Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine have tested a new method to detect Lyme disease at the earliest stage of infection.

The team performed the tests on serum samples derived from three patients with undetected Lyme disease at the first visit of a doctor and diagnosed all patients with small amounts of the target protein, NIST said Feb. 11.

“Our hypothesis was that Lyme bacteria shed vesicle-like particles or fragments derived from the cell wall of the bacteria circulating in the serum of individuals,” said Larik Turko, NIST research chemist.

“These particles would contain membrane proteins that can be detected to provide a unique indicator of infection.”

NIST said the collaborators determined Lyme infection on two patients simultaneously with the experimental method and standard blood tests, while the disease was detected on the other patient with the experimental method three weeks before they confirmed the infection using the standard tests.

The team published the results of its study in an issue of Analytical Chemistry.

The General Services Administration‘s 18F unit wants to expand its consulting and acquisition services in efforts to forge partnerships with federal agencies to support grants for state and local digital services programs.

Under the expanded practice, 18F plans to offer agile and modular design to federal agencies that provide grants to technology programs in the local and state levels, GSA said Tuesday.

Robin Carnahan, former Missouri state secretary, will lead the new state and local government practice at 18F.

“Federal agencies already provide millions of dollars each year to fund state and local government technology projects,” said Denise Turner Roth, GSA administrator.

“Now even more Americans will benefit from the world-class expertise at 18F, while partnering with federal agencies that provide grants to state and local programs allows GSA to help stretch those dollars even further.”

The new practice builds on 18F’s pilot project to help upgrade California’s child welfare system in 2015 in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services and the California Department of Social Services.

The Vermont Air National Guard has sent the first F-35 airman who graduated from the Intelligence Formal Training Unit to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, DVIDS reported Tuesday.

Andrea Posey writes Capt. Christopher Clements, intelligence officer with the 158th Operations Support Squadron, completed training under the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program at IFTU with other airmen and U.S. Marines.

“The technology capabilities of the F-35 require robust, in-depth training for our analysts,” said Lt. Col. Laura Caputo, 158th Operations Support Squadron senior intelligence officer.

“Captain Clements’ successful completion of this course paves the way and launches our shop down this road, ensuring our readiness when the jets arrive,” Caputo added.

Airmen studied intelligence theory, systems and sensors, air to air combat, air to ground combat, mission planning and applications related to F-35 during the five-week training, the report says.