bistro: An R package for vector bloodmeal identification by short tandem repeat overlap
Zena Lapp1, Lucy Abel2, Judith Mangeni3
1Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Medrxiv : the Preprint Server for Health Sciences
|September 25, 2023
Summary
The new bistro R package accurately matches human DNA in mosquito bloodmeals to individuals, improving vector-borne disease research. It identifies more human contacts than previous methods, aiding intervention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Genetics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Accurate measurement of vector-human contact is crucial for controlling vector-borne diseases.
- Existing short tandem repeat (STR) matching methods struggle with incomplete or mixed DNA profiles from bloodmeals.
- This limits precise targeting of disease interventions.
Conclusions:
- The bistro R package significantly improves the identification of vector-human contact events.
- Its enhanced accuracy and ability to handle complex samples enable more robust epidemiological studies.
- bistro facilitates better-targeted interventions against vector-borne diseases.
