Galaxy Radar – Week of May 27, 2024

Identifying Borrelia and Bartonella in Children

Clinical Characteristics of Children with Borrelia-Related Peripheral Facial Palsy and Utility of Cerebrospinal Fluid Testing by I Orfanos, V Chytilova & E Eklund publishing from Sweden – In this study of children with acute peripheral facial palsy, evaluation of their additional symptoms and serology led to diagnosis of #LymeDisease. As CSF testing was less decisive, the authors suggest using it as a secondary step.

Lyme Borrelia Nanotrap Antigen Test, a urine test to confirm active Borrelia infection. Find out more.

Vasculitis, Cerebral Infarction and Persistent Bartonella henselae Infection in a Child by N Balakrishnan, M Ericson, R Maggi and EB Breitschwerdt publishing from North Carolina State University and the University of Minnesota in 2016 – After treating an abscess on a dog, a child developed neurological disorders. For 11 years, she was treated for autoimmunity including multiple sclerosis, until a course of antibiotics prescribed because of night sweats caused improvement. Her mother then contacted Dr. Breitschwerdt for Bartonella testing. Galaxy Diagnostics scientists are co-authors.

The Bartonella Digital ePCR test uses our patented growth medium and divides the sample in 20,000 droplets, improving DNA confirmation by up to ten times. Find out more.

Mapping Pathogens

The Abundance and Pathogenicity of Microbes in Automobile Air Conditioning Filters Across the Typical Cities of China and Europe by K Su et al. publishing from Guangdong University of Technology – Researchers studied car air conditioning filters collected from Chinese and European cities. Samples from these very diverse environments contained similar microbes. Among the most common identified microbe was Bartonella. The presence of zoonotic pathogens in urban and suburban environments is often under-appreciated, leaving people exposed in homes, urban parks, and backyards.

Spatiotemporal Patterns of Lyme Disease in North Carolina: 2010-2020 by NV Mokashi et al. publishing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Researchers find #LymeDisease is rapidly emerging in North Carolina, with certain regions showing “incidence rates similar to historically high incidence regions.” Across the United States and around the world, many groups are working on mapping more specific risk information. Risk can seem low when looking at an entire region, but between animal and human health data and tick testing, these areas of very high risk can be identified.

Tick Season Is Expected to Be Worse Than Ever in Michigan by J Prestininzi in the Detroit Free Press – Tick season started early in Michigan and is expected to be intense this year. The article includes a photographic tick identifier for the state. Knowing the ticks they are likely to encounter in their area can help the public be prepared to prevent infection.

Mapping the Human Brain

Google and Harvard Unveil Most Detailed Ever Map of Human Brain by J Prisco on CNN – This extremely detailed map has revealed surprises about the structure of the brain. Continued development of this level of information in typical and diseased brains could lead to new breakthroughs in the understanding and treatment of neurological disease.

Medscape Updated Cat Scratch Disease Entry

Cat Scratch Disease (Cat Scratch Fever) by RA Schwartz on Medscape – Cat scratch disease is an acute bartonellosis most commonly caused by Bartonella henselae. This updated Medscape entry contains a history of the earliest identification of Bartonella henselae bacteria.

Find Us at Meetings and Presentations

Tick-Borne Disease:

National Strategy for Vector-Borne Diseases – As part of developing the National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases in People, Nicole Bell attended a meeting with federal agencies in Washington, DC. With patient advocates pressing for better laboratory tests, it is essential that the companies that will ultimately make testing breakthroughs available to patients participate in building the roadmap forward.

NC Life Sciences Organization (formerly NCBIO) Forum on Diagnostic Testing – Nicole Bell presented on the challenges created by new legislation and FDA rule-making on laboratory-derived tests and in vitro diagnostics are implemented. These new regulations present considerable cost burdens, with the highest impact on rare disease.

Innovations in Diagnostic Testing for Lyme & Tickborne – Amanda Elam shared insights on the primary challenge of diagnostics innovation for stealth infections and the history of Bartonella infection on this podcast with the Lyme Disease Association of Australia. Many people are confused by the different types of testing available, including antibody, antigen, and DNA/RNA testing. Dr. Elam describes some of the different technologies that Galaxy is using to increase the sensitivity and specificity of direct detection, either antigen or DNA, for stealth infections like Bartonella spp and Borrelia spp.

The Alzheimer’s Pathobiome Initiative Symposium – Edward Breitschwerdt, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM) will be presenting with Janice Bush, CVM, on “Bartonella henselae, Neurobartonellosis and Alzheimer’s Disease: Is there a link?”

Business Leadership:

Cartier Women’s Initiative Impact Awards – Amanda Elam joined an event in Shenzhen China celebrating 33 impact entrepreneurs who are part of a larger community of 330 fellows selected over 17 years in a stellar global support program for women entrepreneurs led by the global watch and jewelry brand Cartier. Under the theme of “Forces for Good,” the CWI Awards event recognized women entrepreneurs contributing to economic growth and social development in communities and countries around the world. CWI is the lead sponsor of an annual global research report on the state of women’s entrepreneurship worldwide that is currently led by Dr. Elam.

Diana International Research Conference – In her role as a Research Fellow in entrepreneurship at Babson College’s Diana International Research Institute (DIRI), Dr. Elam is part of the organizing committee of this international academic conference taking place June 1-3 in Stockholm, Sweden, and hosted this year by ESBRI. The Diana International Research Conference has been cited as one of the “top 1% most important meeting places” in the academic field of entrepreneurship studies and, over the past 20 years, has provided a platform where more than 100 scholars convene annually to develop and share research on women’s entrepreneurship.

Investor-Ready Entrepreneur Program – Dr. Elam will be speaking at this North Carolina training event. As an entrepreneurship educator and cofounder of Galaxy Diagnostics, Dr. Elam will share her experience as a life sciences CEO and early-stage fundraiser with new founders in Research Triangle Park, NC. Sharing our industry knowledge and startup experience with the community of life science entrepreneurs is part of how we fulfill our mission to help bring better products to patients.