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Lyme Disease

Anti-lysoganglioside and other anti-neuronal autoantibodies in post-treatment Lyme Disease and Erythema Migrans after repeat infection

Anti-lysoganglioside and other anti-neuronal autoantibodies in post-treatment Lyme Disease and Erythema Migrans after repeat infection

Brian A.Fallon, BarbaraStrobino, SeanReim, JulieStoner, Madeleine W.Cunningham Brain, Behavior, & Immunity – Health, Volume 2, February 2020, 100015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2019.100015

This study examines molecular mimicry targeting neural tissue after Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) infection. Patients with Lyme disease have a greater frequency of specific anti-neuronal autoantibodies and functional neuronal activation compared to community controls without a history of Lyme disease.

“Highlights

  • The EM ​+ ​prior LD group had significantly elevated anti-neuronal antibodies.
  • The EM ​+ ​prior LD group had significantly elevated CaM Kinase activation.
  • Anti-Lysoganglioside Antibodies are significantly elevated in the PTLS group.
  • Prior infection may lead to immune priming and increased autoantibodies.”
A minority of children diagnosed with Lyme disease recall a preceding tick bite
Nigrovic LE, Neville DN, Balamuth F, Bennett JE, Levas MN, Garro AC; for Pedi Lyme Net. A minority of children diagnosed with Lyme disease recall a preceding tick bite. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2019 Apr;10(3):694-696. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.02.015. Epub 2019 Feb 26. PMID: 30853264.

Out of 1770 children evaluated in the emergency department for Lyme disease, 362 (20.5%) were diagnosed with the condition. Among those with a documented tick bite history, only a small percentage (18.5%, 95% confidence interval 14.6-23.0%) of Lyme disease cases were associated with a recognized tick bite. Therefore, the absence of a tick bite history does not reliably rule out Lyme disease.

C-Reactive Protein Response in Patients With Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Symptoms Versus Those With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Melanie Uhde, Alyssa Indart, Brian A Fallon, Gary P Wormser, Adriana R Marques, Suzanne D Vernon, Armin Alaedini, C-Reactive Protein Response in Patients With Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Symptoms Versus Those With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 67, Issue 8, 15 October 2018, Pages 1309–1310, https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciy299

The data suggest the presence of different inflammatory mechanisms in ME/CFS compared to PTLDS. This difference may stem from the potentially more diverse causes of ME/CFS symptoms compared to PTLDS. The lack of a significantly elevated CRP response in ME/CFS, despite indications of activation in other inflammatory pathways, requires further investigation.

Borrelia burgdorferi adhere to blood vessels in the dura mater and are associated with increased meningeal T cells during murine disseminated borreliosis

li Divan, Timothy Casselli, S. Anand Narayanan, Sanjib Mukherjee, David C. Zawieja, John A. Watt, Catherine A. Brissette, M. Karen Newell-Rogers, Published: May 3, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196893

Traditionally, mice haven’t shown neuroborreliosis, mirroring human symptoms, but this study achieved colonization of the central nervous system in mice. Using two strains of B. burgdorferi, researchers infected mice through the skin, consistently detecting spirochetes in the brain membranes 75 days post-infection. Live spirochetes were present, adhering to blood vessels, indicating long-term infection. The presence of CD3+ T cells suggested an immune response. These findings provide new avenues for studying neuroborreliosis and may offer insights into potential treatments for patients.