At first glance, one may not see the similarities between fishing and Lyme disease, but to 麻豆原创 Assistant Professor Mollie Jewett, the two go together like Borrelia proteins and magnetic beads. Better and earlier diagnosis of Lyme disease by fishing for antibodies is the basis of Dr. Jewett鈥檚 research, which she presented at the College of Medicine first Luminary Series Lecture of 2013. The event was held February 9 at the Interlachen Country Club in Winter Park. The Luminary Series is sponsored by Dean Mead and Fifth Third Bank.
The presentation: 鈥淒iagnosing Lyme in the Nick of Time鈥� showed the impact of Dr. Jewett鈥檚 research on the most commonly reported vectorborne illness in the United States. Lyme disease is on the rise nationwide yet there is currently no definitive method of testing for the disease. That means sufferers can go untreated 鈥� increasing their chances for lifelong complications.
Dr. Jewett is developing an assay that she hopes will give the most accurate diagnosis for the disease. That is where the 鈥渇ishing鈥� analogy comes in. People who are infected with tick-borne disease produce antibodies to fight the infection and Dr. Jewett鈥檚 team is working to find a better way to 鈥渇ish鈥� for proof of Borrelia Burgdorferi, the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The 鈥渂ait鈥� is a group of magnetic beads coated with Borrelia proteins. Dr. Jewett鈥檚 research has found that those beads will attract the antibodies and provide a clearer indication of infection. 鈥淭he overall goal is new diagnostics and potential new treatments,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e coming at that from a biology standpoint of: If we understand how the bacteria works, we can understand how to stop it.鈥�
The research funding community is taking notice of her work. Days after Dr. Jewett鈥檚 Luminary Series presentation, the National Research Fund for Tick-Borne Diseases (NRFTD) announced she had received a $60,000 grant to further her research into Borrelia Burgdorferi gene regulation, and how the bacteria functions in any given environment.
Dr. Jewett also received an in-house grant from the 麻豆原创 Office of Research and Commercialization. The $7,500 grant is focused on her research into how Borrelia Burgdorferi seeks out nutrients from its host. Her goal is to cut off that process, so that the bacteria will not be able to survive.
Dr. Jewett鈥檚 goal is to change the way Lyme disease is diagnosed, treated and prevented. Her passion for the topic spills over into the classroom, where she is inspiring students to do the same. 鈥淩esearch is my number one love, and bringing teaching into that is how I like to do it, 鈥� she said. 鈥淵es, what you鈥檙e learning is actually applicable, and important and exciting. I think that gives a hands-on meaning to my teaching.鈥