via lymedisease.org
Yale researchers have discovered a protein that helps protect hosts from infection with the tick-borne spirochete that causes Lyme Disease, a finding that may help diagnose and treat this infection, they report Nov. 11 in the journal PLOS Pathogens.
Lyme Disease is the most common vector-borne disease in North America and is transmitted by ticks infected with the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. The course of the disease varies among individuals, with the majority experiencing mild symptoms easily treated by antibiotics. However, in some cases of untreated Lyme the infection can spread to the heart, joints, nervous system, and other organs.
For the study, the Yale team expressed more than 1,000 human genes in yeast and analyzed their interactions with 36 samples of B. burgdorferi. They found that one protein, Peptidoglycan Recognition Protein 1 (PGLYRP1), acts like an early warning signal to the immune system when exposed to the bacteria. When exposed to the Lyme spirochete, mice lacking PGLYRP1 had much higher levels of B. burgdorferi than mice with the protein and showed signs of immune system dysfunction, the researchers report.
“Stimulating the ability of people to make more of this protein could help fight infection,” said Yale’s Erol Fikrig, the Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and professor of epidemiology (microbial diseases) and of microbial pathogenesis and co-corresponding author of the study.
Fikrig and his colleagues are also investigating whether people with higher levels of PGLYRP1 may be less susceptible to infection by B. burgdorferi, which would help explain why some infected individuals have better outcomes.
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Lyme Disease
- Fraser veterinarian conducts study to see if Lyme disease is here in Colorado
She is wondering what illnesses these ticks are carrying. “What I was taught is that Lyme disease is not present in the state of Colorado, and we are seeing a ton of pets that are testing ...
- Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Clinical Research Center
Lyme disease season has arrived. Experts say the peak will hit in June or July, but they are already seeing tick bites this year. Lyme disease is marked by symptoms like fever, chills, and tiredness ...
- Tips to avoid ticks in Iowa and the Lyme disease they may carry
Last year in Iowa, there were 356 confirmed and probable cases of Lyme disease, which can be carried by ticks.
- New vaccines for Lyme disease to provide protection against ticks
As summer gets closer, more families are ready to kick off more activities outside, which means the risk of tick exposure becomes greater. Some tick bites can cause Lyme disease. According to the ...
- What You Need to Know About Lyme Disease
There is a surge in Lyme disease cases in the U.S. and worldwide, and finding the right treatment can be complicated.
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Lyme Disease
Go deeper with Bing News on:
PGLYRP1
- Feed has no items.