\/p>\n