--- title: Ticked Off By Lyme Disease description: Dr. Amy Prunuske at the Medical College of Wisconsin is using Biomeme’s DNA detection platform to accurately identify deer ticks and other Lyme bacteria. image: https://blog.biomeme.com/hubfs/TicksBlog.png --- [![logo](https://blog.biomeme.com/hubfs/logo.svg)](https://biomeme.com) - [Applications](https://biomeme.com/applications) - [Host Response Rapidly analyze host immune responses](https://biomeme.com/applications/host-response) - [Our Evidence](https://biomeme.com/applications/host-response/our-evidence) - [Infectious Disease Detect and identify infectious agents quickly](https://biomeme.com/applications/infectious-disease) - [Pandemic Preparedness](https://biomeme.com/applications/infectious-disease/pandemic-preparedness) - [Biodefense Secure and reliable testing for biodefense applications](https://biomeme.com/cbrn-solutions) - [Biowarfare Detection Suite](https://biomeme.com/biowarfare-detection-suite) - [Solutions by Sector](https://biomeme.com/solutions-by-sector) - [Researchers Portable and efficient testing for remote areas](https://biomeme.com/applications/researchers) - [Platforms](https://biomeme.com/platforms) - [Franklin ISP](https://biomeme.com/platforms/franklin-isp) - [Franklin](https://biomeme.com/platforms/franklin) - [Our Vision](https://biomeme.com/our-vision) - [One Health](https://biomeme.com/our-vision/one-health) - [Antimicrobial Resistance](https://biomeme.com/our-vision/antimicrobial-resistance) - [Antibiotic Resistance](https://biomeme.com/our-vision/antimicrobial-resistance/antibiotic-resistance) - [Antimicrobial Stewardship](https://biomeme.com/our-vision/antimicrobial-stewardship) - [Host Response](https://biomeme.com/our-vision/host-response) - [Layman's View](https://biomeme.com/our-vision/host-response/understanding-host-response) - [Support](https://help.biomeme.com/) - [About](https://biomeme.com/about) - [Careers](https://biomeme.com/careers) - [Leadership](https://biomeme.com/about/leadership) - [Scientific Advisory Board](https://biomeme.com/scientific-advisory-board) - [Insights](https://blog.biomeme.com/) - [Contact Us](https://biomeme.com/about/contact) [![logo](https://blog.biomeme.com/hubfs/logo.svg)](https://biomeme.com) - [Applications](https://biomeme.com/applications) - [Host Response](https://biomeme.com/applications/host-response) - [Our Evidence](https://biomeme.com/applications/host-response/our-evidence) - [Infectious Disease](https://biomeme.com/applications/infectious-disease) - [Pandemic Preparedness](https://biomeme.com/applications/infectious-disease/pandemic-preparedness) - [Biodefense](https://biomeme.com/cbrn-solutions) - [Biowarfare Detection Suite](https://biomeme.com/biowarfare-detection-suite) - [Solutions by Sector](https://biomeme.com/solutions-by-sector) - [Researchers](https://biomeme.com/applications/researchers) - [Platforms](https://biomeme.com/platforms) - [Franklin ISP](https://biomeme.com/platforms/franklin-isp) - [Franklin](https://biomeme.com/platforms/franklin) - [Our Vision](https://biomeme.com/our-vision) - [One Health](https://biomeme.com/our-vision/one-health) - [Antimicrobial Resistance](https://biomeme.com/our-vision/antimicrobial-resistance) - [Antibiotic Resistance](https://biomeme.com/our-vision/antimicrobial-resistance/antibiotic-resistance) - [Antimicrobial Stewardship](https://biomeme.com/our-vision/antimicrobial-stewardship) - [Host Response](https://biomeme.com/our-vision/host-response) - [Layman's View](https://biomeme.com/our-vision/host-response/understanding-host-response) - [Support](https://help.biomeme.com/) - [About](https://biomeme.com/about) - [Careers](https://biomeme.com/careers) - [Leadership](https://biomeme.com/about/leadership) - [Scientific Advisory Board](https://biomeme.com/scientific-advisory-board) - [Insights](https://blog.biomeme.com/) - [Contact Us](https://biomeme.com/about/contact) # Ticked Off By Lyme Disease ![](https://blog.biomeme.com/hubfs/TicksBlog.png) **Written By:** Biomeme Staff Lyme disease is the most common disease spread by ticks in the Northern Hemisphere. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 329,000 people are found to have Lyme disease in the US each year. ![Reported Cases on Lyme Disease in the United States in 2014](https://blog.biomeme.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/lyme1.png?width=600&name=lyme1.png) Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium *[Borrelia burgdorferi](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2440571/) *transmitted by *Ixodes scapularis*, a deer tick. As many as 50% of infected people don’t develop any visible symptoms and many don’t realize they’ve been exposed to tick bites. When left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. ![Dr. Amy Prunuske using Biomeme sample extraction kit in the field.](https://blog.biomeme.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/lyme2.jpeg?width=265&name=lyme2.jpeg) Dr. Amy Prunuske using our sample extraction kits out in the field.   