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Lyme Disease

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Benefits of the Universal Microbial Assay from Drexel Medicine Diagnostics

Tick-borne infections are often polymicrobial and contain pathogens from multiple kingdoms. Drexel Medical Diagnostics has developed two companion assays that together will provide near universal coverage for all non-viral pathogens – the UMA.

UMA Assays - Advantages*

Broad coverage: the assays are based on the highly conserved 16S and 18S ribosomal RNA genes of bacteria and eukaryotes, respectively. They can be ordered individually or together as a single comprehensive assay. Together they provide for unbiased coverage of bacteria, fungi, and single-celled eukaryotic pathogens which allows for:

  • Identification of multiple pathogens simultaneously from individual specimens providing for characterization of mixed or polymicrobial infections without having to specify what to test for, thus even unsuspected pathogens will be identified
  • Complete species-specific microbiome analyses of complex specimens including: mucosal, fecal, periodontal, salivary, surgical, veterinary, wound, etc.

Highly sensitive: the assays are based on the polymerase chain reaction which provides for billion-fold amplification of target DNAs

Highly specific: long PCR and long-read DNA sequencing provide the information to be able to identify pathogens to the species level (in some cases even the strain level)

Highly quantitative: nearly linear over 1000-fold differences in input DNA to detect low copy number pathogens and also the relative percentages of multiple pathogens in complex specimen types – providing the information for tailoring therapy

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The assays described here are currently undergoing rigorous validation testing and are not yet currently available. This is for informational purposes only and is not an advertisement of services.

International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) 2022 Scientific Conference, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Orlando, FL

Kayla M. Socarras, PhD candidate, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, is the 2022 recipient of the ILADS Neil Spector Humanitarian Award. Ms. Socarras focuses her research on complex infectious diseases with an emphasis on tick-borne diseases.
Kayla M. Socarras, PhD candidate, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, is the 2022 recipient of the ILADS Neil Spector Humanitarian Award. Ms. Socarras focuses her research on complex infectious diseases with an emphasis on tick-borne diseases. During the ILADS 2022 Annual Scientific Conference, Ms. Socarras presented a talk titled "Construction of a Dual Borrelia/Borreliella Genera Pangenome for Diagnostics and Therapeutics."

Ben Haslund-Gourley, MD/PhD candidate, Department of Microbiology and Immunolgy, presented 'Immunoglobulin N-glycosylation Discriminates Acute Lyme disease from Endemic Healthy Controls and Mimic Diseases – A Novel Diagnostic and Prognostic.'
Ben Haslund-Gourley, MD/PhD candidate, Department of Microbiology and Immunolgy, presented "Immunoglobulin N-glycosylation Discriminates Acute Lyme disease from Endemic Healthy Controls and Mimic Diseases – A Novel Diagnostic and Prognostic." Mr. Haslund-Gourley recently co-authored a publication on lyme disease titled "Acute Lyme disease IgG N-linked glycans contrast the canonical inflammatory signature."

Dr. Leo J. Shea III, PhD (right), former two-term president of ILADS, presenting Kayla M. Socarras (left), PhD Candidate, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, with the 2022 ILADS Neil Spector Humanitarian Award.
Dr. Leo J. Shea III, PhD (right), former two-term president of ILADS, presenting Kayla M. Socarras (left), PhD candidate, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, with the 2022 ILADS Neil Spector Humanitarian Award.

Booth 18 at the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) 2022 Scientific Conference, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Orlando, FL
Booth 18 at the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) 2022 Scientific Conference, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Orlando, FL

Benjamin Haslund-Gourley (Ben), MD/PhD Candidate, DUCOM, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Benjamin Haslund-Gourley (Ben), MD/PhD Candidate, DUCOM, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Donald C. Hall, Jr. (DJ), PhD, DMD's Operations Director
Donald C. Hall, Jr. (DJ), PhD, DMD's Operations Director

Myat Thwe (Michiko), Dr. Ehrlich's graduate student; PhD student, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
Myat Thwe (Michiko), Dr. Ehrlich's graduate student; PhD student, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems

Benjamin Haslund-Gourley (Ben), MD/PhD Candidate, DUCOM, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Benjamin Haslund-Gourley (Ben), MD/PhD Candidate, DUCOM, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

(standing) Garth Ehrlich, PhD, DMD's Technical Supervisor, President of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Educational Foundation (ILADEF); (seated, left) Donald C. Hall, Jr. (DJ), PhD, DMD's Operations Director; (seated, right) Myat Thwe (Michiko), Dr. Ehrlich's graduate student; PhD student, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
(standing) Garth Ehrlich, PhD, DMD's Technical Supervisor, President of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Educational Foundation (ILADEF); (seated, left) Donald C. Hall, Jr. (DJ), PhD, DMD's Operations Director; (seated, right) Myat Thwe (Michiko), Dr. Ehrlich's graduate student; PhD student, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems

 
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