Many tick species have eyes and can detect color and movement. Hard and soft ticks can detect carbon dioxide (CO2) that animals produce as they exhale. By following these signs, ticks have a good chance of finding hosts.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
What adult deer ticks look like
Adult deer ticks have no white markings on the dorsal area nor do they have eyes or festoons.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Borrelia burgdorferi BBK32 Inhibits the Classical Pathway...
Pretty technical, but if biology is up your alley…
Author Summary
The human complement system is a connected network of blood proteins capable of recognizing and eliminating microbial intruders. To avoid the destructive force of complement activation, many microorganisms that enter the bloodstream express molecules that disrupt key steps of the complement cascade by interacting with specific complement components. In this study we show that the causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, expresses a surface-protein termed BBK32 that targets and inhibits the first component of complement, designated C1.
Upon binding to human C1, BBK32 traps this initiating protease complex of the classical pathway of complement in an inactive state, and prevents the downstream proteolytic events of the pathway.
Our study defines a new mechanism by which microbes are able to escape the human innate immune system and identifies complement protease C1r as a previously unknown target of bacterial anti-complement molecules. Thus, discovery of the complement inhibitory activity of the borrelial protein BBK32 significantly advances our understanding of how disease-causing bacteria survive in immune competent hosts.
http://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1005404
Sunday, January 31, 2016
New therapy halts progression of Lou Gehrig’s (ALS) disease in mice
My blog is about Lyme and Parkinson's diseases, but as there is so much overlap suspected in the causation of and shared organs of neuro-degenerative diseases (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, MSA, etc.) I have decided to post this new study about ALS treatment that looks very promising.
-Bob
Researchers at Oregon State University announced today that they have essentially stopped the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, for nearly two years in one type of mouse model used to study the disease – allowing the mice to approach their normal lifespan.
Copper-ATSM is a known compound that helps deliver copper specifically to cells with damaged mitochondria, and reaches the spinal cord where it's needed to treat ALS. This compound has low toxicity, easily penetrates the blood-brain barrier, is already used in human medicine at much lower doses for some purposes, and is well tolerated in laboratory animals at far higher levels. Any copper not needed after use of copper-ATSM is quickly flushed out of the body.
The new findings were reported by scientists from OSU; the University of Melbourne in Australia; University of Texas Southwestern; University of Central Florida; and the Pasteur Institute of Montevideo in Uruguay. The study is available as open access in Neurobiology of Disease.
Using the new treatment, researchers were able to stop the progression of ALS in one type of transgenic mouse model, which ordinarily would die within two weeks without treatment. Some of these mice have survived for more than 650 days, 500 days longer than any previous research has been able to achieve.
Researchers at Oregon State University announced today that they have essentially stopped the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, for nearly two years in one type of mouse model used to study the disease – allowing the mice to approach their normal lifespan.
Copper-ATSM is a known compound that helps deliver copper specifically to cells with damaged mitochondria, and reaches the spinal cord where it's needed to treat ALS. This compound has low toxicity, easily penetrates the blood-brain barrier, is already used in human medicine at much lower doses for some purposes, and is well tolerated in laboratory animals at far higher levels. Any copper not needed after use of copper-ATSM is quickly flushed out of the body.
The new findings were reported by scientists from OSU; the University of Melbourne in Australia; University of Texas Southwestern; University of Central Florida; and the Pasteur Institute of Montevideo in Uruguay. The study is available as open access in Neurobiology of Disease.
Using the new treatment, researchers were able to stop the progression of ALS in one type of transgenic mouse model, which ordinarily would die within two weeks without treatment. Some of these mice have survived for more than 650 days, 500 days longer than any previous research has been able to achieve.
Saturday, January 30, 2016
A few studies about Lyme and heart failure
On December 13, 2013, The CDC published a report describing three cases of sudden cardiac death associated with Lyme carditis.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6249a1.htm?s_cid=mm6249a1_w
From the CDC report:
"None were known to have had a tick bite and none had usual stigmata of Lyme disease such as erythema migrans." (Bulls-eye rash)
Three seemingly healthy individuals dropped dead from heart failure where there were no warning signs of disease. It is important to recognize here that the cause of death was only identified due to the fact that the three Lyme patients were potential organ donors otherwise these cases would not have been identified or reported. We have to ask the question, "How many seemingly healthy Lyme patients have donated blood?" (Our blood supply is not screened for Lyme disease)
Other Fatal/Life-threatening studies:
1. Lyme disease: A case report of a 17-year old male with fatal Lyme carditis
http://www.cardiovascularpathology.com/article/S1054-8807(15)00025-3/abstract?rss=yes
We describe a case of a 17-year-old adolescent who died unexpectedly after a 2-week viral-like syndrome. Postmortem examination was remarkable for diffuse pancarditis characterized by extensive infiltrates of lymphocytes and focal interstitial fibrosis. In the cardiac tissue, Borrelia burgdorferi was identified via special stains, immunohistochemistry and PCR.
