This invention relates to methods of detecting Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato or for detecting Borrelia associated with Relapsing Fever (RF), kits for carrying out such methods, and methods of treating Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato or RF infections in a subject. Uses of phage specific for Borrelia are also provided.

The invention features methods, systems, and panels for rapid detection of tick-borne pathogens in a sample (including Borrelia spp. such as B. burgdorferi, B. afzelii, and B. garinii) and for diagnosis and monitoring of tick-transmitted diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Q-fever, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and anaplasmosis.

The present invention relates to an immunoassay for the detection of Borrelia specific IgG, IgM and IgG/IgM antibodies in biological samples suspected of Lyme infection. The immunoassay can be performed via a standard immunoassay format or on an automated platform. In various embodiments, the immunoassay uses one or more Borrelia specific chimeric peptides VlsE-FlaB (designated pFlaB-mV), VlsE-ErpP (designated pErp59-mV), VlsE-P35 (designated pP35-mV) alone or in combination with one or more outer surface protein C (Osp C) types B or I, p58 and DbpA. Other aspects of the invention provide antigen/substrate combinations and compositions comprising combinations of the disclosed peptides and/or proteins for use in the immunoassays described herein.

The present disclosure provides a biosignature that distinguishes Lyme disease, including early Lyme disease, from STARI. The present disclosure also provides methods for detecting Lyme disease and STARI, as well as methods for treating subjects diagnosed with Lyme disease or STARI.

The present disclosure relates to a method of diagnosing Lyme disease in a subject comprising measuring the level of B. burgdorferi peptidoglycan or the level of an antibody that specifically binds to B. burgdorferi peptidoglycan (“anti-peptidoglycan agent”). The present disclosure also relates to a method of treating a Lyme disease in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject an antagonist against B. burgdorferi peptidoglycan (e.g., an anti-peptidoglycan antibody or a peptidoglycan-specific hydrolase). Antagonists (e.g., anti-peptidoglycan antibodies) suitable for the present methods are also disclosed.

The present invention provides methods of detecting analytes using particles having different physico-chemical properties, such as buoyancy, size, density, spectral characteristics, and/or binding properties, in solution-based sandwich assays and solution-based competition assays. The methods can be performed using rotors and bench-top centrifuges and provide for rapid, qualitative and quantitative detection of analytes. The present invention also provides kits that can be used to perform the methods, and mixtures containing particles suitable for the methods.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for diagnosing Lyme disease, including diagnosis within the first two weeks of infection. Also disclosed herein are compositions and methods for detecting and diagnosing infection by a Borrelia sp.

The present invention relates to vaccine compositions comprising lipid antigens, antibodies targeting lipid antigens, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such and their use in diagnosing, monitoring, treating, and preventing infectious disease, such as Lyme disease. In one aspect, administered is a therapeutically effective amount of a vaccine composition comprising a lipid antigen, an antibody or fragment thereof binding a lipid antigen, and/or a pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody or fragment thereof binding a lipid antigen. Other aspects are described.

The present invention provides compositions and methods that can be used to determine a peptide signature for an antibody repertoire in a sample comprising multiple antibodies. The method can be used to characterize a phenotype in a sample, such as providing a diagnosis, prognosis or theranosis of a medical condition.

The present invention provides compositions and methods that can be used to determine a peptide signature for an antibody repertoire in a sample comprising multiple antibodies. The method can be used to characterize a phenotype in a sample, such as providing a diagnosis, prognosis or theranosis of a medical condition.