Posted on 06/16/2011 2:11:48 PM PDT by decimon
The bacteria that cause Lyme disease, one of the most important emerging diseases in the United States, appear to hide out in the lymph nodes, triggering a significant immune response, but one that is not strong enough to rout the infection, report researchers at the University of California, Davis.
Results from this groundbreaking study involving mice may explain why some people experience repeated infections of Lyme disease. The study appears online in the journal Public Library of Science Biology at: http://tinyurl.com/3vs8pm9.
"Our findings suggest for the first time that Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that cause Lyme disease in people, dogs and wildlife, have developed a novel strategy for subverting the immune response of the animals they infect," said Professor Nicole Baumgarth, an authority on immune responses at the UC Davis Center for Comparative Medicine.
"At first it seems counter intuitive that an infectious organism would choose to migrate to the lymph nodes where it would automatically trigger an immune response in the host animal," Baumgarth said. "But B. burgdorferi have apparently struck an intricate balance that allows the bacteria to both provoke and elude the animal's immune response."
About Lyme disease
Lyme disease, the most important tick-borne disease in the United States is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, corkscrew-shaped bacteria also known as spirochetes. The disease is transmitted to humans and animals through bites from infected deer ticks.
The disease occurs mainly in the Northeastern and Great Lakes states, and is present to a lesser extent in Northern California. However, the western black-legged tick, the main carrier of Lyme disease in the western United States, has been found in 56 of California's 58 counties, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Symptoms of Lyme disease are quite variable and may include fever, headache, fatigue and a skin rash. If the infection is not treated, it can spread to the joints, heart and nervous system.
Usually, Lyme disease can be successfully treated with about four weeks of antibiotics; treatment is most successful during the early stages of infection.
The UC Davis study
Swollen lymph nodes, or lymphadenopathy, is one of the hallmarks of Lyme disease, although it has been unclear why this occurs or how it affects the course of the disease. The UC Davis research team set out to explore in mice the mechanisms that cause the enlarged lymph nodes and to determine the nature of the resulting immune response.
They found that when mice were infected with B. burgdorferi, these live spirochetes accumulated in the animals' lymph nodes. The lymph nodes responded with a strong, rapid accumulation of B cells, white blood cells that produce antibodies to fight infections. Also, the presence of B. burgdorferi caused the destruction of the distinct architecture of the lymph node that usually helps it to function normally.
While B cells accumulated in large numbers and made some specific antibodies against B. burgdorferi, they did not form "germinal centers," structures that are needed for the generation of highly functional and long-lived antibody responses.
"Overall, these findings suggest that B. burgdorferi hinder the immune system from generating a response that is fully functional and that can persist and protect after repeat infections," Baumgarth said. "Thus, the study might explain why people living in endemic areas can be repeatedly infected with these disease-causing spirochetes."
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In addition to Baumgarth, members of the UC Davis research team include Stephen Barthold, director of the Center for Comparative Medicine; Emir Hodzic, director of the Real-Time PCR Research and Diagnostics Core Facility; staff scientist Sunlian Feng; graduate student Christine Hastey; and Stefan Tunev, formerly of the Center for Comparative Medicine and now at Medtronic Inc.
Funding for the study was provided by the National Institute of Health.
Peek a boo ping.
Pathogens are like Marxists. If confronted directly, they retreat and concoct a new strategy.
My neice lost her dog from Lyme recently. Very sad. There is a chance it could have lay dormant for sometime but can also affect rapidly after the bite. Young dog was quite overwhelmed by it within a matter of days. Lost her eyesight, her joints were very bad, and she was very very sick so they put her down. Poor baby. Although there is still some discussion regarding the vaccination....for the price...I think its worth a try and did vaccinate our wonderful lab.
It seems to me that the immune system could fight off the Lyme bacteria if primed to do so. For that matter, unless it’s known to be otherwise, it could be that some people do fight it off.
If the immune system alone could do the job, there would be no need for antibiotics. These bugs are not helpless. They may not have intelligence by our standards, but they have adaptability. Some of them can hide inside our cells, some can fool the immune system in other ways. They are like the Muslims who use our own values and legal safeguards to provide cover for their invasion.
If the immune system alone could do the job, there would be no need for antibiotics. These bugs are not helpless. They may not have intelligence by our standards, but they have adaptability. Some of them can hide inside our cells, some can fool the immune system in other ways. They are like the Muslims who use our own values and legal safeguards to provide cover for their invasion.
This is sad. Did they treat the dog with antibiotics? I would not have given up so easily. I had a tick-borne disease and it took several weeks of tetracycline to get me well. It was the sickest I’ve ever been, but I did recover.
I’ve been shouting about this far and wide, but no one seems to be interested. Doctors are way behind on this!! I went to 11 doctors and 5 years later finally found out I had lyme disease. Lyme disease has surpassed AIDS as number one infectious disease. If you have been diagnosed with MS, Parkinson’s, Gout, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, TMJ, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, ALS, Crohns, ADHD, Autism, depression, Panic attacks, Bi polar, fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Alzheimers, Mono.....you probably have a tick illness. Thank goodness I found a tick disease specialist in MO. Otherwise I’d still be bedridden.
My lyme doctor told me the information in this study 5 years ago. Some people have an easy time ridding themselves of lyme, and others have symptoms forever. Not only does the bacteria hide, it also causes symptoms to reappear if a person is under stress. Also, ticks can give you 20 different diseases. Many symptoms are the same, but it takes different antibiotics to cure.
Not just California but Texas, too. The deer have ticks bad this year and at least one stupid neighbor is feeding them. Driving a mile from the house, I can count 50 easily. They’re taking over and a severe thinning. They’re bedding down in yards and eating flowerbeds and refuse to move off porches even if you’re hollering at them.
Netflix streaming had an excellent film about Lyme disease which I highly recommend. It is an education in and of itself called “Under Our Skin.” A web search has information about it and a theatrical trailer that can be watched. Oftentimes symptoms are not caught or misdiagnosed and the medical profession and insurance companies appear to be profoundly negligent in researching and covering it.
bump & a micro/immunology ping
Also important is that this spirochete can be transmitted by sexual contact much the same way as Syphilis, which is also a spirochete.
I like to look into this.
>> “This study could explain why” <<
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Yes, and also it could explain why HBOT seems so effective for those individuals.
>> “Not just California but Texas, too” <<
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In California, the further you go inland, and south, the less liklihood there is of ticks carrying lyme. On the coast lyme is a huge problem.
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