2. Fatal Lyme carditis and endodermal heterotopia of the atrioventricular node.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2429516/
A fatal case of Lyme carditis occurring in aSuffolk
3. Fatal pancarditis in a patient with coexistent Lyme disease and babesiosis. Demonstration of spirochetes in the myocardium.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4040723
A 66-year-old man developed fever, chills, myalgias, three erythematous skin lesions, and transient left eyelid lag. Because of persistent fever, he was hospitalized 4 weeks after the onset of disease; a peripheral blood smear showed Babesia microti in 3% of his erythrocytes. Eighteen hours later, he died unexpectedly. Autopsy showed pancarditis with a diffuse lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, and spirochetes were found in the myocardium.
4. Lyme borreliosis as a cause of myocarditis and heart muscle disease.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1915460
These findings give further evidence that LB is associated with chronic heart muscle disease.
5. Cardiac Lyme disease - case report - A Fatality confirmed with Autopsy PCR study
http://umaryland.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/postmortem-confirmation-of-lyme-carditis-with-polymerase-chain-reaction%2896d9181d-9d52-4fc7-9149-287cd0123f84%29.html
We describe the case of a 37-year-old Caucasian man with a 1-month history of fevers, rash, and malaise who died unexpectedly on the day after he underwent medical evaluation.
6. Unclassified cardiomyopathy or Lyme carditis? A three year follow-up.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23575786
We present the case of a 41 year-old Caucasian woman referred to our hospital with symptoms of fatigue, progressive exertional dyspnoea, supraventricular cardiac arrhythmia, and an enlarged heart revealed on chest radiography
7. Professor Neil Spector: Duke physician uses near-death experience to encourage patient self-advocacy
http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2015/05/28/duke-physician-uses-near-death-experience-encourage-patient-self-advocacy#.VYlYnxtViko
Duke University Professor Neil Spector required a heart transplant after experiencing four years of undiagnosed-untreated Lyme disease.
8. Lyme Deaths From Heart Inflammation Likely Worse Than We Thought
http://www.forbes.com/sites/judystone/2015/09/04/lyme-deaths-from-heart-inflammation-likely-worse-than-we-thought/
From the CDC report:
"None were known to have had a tick bite and none had usual stigmata of Lyme disease such as erythema migrans." (Bulls-eye rash)
Three seemingly healthy individuals dropped dead from heart failure where there were no warning signs of disease. It is important to recognize here that the cause of death was only identified due to the fact that the three Lyme patients were potential organ donors otherwise these cases would not have been identified or reported. We have to ask the question, "How many seemingly healthy Lyme patients have donated blood?" (Our blood supply is not screened for Lyme disease)
Other Fatal/Life-threatening studies:
1. Lyme disease: A case report of a 17-year old male with fatal Lyme carditis
http://www.cardiovascularpathology.com/article/S1054-8807(15)00025-3/abstract?rss=yes
We describe a case of a 17-year-old adolescent who died unexpectedly after a 2-week viral-like syndrome. Postmortem examination was remarkable for diffuse pancarditis characterized by extensive infiltrates of lymphocytes and focal interstitial fibrosis. In the cardiac tissue, Borrelia burgdorferi was identified via special stains, immunohistochemistry and PCR.
2. Fatal Lyme carditis and endodermal heterotopia of the atrioventricular node.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2429516/
A fatal case of Lyme carditis occurring in a
3. Fatal pancarditis in a patient with coexistent Lyme disease and babesiosis. Demonstration of spirochetes in the myocardium.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4040723
A 66-year-old man developed fever, chills, myalgias, three erythematous skin lesions, and transient left eyelid lag. Because of persistent fever, he was hospitalized 4 weeks after the onset of disease; a peripheral blood smear showed Babesia microti in 3% of his erythrocytes. Eighteen hours later, he died unexpectedly. Autopsy showed pancarditis with a diffuse lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, and spirochetes were found in the myocardium.
