Lyme Disease Biosensors: A Potential Solution to a Diagnostic Dilemma

Abstract

Over the past four decades, Lyme disease has remained a virulent and pervasive illness, persisting throughout North America and many other regions of the world. Recent increases in illness in many countries has sparked a renewed interest in improved Lyme diagnostics. While current standards of diagnosis are acceptable for the late stages of the disease, it remains difficult to accurately diagnose early forms of the illness. In addition, current diagnostic methods tend to be relatively expensive and require a large degree of laboratory-based analysis. Biosensors represent the fusion of biological materials with chemical techniques to provide simple, inexpensive alternatives to traditional diagnostic methods. Lyme disease biosensors have the potential to better diagnose early stages of the illness and provide possible patients with an inexpensive, commercially available test. This review examines the current state of Lyme disease biosensing, with a focus on previous biosensor development and essential future considerations.

Microfluidic systems for infectious disease diagnostics

“…The numbered parts, respectively, are (1) the casing and main body of the device, (2) the aluminium band for receiving the diagnostic device and conducting heat for the nucleic acid amplification assay, (3) circuit components including a microcontroller, heater controller and power supply unit, and ( 4 recently discussed biosensors with focus on Lyme disease. 518 Chou et al presented a B. burgdorferi antigen microarray designed for the detection of serum antibodies in patients with active and convalescent Lyme disease. High sensitivity was achieved by plasmon-enhanced fluorescence signal detection.…”

Quantitative multiplexed strategies for human Lyme disease serological testing

“…Another type of multiplexed assay measures the signals of targets uniformly separated along a biosensing surface, 56 thus avoiding the limitation of size-based separation that occurs in Western blot analysis. One example is the grating-coupled fluorescent plasmonics (GC-FP) biochip developed by our research group, 57 which used a plasmonic fluorescence microarray to screen IgG antibodies against 17 proteins (DbpA, OspD, BBA73, RevA, BmpA, FlaB, BBA65, ErpL, VlsE, OspC, P45, BBA69, ErpG, DbpB, P58, BBA70, ErpY) for predicting Lyme disease status.…”

Electrochemical Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi Using a Biomimetic Flow Cell System

“…Recent years have seen the emergence of several Lyme disease biosensing approaches; ,− however, while these devices provide promising diagnostic alternatives, the existence of an inexpensive and rapid test remains an unmet need. In response to this opportunity, the current study explores the potential of an electrochemistry-mediated biosensor for Borrelia , as a tool to help prevent the burden of Lyme disease associated with late detection.…”

“…These bacteria are spread by ticks of the Ixodes genus, hard-bodied ticks common to many temperate regions of the world. The pervasiveness of Lyme disease has seen substantial increases in recent years owing to climate change-mediated tick migration, among other factors, with notable rises in cases across North America, Europe, and regions of Asia. − This increase in incidence of Lyme disease, coupled with the challenges that often accompany its rapid and accurate diagnosis, have driven significant interest in improving Lyme disease diagnostic capabilities …”

“…3−5 This increase in incidence of Lyme disease, coupled with the challenges that often accompany its rapid and accurate diagnosis, have driven significant interest in improving Lyme disease diagnostic capabilities. 6 After transmission of Lyme bacteria into a host's body, the individual is at risk of developing Lyme disease. 7 While the bacteria initially remain at the site of infection, over time they begin to disseminate through the body to different tissues and organs, where they can reside and cause various health difficulties.…”