Advances In The War Against Lyme Disease

Posted Thu, 2009/04/09 - 00:10 by Fred Lee

Photo:

Scientists believe they have found an important component to the lifecycle of Borrelia burgdorfei, the bacterium that causes Lyme Disease. With the discovery of a protein that is required to transport the metal, manganese, researchers at Northwestern University believe that may they have uncovered a potential key to combating the disease in human beings. Named after the town of Lyme, Connecticut where it was first identified, Lyme disease is the most prevalent tick-borne illness in this country, and for that matter, the Northern Hemisphere.

Early symptoms may include fever, headaches, fatigue, and a “bulls-eye” rash at the site of infection. It is common belief that most people who contract Lyme Disease get this bulls-eye rash; however, fewer than 50% do. In addition, symptoms can vary greatly so it can be very difficult to detect.

When detected early enough, it is treatable with antibiotics, and in most cases can be cured. However, if antibiotics are delayed or insufficiently administered, it can lead to a serious complications of the heart, joints, and nervous system that are much more difficult to treat. It can also cause severe psychiatric manifestations in some patients, further confusing the picture for physicians.

Lyme disease is usually transmitted to people by way of a bite from an infected tick of the genus Ixodes, or hard body ticks, which carry them in their guts but transmit them via their salivary glands. In the Northeast, it is the black-legged tick, better known as the deer tick (Ixodes Scapularis), that is considered the most prevalent carrier. It is important to keep in mind that the deer tick is different than the dog tick (Dermacenter variabilis) in that it is much smaller in size.

Obviously, the ideal solution to the problem would be to avoid being bitten in the first place, but if you’re like most people, especially when the warmer days start to kick in, you feel the great outdoors beckoning you. That will usually involve spending time in the grass, where ticks lay in wait. Indeed, it is (or at least it should be) a regular part of the parenting routine to check your kids regularly for the dreaded ticks bites. Fewer than 50% of people infected with Lyme recall a tick bite.

If the tick is identified and removed immediately, the risk of contracting Lyme disease is greatly reduced. The tick lives through four life cycles: egg, larva, nymph, and adult, and requires a blood meal between each one in order to mature to the next stage. The tick usually acquires the bacteria at the larval stage from an infected host (mouse, deer, squirrel, etc.), then transmits the bacteria to humans or other mammals in its nymph stage, when it feeds in order to become an adult. Because of its small size and painless bite, however, it is often difficult to detect.

To complete its life cycle and thus become virulent, however, the bacteria Borrelia must obtain certain key elements from it’s host, including manganese. Using this piece of information, Dr. Michael Norgard, who headed the study, used genetically modified bacteria that were deficient in their ability to transport manganese, and infected them into mice. What they found was the bacteria were incapable of causing infection, bringing to light, for the first time, a clearer picture of what role certain elements may play in its pathogenicity.

While the findings are exciting, Dr. Norgard feels that it is just a first step to understanding certain aspects of the bacteria’s physiology and life cycle, and as they learn more, will hopefully lead to more effective ways to target and destroy the Borrelia, and ultimately make Lyme disease a thing of the past.

To learn more, consult a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD) in your area or check out the International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society.

Permalink | Add new comment