4. Lyme borreliosis as a cause of myocarditis and heart muscle disease.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1915460
These findings give further evidence that LB is associated with chronic heart muscle disease.
5. Cardiac Lyme disease - case report - A Fatality confirmed with Autopsy PCR study
http://umaryland.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/postmortem-confirmation-of-lyme-carditis-with-polymerase-chain-reaction%2896d9181d-9d52-4fc7-9149-287cd0123f84%29.html
We describe the case of a 37-year-old Caucasian man with a 1-month history of fevers, rash, and malaise who died unexpectedly on the day after he underwent medical evaluation.
6. Unclassified cardiomyopathy or Lyme carditis? A three year follow-up.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23575786
We present the case of a 41 year-old Caucasian woman referred to our hospital with symptoms of fatigue, progressive exertional dyspnoea, supraventricular cardiac arrhythmia, and an enlarged heart revealed on chest radiography
7. Professor Neil Spector: Duke physician uses near-death experience to encourage patient self-advocacy
http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2015/05/28/duke-physician-uses-near-death-experience-encourage-patient-self-advocacy#.VYlYnxtViko
Duke University Professor Neil Spector required a heart transplant after experiencing four years of undiagnosed-untreated Lyme disease.
8. Lyme Deaths From Heart Inflammation Likely Worse Than We Thought
http://www.forbes.com/sites/judystone/2015/09/04/lyme-deaths-from-heart-inflammation-likely-worse-than-we-thought/
Zika virus theory -- Genetically-modified mosquitos?
There are articles suggesting the release of genetically modified mosquitoes in Brazil caused the zika outbreak.
Zika Outbreak Epicenter in Same Area Where GM Mosquitoes Were Released in 2015
Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Released in Brazil in 2015 Linked to the Current Zika Epidemic?
And then there are the articles suggesting a release of genetically modified mosquitoes might be the "cure" for ridding the earth of the virus.
Can genetically modified mosquitoes
How mosquitoes with 'self-destruct' genes could save us from Zika virus
And here's my favorite headline/question from Time magazine.
All the Ways Humans Try to Kill Mosquitos—and Why We're Still Losing
Zika Outbreak Epicenter in Same Area Where GM Mosquitoes Were Released in 2015
Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Released in Brazil in 2015 Linked to the Current Zika Epidemic?
And then there are the articles suggesting a release of genetically modified mosquitoes might be the "cure" for ridding the earth of the virus.
Can genetically modified mosquitoes
How mosquitoes with 'self-destruct' genes could save us from Zika virus
And here's my favorite headline/question from Time magazine.
All the Ways Humans Try to Kill Mosquitos—and Why We're Still Losing
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Yolanda Foster Laments Watching Daughter Suffer in Silence with Lyme
Yolanda Foster Laments Watching Daughter Bella Hadid 'Suffer in Silence' with Lyme Disease in Treatment Photo
BY LINDSAY KIMBLE
01/27/2016 AT 08:55 AM EST
Amid grappling with her own health issues, Yolanda Foster has the added challenge of watching her children suffer from the same disease that has dramatically changed her life.
Foster and her youngest children Bella, 19, and Anwar Hadid, 16, are all battling Lyme disease. All three were diagnosed in 2012, but Foster didn't reveal Bella and Anwar's struggle until October.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star has kept her fans actively updated throughout her treatment journey, posting another progress report to Instagram on Tuesday.
In the 2015 image, Foster lies next to her daughter in bed while Bella receives fluids through an IV.
Foster and her youngest children Bella, 19, and Anwar Hadid, 16, are all battling Lyme disease. All three were diagnosed in 2012, but Foster didn't reveal Bella and Anwar's struggle until October.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star has kept her fans actively updated throughout her treatment journey, posting another progress report to Instagram on Tuesday.
In the 2015 image, Foster lies next to her daughter in bed while Bella receives fluids through an IV.
Read more….
Carl Tuttle
Monday, January 25, 2016
A new bacterium now associated with Lyme disease
Clin Microbiol Infect. 2015 Dec 8. pii: S1198-743X(15)00991-X. doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2015.11.009. [Epub ahead of print]
Isolation of live Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochaetes from patients with undefined disorders and symptoms not typical for Lyme borreliosis.
