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Direct Capture and Early Detection of Lyme Disease Spirochete in Skin with a Microneedle Patch

Emily Kight1, Rosana Alfaro1, Shiva Kumar Goud Gadila2

  • 1Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37211, USA.

Biosensors
|October 27, 2022
PubMed

Insights

A novel microneedle device offers direct detection of Borrelia burgdorferi DNA from skin, potentially enabling earlier Lyme disease diagnosis. This method bypasses the slow antibody response, improving early risk assessment for suspected tick bites.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Lyme disease (LD) is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, with expanding tick ranges necessitating improved surveillance.
  • Current LD diagnosis relies on indirect serological assays, which are limited by a delayed antibody response, hindering early detection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and evaluate a microneedle (MN) device for direct detection of Borrelia burgdorferi DNA from skin interstitial fluid (ISF).
  • To provide a rapid, direct diagnostic method for early Lyme disease detection, overcoming limitations of current serological tests.

Main Methods:

  • A microneedle device was designed to collect ISF and capture spirochetes directly from the skin.
  • Inactivated Borrelia burgdorferi were used to spike porcine ear skin to assess device performance.
  • Spirochete DNA was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after dissolving the MN patch.

Main Results:

  • The microneedle device demonstrated an approximate 80% recovery rate of spiked Borrelia burgdorferi from porcine skin.
  • The method allows for direct detection of spirochete DNA, bypassing the need for host immune response.

Conclusions:

  • This direct PCR approach using microneedles shows promise for early Lyme disease detection.
  • Further development could lead to a transformative tool for rapid diagnosis and timely treatment of Lyme disease.
Keywords:
Lyme diseaseearly detectionpoint-of-careskin diagnostic

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