Potential new remedy path for persistent Lyme disease?

By Tulane College

Tulane College researchers have recognized a promising new method to treating persistent neurological signs related to Lyme disease, providing hope to sufferers that suffer from long-term results of the bacterial an infection, even after antibiotic remedy. Their outcomes had been printed in Frontiers in Immunology.

Lyme disease, attributable to the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted via tick bites, can result in a variety of signs, together with these affecting the central and peripheral nervous techniques.

Whereas antibiotics can successfully clear the an infection generally, a subset of sufferers continues to expertise signs similar to reminiscence loss, fatigue, and ache—a situation also known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome.

Principal investigator Geetha Parthasarathy, Ph.D., an assistant professor of microbiology and immunology on the Tulane Nationwide Primate Analysis Heart, has found that fibroblast progress issue receptor inhibitors, a sort of drug beforehand studied within the context of most cancers, can considerably cut back irritation and cell demise in mind and nerve tissue samples contaminated with Borrelia burgdorferi.

New remedy approaches?

This discovery means that focusing on FGFR pathways could provide an thrilling new therapeutic method to addressing persistent neuroinflammation in sufferers with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome.

“Our findings open the door to new analysis approaches that may assist us assist sufferers affected by the lasting results of Lyme disease,” Parthasarathy mentioned.

“By specializing in the underlying irritation that contributes to those signs, we hope to develop therapies that may enhance the standard of life for these affected by this debilitating situation.”

Researchers handled nerve tissue with reside or inactivated Borrelia burgdorferi, adopted by an software of FGFR inhibitors. Research outcomes revealed a big discount in each inflammatory markers and cell demise.

Whereas additional analysis is required to translate these findings into scientific therapies, the research represents an necessary step ahead in understanding and doubtlessly managing the complicated aftermath of Lyme disease.

SOURCE: Tulane University