Improved detection of tick-borne germs
New tools for tick-borne pathogen surveillance
Using a fast, portable DNA/RNA sequencing method to find many different tick-borne germs in ticks and rodents so health officials can spot infection risks sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11232301 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you live or work where ticks are common, this project aims to use a handheld DNA sequencer to look directly for bacteria and other germs in ticks and the rodents they bite. The team uses a method called nanopore adaptive sampling to enrich for pathogen DNA and RNA in real time, keeping useful genetic material while filtering out background host sequences. That approach lets them screen for many known and unexpected tick-borne agents from the same sample instead of running separate tests for each pathogen. The goal is faster, broader surveillance that can reveal emerging threats and inform prevention efforts.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who live, work, or recreate in areas with high tick exposure — for example outdoor workers, hikers, and residents in tick-endemic regions — are most likely to benefit or be connected to this work.
Not a fit: People with illnesses unrelated to tick-borne germs or who live in regions without ticks are unlikely to see direct benefit from this surveillance project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to earlier and broader detection of tick-borne infections, helping public health officials warn people and guide prevention and treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Metagenomic sequencing and portable nanopore devices have been used successfully to detect pathogens in other settings, but applying real-time adaptive sampling to tick surveillance is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oliver, Jonathan D — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Oliver, Jonathan D
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.