A Universal Bio-Signature Detection Array for Species Identification of Leishmania and Sand Fly Vector

Leishmaniasis is a disease endemic to several tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world which is spread by the bite of female sandfly carrying parasites known as Leishmania. Pathological manifestations of infection range from itchy skin to disfiguring ulcerous sores and death, requiring varying treatment strategies. Deployed US military personnel in regions of the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa are at risk of infection. Although several species of both parasite and sandfly are known, only some sandfly species are man-biting, requiring tailored sandfly population control strategies, and medical intervention response is parasite-species specific. Thus, the control and treatment of leishmaniases depends on proper detection of infected vectors and accurate identification of vector and parasite species. Existing approaches include DNA and enzyme-based methods that have various limitations, including cost, time, and a lack of specificity and/or sensitivity. Lynntech proposes a new, DNA chip-based technology that generates unique biosignatures of individual sandfly and Leishmania species, without prior genomic information, which can be used to simultaneously genotype both species from extracted sandfly DNA mixtures using mathematical clustering methods. The technology will have wider biodefense significance; i.e., for pathogen and host forensics, identifying engineered pathogen strains, and measuring genetic response to CBRN exposure.