Dr. Meghan May, M.S., Ph.D. to present current breakthroughs in Lyme disease diagnostics

PORTLAND, Maine - April 24, 2016 - PRLog -- Kicking off Lyme Disease Awareness Month, LymeBuddies announce that Dr. Meghan A. May, M.S., Ph.D., will present new, cutting-edge research into the development of reliable, accurate Lyme diagnostics at their May 1^st event.

"Accurate diagnosis is a major hurdle in the understanding of Lyme disease. The current "gold standard" for diagnosis of Lyme disease is a two-tiered process based on the detection of a patient's immune response to Borrelia spp.  This system can fail to accurately detect infection in many patients, leaving people in the position of lacking appropriate treatment," said Dr. May. "New ways of detecting this disease by targeting the bacteria themselves so that those who are infected are identified and treated right away is an exciting new viewpoint in Lyme disease research. "

Dr. May earned her B.S. degree in Microbiology from the University of New Hampshire, and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Pathobiology and Bacteriology (respectively) from the University of Connecticut. She is currently Associate Professor of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the University of New England's College of Osteopathic Medicine and Division G Chair of the American Society for Microbiology.

LymeBuddies (www.lymebuddies.com), the brainchild of Amie Levasseur and Angela Coulombe, two "moms from Maine", offers support to those affected by Lyme disease and holds events to help raise awareness about the disease.

"Lyme Disease is the fastest growing infectious disease in the country. It, and other tick-borne illnesses, can be debilitating, and have been frequently misdiagnosed, leading to unnecessary suffering. The need to raise public awareness and support is tremendous," said Angela Coulombe, of LymeBuddies. "We are thrilled to have Dr. May as a presenter at this event. Her knowledge about Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, combined with her passion for carrying out the necessary research into combating Lyme disease, makes her the perfect speaker for this event."

Other speakers include Barbara Maurais from Mainely Ticks and Dr. Leon Hecht, N.P. and International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) member.

The event is FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC and will take place on Sunday, May 1, 2016 at Jimmy the Greeks, 150 Philbrook Ave, South Portland, ME from 10:30a.m -12:00p.m. Contact Angela Coulombe at info@lymebuddies for more information or visit www.lymebuddies.com.

About LymeBuddies: LymeBuddies was started by two Maine moms who have both struggled with advanced Lyme disease. We seek to provide information and support for Lyme disease and other tick borne illnesses. Please visit www.lymebuddies.com for more info.