Lyme Borreliosis
Lyme Borreliosis - Related Videos
08:23
Feeding of Ticks on Animals for Transmission and Xenodiagnosis in Lyme Disease Research
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Cited by 22 •
2013
Lyme disease is the most commonly-reported vector-borne disease in North America. The causative agent, Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochete bacterium transmitted by Ixodid ticks. Transmission and detection of infection in animal models is optimized by the use of tick feeding, which we describe here.
09:01
Phage-Mediated Genetic Manipulation of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi
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Cited by 2 •
2022
The ability of bacteriophage to move DNA between bacterial cells makes them effective tools for the genetic manipulation of their bacterial hosts. Presented here is a methodology for inducing, recovering, and using φBB-1, a bacteriophage of Borrelia burgdorferi, to transduce heterologous DNA between different strains of the Lyme disease spirochete.
07:20
Detecting the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia Burgdorferi, in Ticks Using Nested PCR
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Cited by 21 •
2018
Nested PCR is a sensitive, specific, and straightforward technique that can be applied to tick DNA extracts to probe for Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. The initial PCR experiment uses gene-specific primers to generate long amplicons, which then become templates for a subsequent reaction using internal primers.
09:54
Methods for Rapid Transfer and Localization of Lyme Disease Pathogens Within the Tick Gut
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Cited by 28 •
2011
Lyme disease research studies often require generation of ticks infected with the pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi, a process that typically takes several weeks. Here we demonstrate a microinjection-based tick infection procedure that can be accomplished within hours. We also demonstrate an immunofluorescence method for in situ localization of B. burgdorferi within ticks.
04:47
A Model for Experimental Exposure of Humans to Larval Ixodes scapularis Ticks
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Cited by 3 •
2023
This article presents the methodology for exposing humans to larval Ixodes scapularis for clinical research. The technique is relatively simple, tolerable by the research volunteers, and can be modified according to experimental needs. Such research involving human subjects must be conducted under clinical study protocols approved by the appropriate regulatory authorities.
FAQs
After transmission into the skin, Borrelia interacts with local innate immune defenses and can disseminate through tissues. This movement connects the initial infection with later manifestations, because bacterial distribution and host responses occur in different anatomical sites. Studying this transition helps explain why Lyme borreliosis may involve the skin, joints, or nervous system rather than remaining localized.
Innate defenses respond early at the site of infection, while adaptive immunity develops through more specialized host responses. Their interaction with Borrelia influences the intensity and character of inflammation. This immunological relationship matters because inflammation contributes to clinical findings such as erythema migrans, fever, arthritis, and neurological involvement, linking immune activity with disease manifestations.
Variation in clinical presentation reflects interactions among bacterial immune-evasion strategies, tissue dissemination, and individual host responses. Inflammation may be prominent in the skin, joints, or nervous system, producing different manifestations. Research comparing these processes helps clarify why patients do not experience identical disease patterns and may support more informative diagnostic and treatment strategies.
Borrelia can interact with host defenses in ways that complicate immune control, making bacterial immune evasion an important research focus. These interactions may influence persistence, dissemination, and the inflammatory response, although the resulting clinical pattern varies among patients. Understanding immune evasion provides context for investigating disease progression and for improving approaches to diagnosis and antibiotic treatment.
Research focuses on improving both serological and molecular diagnostics. Serological approaches examine immune-related evidence of infection, whereas molecular methods seek bacterial genetic evidence. Developing these complementary approaches can help identify infection more effectively and support clinical evaluation alongside the observed manifestations. Their improvement is a major application of immunology and infection research on Lyme borreliosis.
Antibiotic treatment research aims to make therapy more effective after infection, while prevention research seeks to reduce transmission or disease occurrence. These efforts complement diagnostic development because better identification, treatment, and prevention address different stages of the disease process. Together, they translate studies of Borrelia biology, host inflammation, and tick transmission into practical strategies for disease control.