Lyme Science Blog

Lyme Disease Vaccine Efficacy: Questions from the OspA Trial The Lyme disease OspA vaccine demonstrated effectiveness in preventing certain early manifestations, but important questions remain regarding its overall efficacy. This raises an important question: how effective was the Lyme disease vaccine across different clinical outcomes? Trial data suggest strong protection against confirmed erythema migrans, but […]

Neurologic Lyme Disease: Immune Markers Linked to Persistent Symptoms Some patients with neurologic Lyme disease remain symptomatic after treatment, raising important questions about underlying mechanisms. Research suggests that immune system activity in the central nervous system may play a role in recovery. This raises an important question: what is happening in the brain of patients

Lyme Carditis Case Without Heart Block: Missed Early Signs Lyme carditis is often associated with heart block, but cardiac involvement can present in other ways. A case from Cape Cod highlights how Lyme disease may affect the heart even without classic conduction abnormalities. This raises an important question: can Lyme carditis present without heart block?

Borrelia burgdorferi Activates Astrocytes: Implications for Neurologic Lyme Disease Borrelia burgdorferi may affect the brain by triggering inflammatory responses in key support cells. Laboratory findings show that the bacterium can activate human astrocytes, raising questions about its role in neurologic Lyme disease. This raises an important question: how does Borrelia burgdorferi affect brain function? Research

Questions to Ask Patients About Lyme Disease in Cardiac Cases Lyme disease may present with cardiac symptoms that resemble more common conditions. A case of arrhythmia highlights the importance of asking targeted questions about possible tick exposure. This raises an important question: when should Lyme disease be considered in patients with cardiac abnormalities? Clinical context

TWhat if a pronounced TH17 cytokine response in Lyme arthritis were caused by a persistent infection?n? Immune responses in Lyme arthritis may vary over time, raising questions about their role in disease progression. A pronounced TH17 cytokine response has been linked to both early infection and later autoimmune features. This raises an important question: could

Borrelia Miyamotoi in Urban Areas: Ticks Expanding Into Cities Ticks carrying Lyme disease and related pathogens are increasingly being identified in urban environments. Studies suggest that city parks, woodland edges, and recreational green spaces may serve as habitats for infected ticks. This raises an important question: are urban areas becoming a growing source of tick

Cochrane Review and Neurologic Lyme Disease: Missing U.S. Evidence A Cochrane review evaluating antibiotic treatment for neurologic Lyme disease highlights important findings—but also notable gaps. While several European trials were included, no U.S.-based studies on chronic neurologic Lyme disease met inclusion criteria. This raises an important question: how should clinicians interpret evidence when major studies

Can Ticks Survive a Southern Summer? What the Research Shows Ticks are well known for surviving harsh northern winters, but their ability to persist in hot southern climates is less often discussed. Research suggests that environmental conditions, particularly humidity, play a key role in tick survival. This raises an important question: can ticks survive the

Azithromycin Gel for Lyme Prevention: What the Trial Found Preventing Lyme disease after a tick bite remains a clinical challenge. A topical azithromycin gel was studied as a possible early intervention, but results did not support its effectiveness. This raises an important question: can a topical antibiotic prevent Lyme disease after a tick bite? Findings