A mouse study of a regimen that eradicated the bacterium in the test tube, setting the stage for human trials; antibiotic cocktails using existing drugs; strategies to discover new drugs that selectively target the Lyme bacterium; and ways to alter the composition of the microbiome—the community of microorganisms inhabiting the human body—to stop the autoimmune reactions that characterize the disease.
These are the four possible Lyme disease treatment regimens being investigated by researchers at Northeastern University in Boston.
University Distinguished Professor Kim Lewis, who leads the Lyme disease research team, is now expanding that therapeutic reach with the help of a $1.5 million grant from the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation.
If Lyme is caught early, patients generally recover quickly when treated with antibiotics, primarily doxycyline. However, 10 to 20 percent of patients go on to develop a debilitating chronic condition called Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome, or PTLDS, with symptoms that include extreme fatigue, arthritis, muscle pain, and cognitive difficulties.
Read more at Northeastern University
Related:
- CDC estimates 300,000 Lyme disease cases diagnosed annually in US
- Borrelia mayonii discovery announced by CDC, a cause of Lyme disease
- Lyme ‘slime’ and lead poisoning: Discussions on Outbreak News This Week
One thought on “Lyme disease: Northeastern University researchers investigate four promising new treatments”