Lyme disease

Lyme Disease Vectors

 Deer Ticks and Western Black Legged Ticks

Borrelia burgdorferi

• Spirochaete

• Gram-, but no LPS (use Omps)

• Linear genome with up to 21 plasmids; exchange virulence factors

• Internal flagella

• Microaerophilic

• Does not require iron, uses magnesium

• Very slow growth

• Can form speroplasts

Bannwarth syndrome

• Intense pain in lumbar and cervical regions, radiating to the extremities

• Migrating sensory and motor disorders of peripheral nerves

• Cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities– blood/brain barrier damage

Bullseye Rash

• Early stages of disease

  • Bullseye rash

  • Spirochetes in blood

Early signs

• Bulls-eye rash at site of tick bite

• Fever, chills, general malaise

Weeks to months later symptoms

• Fatigue, pain, weakness

• Rashes  

Late persistent symptoms

• Arthritis

• Paralysis of face muscles (Bell’s palsy)

• Neurological problems, fatigue, mood changes

• Undefined pains, fatigue in 10% of treated patients

Relapsing fever—Borrelia hermsii

• Fever, chills, headache for 2-9 days

• Symptoms disappear and then reoccur over a period of weeks

Entry of Bacteria Into Tissues

Decorin binding protein (Dbp):  binds to ECM proteins in joints, tissues– allow invasion of tissues

Immune System Activation

• Phagocytosis activates macrophages

• Antigen presentation to T helper cells

• Inflammation

• B cells also activated

• Antibodies activate complement

• Inflammation

“Stealth pathogen”

• Able to slide between extracellular membrane components

• Axial filaments

• Use of magnesium instead of iron

Variable antigens:  Vls

• Allows bacteria to changes antigens

• Prevents complete clearance of bacteria

Virulence factors

• OspA and OspC

• Vls

• Decorin-binding proteins (DbpA)

• Axial filament

• Use of magnesium instead of iron

• Immune system response– persistent inflammation