Tick bites causing Lyme can also bring several co-infections along, worsening symptoms and complicating treatment. When a deer tick bites, it transfers its saliva into its human host, so other pathogens beyond *Borrelia burgdorferi* may also be infecting Lyme patients. Biomeme’s mobile DNA detection technology has the power to bring tick identification and pathogen detection into the field to better forecast Lyme’s incidence across the US. [Dr. Amy Prunuske](https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-prunuske-3b1b6566/), an Associate Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the Medical College of Wisconsin-Central Wisconsin, is using Biomeme’s rapid DNA detection platform to accurately identify deer ticks infected with *Borrelia* and other co-infecting agents. She is sampling ticks in Minnesota and using our technology to test for Lyme in her tick collection. She’s working closely with high school and college students to bring science out of the lab and into the field. ![Student working with Biomeme sample extraction kit with Dr. Amy Prunuske.](https://blog.biomeme.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/lyme4.png?width=397&name=lyme4.png) In under an hour, she is able to isolate tick DNA, run a real-time PCR test, and identify ticks infected with the *Borrelia* bacterium. Amy’s research work is also able to differentiate types of deer ticks and other tick-borne infections, such as tick-borne fever and *Babesia*. By providing rapid and accurate identification of *Ixodes scapularis* ticks carrying *Borrelia burgdorferi*, *Anaplasma phagocytophilum*, and *Babesia microtii*, Amy hopes to create a real-time view of vector and disease distribution. ![Tick sample being tested in the field for lyme disease.](https://blog.biomeme.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/lyme3.jpeg?width=347&name=lyme3.jpeg) The next phase of Amy’s research will include validation of a new test to differentiate between the three most common tick species: *Ixodes scapularis*, *Dermacentor variabilis*, and *Amblyomma americanum*. The geo-tagged results can then be wirelessly uploaded to Biomeme’s web portal and mapped in real-time to facilitate data sharing. ![Biomeme web portal that has the power to map prevalence in real-time.](https://blog.biomeme.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/lyme5.png?width=410&name=lyme5.png) Example of Biomeme's web portal that has the power to map prevalence in real-time. Dr. Amy Prunuske’s featured use case of Biomeme’s technology is one of many partnerships made possible through our [ Developer Program](http://biomeme.com/developer-program/). This community allows researchers and enterprise partners to test our technologies for a wide range of research interests. Learn more and apply to our Developer Program [here](http://biomeme.com/developer-program/).   #### Subscribe Now Get the latest tips from Biomeme shipped right to your inbox ## Related Blog Posts [![](https://blog.biomeme.com/hubfs/DoD%20Partnership.png)](https://blog.biomeme.com/biomeme-on-the-front-lines) [Explained](https://blog.biomeme.com/tag/explained) ### Biomeme on the Front Lines The landscape of modern warfare is undergoing rapid transformation. This evolution demands preparedness not only against conventional threats but also against emerging chemical and biological... [Read More](https://blog.biomeme.com/biomeme-on-the-front-lines) [![](https://blog.biomeme.com/hubfs/Why%20Franklin_Blog.png)](https://blog.biomeme.com/why-we-call-it-the-franklin-biomeme) [Product Updates](https://blog.biomeme.com/tag/product-updates) ### Why Do We Call It Franklin? We have a very clear goal as a company: to improve global health for humans, animals, and the environment. We do this by creating technology that helps clinicians make informed decisions so that they... [Read More](https://blog.biomeme.com/why-we-call-it-the-franklin-biomeme) [![](https://blog.biomeme.com/hubfs/waldemar-brandt-nxR7gvSokH8-unsplash-1.png)](https://blog.biomeme.com/wcs-validates-canine-distemper-virus-qpcr-test-on-biomeme-platform) [Product Stories](https://blog.biomeme.com/tag/product-stories) ### WCS Validates Canine Distemper Virus qPCR Test on Biomeme Platform Ania Tomaszewicz Brown, Denise McAloose, Paul P. Calle, Angelika Auer, Annika Posautz, Sally Slavinski, Robin Brennan, Chris Walzer, and Tracie A. Seimon developed a quantitative RT-PCR assay for... [Read More](https://blog.biomeme.com/wcs-validates-canine-distemper-virus-qpcr-test-on-biomeme-platform) ![logo](https://blog.biomeme.com/hubfs/logo.svg) - [About](https://biomeme.com/about) - [Careers](https://biomeme.com/careers) - [Privacy Policy & Terms of Use](https://biomeme.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use) - [Patents](https://biomeme.com/patents) 401 North Broad St Suite 222 Philadelphia, PA 19108 [Contact Us](https://biomeme.com/about/contact)