Rudenko N1, Golovchenko M2, Vancova M3, Clark K4, Grubhoffer L5, Oliver JH Jr6.
Author information
- 1Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Georgia Southern University, The James H. Oliver Jr Institute for Coastal Plain Sciences, Statesboro, GA, USA. Electronic address: natasha@paru.cas.cz.
- 6Georgia Southern University, The James H. Oliver Jr Institute for Coastal Plain Sciences, Statesboro, GA, USA.
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is a multisystem disorder with a diverse spectrum of clinical manifestations, caused by spirochaetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. It is an infectious disease that can be successfully cured by antibiotic therapy in the early stages; however, the possibility of the appearance of persistent signs and symptoms of disease following antibiotic treatment is recognized.
It is known that Lyme borreliosis mimics multiple diseases that were never proven to have a spirochaete aetiology.
Using complete modified Kelly-Pettenkofer medium we succeeded in cultivating live B. burgdorferi sensu lato spirochaetes from samples taken from people who suffered from undefined disorders, had symptoms not typical for Lyme borreliosis, but who had undergone antibiotic treatment due to a suspicion of having Lyme disease even though they were seronegative.
We report the first recovery of live B. burgdorferi sensu stricto from residents of southeastern USA and the first successful cultivation of live Borrelia bissettii-like strain from residents of North America. Our results support the fact that B. bissettii is responsible for human Lymeborreliosis worldwide along with B. burgdorferi s.s. The involvement of new spirochaete species in Lyme borreliosis changes the understanding and recognition of clinical manifestations of this disease.
Marina Makous, MD
Assistant Professor
Family Medicine/Psychiatry
Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center
Columbia University, NY
Lyme test used on dogs promising for people
Lyme test used on dogs promising for people
Some veterinarians use a two-tiered test to diagnose Lyme in dogs. The SNAP test detects the presence and quantity of antibodies for a single protein, called C6.
In North America, this protein is found only in Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. The amount of antibodies present determines if the dog needs treatment, which is usually recommended for about 10 percent of infected dogs.
This test is approved for humans, but it's newer and not as widely studied as the Western Blot tests currently used to diagnose Lyme in humans.
"In studies to-date, it's just about as good as traditional two-tiered testing, and it may be positive a bit earlier," says Dr. Paul Auwaerter, clinical director of the infectious diseases division at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. When the Infectious Disease Society of America next updates its Lyme guidelines, he thinks the C6 test will be endorsed.
There's currently a canine vaccine, offered by many Arkansas veterinarians, and from 1998 to 2002, there was a human vaccine as well. But the human vaccine was pulled by manufacturers following lawsuits seeking to link it with arthritis and autoimmune problems.
Another human vaccine, developed in New York and licensed to an Austrian company, Baxter Innovations, tested well in 2013 studies, but no drug company has picked it up.
-- Cheree Franco
Some veterinarians use a two-tiered test to diagnose Lyme in dogs. The SNAP test detects the presence and quantity of antibodies for a single protein, called C6.
In North America, this protein is found only in Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. The amount of antibodies present determines if the dog needs treatment, which is usually recommended for about 10 percent of infected dogs.
This test is approved for humans, but it's newer and not as widely studied as the Western Blot tests currently used to diagnose Lyme in humans.
"In studies to-date, it's just about as good as traditional two-tiered testing, and it may be positive a bit earlier," says Dr. Paul Auwaerter, clinical director of the infectious diseases division at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. When the Infectious Disease Society of America next updates its Lyme guidelines, he thinks the C6 test will be endorsed.
There's currently a canine vaccine, offered by many Arkansas veterinarians, and from 1998 to 2002, there was a human vaccine as well. But the human vaccine was pulled by manufacturers following lawsuits seeking to link it with arthritis and autoimmune problems.
Another human vaccine, developed in New York and licensed to an Austrian company, Baxter Innovations, tested well in 2013 studies, but no drug company has picked it up.
-- Cheree Franco
A comment from a clinician/researcher (anonymous):
My experience with C6 - not very useful. Like ELISA, often falsely negative.
Read the source:
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Triple-barrel approach to killing Bb persisters
Article : Drug Combinations against Borrelia burgdorferi Persisters In Vitro:
Eradication Achieved by Using Daptomycin, Cefoperazone and Doxycycline
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