Posted on 03/20/2025 10:50:24 AM PDT by Red Badger
Researchers have identified BbLDH as a critical enzyme for B. burgdorferi survival, paving the way for targeted Lyme disease treatments. New inhibitors could halt the bacteria without affecting other organisms, making this a major step forward.
===============================================================================
A team of scientists has zeroed in on an enzyme that could revolutionize Lyme disease treatment.
By uncovering the crucial role of BbLDH in bacterial survival and infectivity, they’ve opened the door to highly targeted therapeutics. Their findings even hint at broader applications for fighting other tick-borne diseases.
A Promising New Target for Lyme Disease Treatment
Scientists have identified an enzyme that could be a promising target for developing new treatments for Lyme disease, and potentially other tick-borne illnesses. Their findings, published today (March 20) in mBio, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology, could open the door to more effective therapies.
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne infection in the United States and Europe. It is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which has evolved unique metabolic pathways to survive in its environment. Some of these pathways make ideal targets for drug development.
A Surprising Metabolic Pathway
Previous research from Virginia Commonwealth University revealed that B. burgdorferi does not rely on thiamin, an essential cofactor for most organisms. Instead, it depends on the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (BbLDH) to convert pyruvate to lactate, a process crucial for maintaining its NADH/NAD+ balance. This metabolic adaptation has not been observed in any other microorganism and plays a vital role in the bacterium’s survival.
In this new study, researchers explored the function of BbLDH in B. burgdorferi and its potential as a therapeutic target. Using genetic, biochemical, and structural analysis, including X-ray crystallography, they identified BbLDH’s essential role in the bacterium’s growth and ability to infect a host. Loss-of-function studies confirmed that BbLDH is necessary for the bacterium to thrive both in lab cultures and in living organisms. Additionally, the team performed high-throughput screening and discovered several promising LDH inhibitors that could serve as the basis for future treatments.
A Breakthrough in Lyme Disease Therapeutics
“We discovered that BbLDH has a unique biochemical and structural feature and it is essential for B. burgdorferi growth and infectivity,” said corresponding study author Chunhao (Chris) Li, M.S., M.D., Edward Myers Endowed Professor, the Philips Research Institute for Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University. “BbLDH can serve as an ideal target for developing genus-specific inhibitors that can be potentially used to treat and prevent Lyme disease.”
The impact of Lyme disease on public health fuels an emerging demand for novel therapeutics to treat Lyme disease. “This report also sheds new light into understanding the role of LDH in the pathophysiology of other tick-borne pathogens,” Li said.
Reference: 20 March 2025, mBio.
DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03728-24
Bfl
Wonder if it would work on Lyme-caused arthritis. Now THAT would be a genuine miracle!
Ping
Ping!...................
Indeed
I thought Lyme’s could be one or more of like 6 or 9 different things the tick can carry?
The term "Lyme disease" specifically refers to an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Borrelia, primarily Borrelia burgdorferi in the United States, transmitted through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks (e.g., Ixodes scapularis or Ixodes pacificus).
It’s not a label for multiple distinct diseases but rather a single condition with a range of manifestations and stages—early localized, early disseminated, and late disseminated—that can affect various systems (skin, joints, heart, nervous system).
BUT...Co-Infections: Blacklegged ticks can carry other pathogens besides Borrelia, leading to diseases that might occur alongside Lyme or be mistaken for it. Examples include:
| Anaplasmosis | Anaplasma phagocytophilum |
| Babesiosis | Babesia microti |
| Powassan virus disease | |
| Ehrlichiosis | Ehrlichia species |
| Borrelia miyamotoi disease | a relapsing fever-like illness, distinct from Lyme |
| Tularemia | Francisella tularensis, less common |
| Rocky Mountain spotted fever | Rickettsia rickettsii, rare via Ixodes ticks |
Tick Ping
Four or five years ago I read an article (probably posted here on FR) that Ivermectin was usually effective against Lyme disease.
“I thought Lyme’s could be one or more of like 6 or 9 different things the tick can carry?”
while various ticks are vectors for various bacterial [and viral and parasitic] infectious diseases, each tick-borne infection type and disease are distinct and each have a distinct name .. Lyme disease is one such disease and is caused only by infection with Borrelia burgdorferi ...
I looked for further information for options, but could not find anything to help anyone.
We will surely find out more, later.
Or you can just take Ivermectin. 😐
Unfortunately, they don’t list the compounds, but they do reference they are similar to a toxic compound from cottonseed oil (gossypol).
Cottonseed oil was the first commercial seed oil. IIRC Crisco was made from it...............
Before I read it I thought that's what the article would say.
Borrellia, the main Lyme disease infection, is not able to handle heat. The Germans have known this for about 30 years. Using hyperthermia, which involves raising the entire body temp up to 106.9 deg F, and holding it there for two full hours, while at the same time injecting anti-biotics via IV into the patient, usually yields a 100% kill rate for borellia, no matter where it lives in the human body. Once that organism is defeated, the other co-infections can be handled with anti-biotics. The Germans do this in a carefully controlled hospital environment.
If a doctor in the United States tried using hyperthermia to kill Lyme, they would have their medical license suspended, and they could face criminal charges or be sued/fined.
The Germans also have a machine that filters human blood, removing spike proteins, bad cholesteral, and other molecules that do not belong in healthy blood. Once again, if a US doctor tried to use this machine, he/she would get schwacked.
The Germans believe that if a person has Lyme, then they should kill the infection and lead a normal life, rather than the US approach which never really kills it, leaving the patient with a lifetime of illness and early death.
You don’t know muscle pain until you’ve had Lyme disease, trust me, the muscle pain is unbearable and I do mean unbearable. I had it seven years ago and I was prescribed Doxycycline and Prednisone and both worked like a charm. I haven’t had any issues since then.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.