Review
Immunology
Brian Stevenson, Catherine A. A. Brissette
Summary: The cp32 plasmids in Lyme disease borreliae are circular episomes that encode two families of lipoproteins, Erp and Rev, which enhance the infection processes and promote the survival of the bacteria.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
John A. Branda, Allen C. Steere
Summary: Lyme borreliosis is caused by a complex group of spirochetes, leading to various clinical manifestations and possible long-term sequelae. Laboratory diagnosis, focused on in this review, requires a deep understanding for accurate interpretation, with serologic testing remaining essential due to the limitations of direct pathogen detection. Despite some advancements, there are promising prospects for future assay development in Lyme borreliosis diagnostics.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Bijaya Sharma, Julie E. McCarthy, Cecily A. Freliech, Morgen M. Clark, Linden T. Hu
Summary: Unrecognized immunodeficiency may contribute to antibiotics' failure in treating Lyme disease symptoms. The study showed that the efficacy of doxycycline was significantly lower in mice lacking adaptive immunity, especially B cells, with the most pronounced effect seen in immunodeficient C3H mice. Additionally, the addition of a single dose of ceftriaxone to doxycycline treatment effectively cleared infection in severely immunodeficient C3H mice.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
B. J. A. Hoeve-Bakker, Mark Jonker, Afke H. Brandenburg, P. Martijn den Reijer, Foekje F. Stelma, Alje P. van Dam, Tamara van Gorkom, Karen Kerkhof, Steven F. T. Thijsen, Kristin Kremer
Summary: In this study, the performance of nine different Borrelia serology screening assays was evaluated, showing comparable results for early- and late-disseminated Lyme borreliosis. Adding an IgM assay to the screening of Borrelia-specific IgG antibodies was found to have no additional value for the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Maroun M. Sfeir, Jennifer K. Meece, Elitza S. Theel, Dane Granger, Thomas R. Fritsche, Allen C. Steere, John A. Branda
Summary: Modified two-tiered testing algorithms are acceptable alternatives for Lyme disease diagnosis. The study found that these algorithms showed higher sensitivity in patients with acute erythema migrans and comparable specificity in other types of Lyme disease patients and control subjects.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Anne Marit Solheim, Aslaug Rudjord Lorentzen, Audun Olav Dahlberg, Heidi Oyen Flemmen, Synne Brune, Kristine Johanne Nordstrom Forselv, Are Hugo Pripp, Margrete Halvorsen Bo, Randi Eikeland, Harald Reiso, Ase Mygland, Unn Ljostad
Summary: This study compared the efficacy and safety of oral doxycycline for 2 and 6 weeks in European Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). The results indicated that there were no benefits of doxycycline treatment beyond 2 weeks in European LNB.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY NEUROSURGERY AND PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
K. J. Teh, H. Y. Tang, L. S. Lim, H. S. Pung, S. Y. Gan, N. S. Lai
Summary: Lyme borreliosis, caused by Borrelia spp., is primarily transmitted by infected black-legged Ixodes ticks and is prevalent in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly the United States. It has also been detected in Asian countries such as Korea, Nepal, China, Taiwan, and Japan. However, there is limited understanding of Lyme borreliosis in Southeast Asia. This review aims to provide an updated overview of the prevalence of Lyme borreliosis in the region based on recent literature.
EUROPEAN REVIEW FOR MEDICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Bryna L. Fitzgerald, Barbara Graham, Mark J. Delorey, Adoracion Pegalajar-Jurado, M. Nurul Islam, Gary P. Wormser, John N. Aucott, Alison W. Rebman, Mark J. Soloski, John T. Belisle, Claudia R. Molins
Summary: This study used metabolomics to analyze metabolic responses in patients with Post-treatment Lyme disease symptoms/syndrome (PTLDS) compared to clinically cured non-PTLDS patients. The findings revealed observable metabolic differences between PTLDS and non-PTLDS patients at multiple time points, with distinct patterns of metabolite abundance. A small number of metabolites could be used to define PTLDS versus non-PTLDS patients at specific time points, and these findings were validated in a second patient cohort. These results suggest that metabolite-based measurement can help distinguish patients with PTLDS and provide insights into the underlying biochemistry of PTLDS.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Shaghayegh Jahanbani, Paige S. Hansen, Lisa K. Blum, Effie E. Bastounis, Nitya S. Ramadoss, Mallesh Pandrala, Jessica Marie Kirschmann, Grace Sisemore Blacker, Zelda Z. Love, Irving L. Weissman, Fahimeh Nemati, Michal Caspi Tal, William H. Robinson
Summary: This study sequenced the antibody repertoire of plasmablasts in Bb-infected humans and identified their binding specificities. The researchers found that by conjugating a TLR9-agonist CpG oligo to an anti-BmpA monoclonal antibody, they were able to enhance macrophage phagocytosis of Bb.
CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Elisa Kortela, Mari Kanerva, Satu Kurkela, Jarmo Oksi, Asko Jarvinen
Summary: This study evaluated the conditions behind the symptoms in patients with suspected Lyme borreliosis (LB) referred to an infectious diseases clinic. The results showed that LB was unlikely in half of the patients, with most cases having other conditions to explain their symptoms.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Finja Huendersen, Stefanie Forst, Erich Kasten
Summary: The study found that patients with Lyme disease have lower quality of life and sleep, as well as cognitive impairments in attention and memory. Depressive symptoms are common among Lyme patients, and the disease is often diagnosed late.
Article
Pediatrics
A. van Samkar, R. A. Bruinsma, Y. M. Vermeeren, R. G. Wieberdink, T. van Bemmel, P. M. den Reijer, B. van Kooten, T. P. Zomer
Summary: This study compared the clinical characteristics and outcome of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) between children and adults. The results showed that facial nerve palsy and headache were more prevalent in children, while radiculitis and encephalitis were mostly reported in adults. Children had a shorter time between symptom onset and diagnosis and a higher rate of complete recovery.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Klaudia Sowula, Joanna Szaleniec, Mateusz Dworak, Maria Przeklasa, Malgorzata Maraj, Piotr Ceranowicz, Jerzy Tomik
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the frequency of vertigo symptoms and potential labyrinth damage in patients diagnosed with Lyme disease (LD). Vertigo is often associated with labyrinth and hearing-organ damage in LD patients, and antibiotic therapy is effective in reducing otoneurological symptoms.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Jenny Wachter, Craig Martens, Kent Barbian, Ryan O. M. Rego, Patricia Rosa
Summary: This study characterized the methylomes of various Borrelia species involved in Lyme disease, revealing new sequence motifs methylated by plasmid-encoded restriction/modification enzymes. Contrary to previous findings, no consistent differences in gene expression were found among isogenic derivatives lacking certain restriction/modification enzymes, suggesting a need for further study to understand the epigenetic impact of methylation on gene expression in these bacteria. Knowledge of the motifs recognized and methylated by these enzymes will aid in genetic investigations of these important human pathogens.
Article
Immunology
Sanna Avellan, Daniel Bremell
Summary: The study found that adjunctive corticosteroids do not improve or impair the outcome for patients with LNB PFP treated with doxycycline.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)