A Point-of-Care Test for Tick-Borne Diseases

Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. It requires early detection for effective antibiotic treatment. Unfortunately, Lyme disease is hard to diagnose, and current tests require trained scientists, specialized lab settings, and expensive equipment. Here, the project aims to develop a quick, low-cost, and user-friendly test for Lyme disease that can be used outside of labs. Our approach combines a robust amplification method with the CRISPR-Cas system for detecting Lyme-causing bacteria with high specificity and sensitivity. With this tool, we aim to provide faster and improved diagnostics, enabling timely treatment and improved patient outcomes, especially for people in remote or low resource communities.

Faculty Supervisor:

Keith Pardee

Student:

Partner:

Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Biotechnology; Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

University of Toronto

Program: