Prevention of Lyme Disease: Promising Research or Sisyphean Task?

Abstract

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Spirochaetes) is a group of at least 12 closely related species, some of which are responsible for chronic zoonotic infection that may cause Lyme disease. The only experimentally confirmed vector transmitting Borrelia to mammals is the Ixodes ticks. Borrelia is a highly adapted pathogen that can survive in the host organism in spite of the intense immune responses. Some patients have chronic long-lasting complications despite antibiotic therapy, probably due to adverse effects of the immune responses. A preventive vaccine against this bacterium has not been available due to the relatively broad spectrum and antigenic variability of Borrelia-surface lipoproteins and the different epitope recognition by experimental animals and humans. Although a human vaccine was marketed in the USA, it has been already pulled off the market. In addition, this vaccine was effective only in the USA, where the only pathogenic species is B. burgdorferi sensu stricto. Recent data indicate that a broadly effective vaccine will to be composed of a mixture of several antigens or multiple epitopes.

The Novel Heparin-Binding Motif in Decorin-Binding Protein A from Strain B31 of Borrelia burgdorferi Explains the Higher Binding Affinity

“…Lyme disease is a common vector-borne illness that can result in symptoms ranging from minor skin rashes to more serious joint, heart, and neural diseases if not treated. Ticks infected with Borrelia burgdorferi transmit the bacterium into the host through bites, and the bacterium colonizes the extracellular matrix (1). Borrelia has been shown to have strong interactions with the matrix which allows it to move from the vascular system into the surrounding tissues.…”

Sensitivity of a point of care tick-test for the development of Lyme borreliosis

“…Antibiotic treatment of EM commonly prevents the development of late and more severe disease stages. However, estimates indicate that around 25% of Lyme borreliosis patients do not detect or do not receive treatment for EM [ 5 , 6 ]. Prevention of Lyme borreliosis is difficult as no absolute control measures are available as yet [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Functionalised Nanoliposomes for Construction of Recombinant Vaccines: Lyme Disease as an Example

“…This shape is caused by periplasmatic fl agella responsible for the high motility in viscous environment like connective tissue. Borrelia lacks the rigid cell wall and the surface is composed mainly of lipoproteins with strictly controlled expression pattern, essential for adaptation for external conditions [ 15 ].…”

“…If the infection is not eliminated by the host immune system or antibiotics treatment, it may disseminate and affect central nervous system (meningitis, radiculopathy, seventh cranial nerve palsy) or cardiovascular system (atrioventricular heart block, myopericarditis). The late persistent infection may develop months to years after the transmission and commonly affects the nervous system, skin, joints, or less frequently heart, eyes, or other organs [ 15 ].…”

“…Later IgG antibodies against p39, p41, p83/100, DbpA and VlsE arise. In some cases, antibodies against OspA and OspB can be detected in later stages of the disease [ 15 ].…”