L2M – Bacterial Amplicon Tick Test (BATT)

Tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease and Anaplasmosis, are an increasing public health concern in Canada, with rising case numbers driven by climate change and expanding tick populations. Current testing methods are limited as they typically detect only one pathogen at a time and often miss early-stage infections. As a result, many Canadians can go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, leading to delayed treatment and severe health impacts. At the same time, new and emerging tick-borne pathogens are being identified in North America, making it critical to have diagnostic tools that can detect a broad and evolving range of threats.

This project supports the development of the Bacterial Amplicon Tick Test (BATT), an innovative genomics-based tool developed by myLyme at Queen’s University. BATT uses DNA sequencing and machine learning to simultaneously detect all known bacterial pathogens in a single tick. Unlike conventional targeted tests, it can also identify emerging bacteria that may not yet be common in Canada.

This work will help myLyme deliver faster, more comprehensive, and more accurate tick testing to Canadians. It will improve early diagnosis, strengthen public health surveillance, and reduce the burden of untreated disease. The project will also support myLyme’s business development by identifying market potential, user needs, refining its value proposition, and informing the regulatory and commercialization strategy for use in clinical, veterinary, and public health settings.

Faculty Supervisor:

Robert Colautti

Student:

Partner:

DMZ Ventures Inc

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Biotechnology; Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Environmental Science and Technology

University:

Queen's University

Program: