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Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Sep 2021Many local anaesthetics, including lidocaine, procaine and ropivacaine inhibit bacterial growth. This study investigates potential effects of these local anaesthetics on...
Many local anaesthetics, including lidocaine, procaine and ropivacaine inhibit bacterial growth. This study investigates potential effects of these local anaesthetics on growth of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bbss), Borrelia bavariensis (Bbav) and Borrelia afzelii (Ba). For this purpose, Borrelia spp. organisms were either continuously or temporarily exposed to one of four local anaesthetics preparations: 20 mg/ml procaine hydrochloride (P); 10 mg/ml ropivacaine hydrochloride (R); 20 mg/ml lidocaine hydrochloride (L1, L2). L2 also contained the preservatives methyl-benzoate and propyl-benzoate, whereas P, R and L1 did not. All four local anaesthetic preparations inhibited in vitro growth of Borrelia spp. depending on concentration and exposure time. There are differences in sensitivity among the Borrelia spp. with Bbav being more susceptible to growth inhibition than Bbss and Ba. When comparing the different local anaesthetic preparations with their regard to inhibition of growth of Borrelia spp. organisms, P showed the lowest impact. It cannot be completely excluded that preservatives present in L2, methyl-benzoate and propyl-benzoate, may be a reason for further inhibition of Borrelia spp. organisms. Concentrations of local anaesthetics used in these experiments may also be present in the skin of patients during regular medical procedures. These are preliminary findings and further experiments, preferably in vivo, are necessary. To minimize the risk to produce false negative results with cultures, we recommend using procaine in a preparation without preservatives for local anaesthesia prior to skin sampling.
Topics: Anesthetics, Local; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Borrelia; Borrelia burgdorferi; Borrelia burgdorferi Group; Humans; Lyme Disease; Spirochaetales
PubMed: 33989985
DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101735 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2017Identifying as the causative agent of Lyme disease in 1981 was a watershed moment in understanding the major impact that tick-borne zoonoses can have on public health...
Identifying as the causative agent of Lyme disease in 1981 was a watershed moment in understanding the major impact that tick-borne zoonoses can have on public health worldwide, particularly in Europe and the USA. The medical importance of tick-borne diseases has long since been acknowledged, yet little is known regarding the occurrence of emerging tick-borne pathogens such as spp., spp., spp., " Neoehrlichia mikurensis", and tick-borne encephalitis virus in questing ticks in Romania, a gateway into Europe. The objective of our study was to identify the infection and co-infection rates of different genospecies along with other tick-borne pathogens in questing ticks collected from three geographically distinct areas in eastern Romania. We collected 557 questing adult and nymph ticks of three different species (534 , 19 , and 4 ) from three areas in Romania. We analyzed ticks individually for the presence of eight different genospecies with high-throughput real-time PCR. Ticks with were then tested for possible co-infections with spp., spp., " Neoehrlichia mikurensis", and tick-borne encephalitis virus. spp. was detected in ticks from all sampling areas, with global prevalence rates of 25.8%. All eight genospecies were detected in ticks: (14.8%), (8.8%), (5.1%), (4.9%), (0.9%), s.s (0.4%), and (0.2%). Regarding pathogen co-infection 64.5% of infected were positive for more than one pathogen. Associations between different genospecies were detected in 9.7% of ticks, and 6.9% of ticks tested positive for co-infection of spp. with other tick-borne pathogens. The most common association was between and (4.3%), followed by and (3.0%). The most frequent dual co-infections were between spp. and spp., (1.3%), and between spp. and " Neoehrlichia mikurensis" (1.3%). The diversity of tick-borne pathogens detected in this study and the frequency of co-infections should influence all infection risk evaluations following a tick bite.
Topics: Animals; Biodiversity; Borrelia; Borrelia Infections; Coinfection; Europe; Genotype; Geography; Humans; Ixodes; Lyme Disease; Tick Infestations; Tick-Borne Diseases; Zoonoses
PubMed: 28261565
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00036 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Nov 2021Borrelia turicatae is a causative agent of tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) in the subtropics and tropics of the United States and Latin America. Historically, B....
Borrelia turicatae is a causative agent of tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) in the subtropics and tropics of the United States and Latin America. Historically, B. turicatae was thought to be maintained in enzootic cycles in rural areas. However, there is growing evidence that suggests the pathogen has established endemic foci in densely populated regions of Texas. With the growth of homelessness in the state and human activity in city parks, it was important to implement field collection efforts to identify areas where B. turicatae and its vector circulate. Between 2017 and 2020 we collected Ornithodoros turicata ticks in suburban and urban areas including public and private parks and recreational spaces. Ticks were fed on naïve mice and spirochetes were isolated from the blood. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed on eight newly obtained isolates and included previously reported sequences. The four chromosomal loci targeted for MLST were 16S ribosomal RNA (rrs), flagellin B (flaB), DNA gyrase B (gyrB), and the intergenic spacer (IGS). Given the complexity of Borrelia genomes, plasmid diversity was also evaluated. These studies indicate that the IGS locus segregates B. turicatae into four genomic types and plasmid diversity is extensive between isolates. Furthermore, B. turicatae and its vector have established endemic foci in parks and recreational areas in densely populated settings of Texas.
Topics: Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Biodiversity; Borrelia; Female; Humans; Male; Multilocus Sequence Typing; Phylogeny; Plasmids; Relapsing Fever; Texas; Ticks
PubMed: 34813588
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009868 -
PloS One 2023Lyme serology does not readily discriminate an active Lyme borreliosis (LB) from a previous Borrelia infection or exposure. Here, we aimed to investigate a large number...
OBJECTIVES
Lyme serology does not readily discriminate an active Lyme borreliosis (LB) from a previous Borrelia infection or exposure. Here, we aimed to investigate a large number of immunological protein biomarkers to search for an immunological pattern typical for active LB, in contrast to patterns found in healthy blood donors, a proportion of whom were previously exposed to Borrelia.
METHODS
Serum samples from well-characterised adult patients with ongoing LB and healthy blood donors were included and investigated using a proximity extension assay (provided by Olink®) by which 92 different immune response-related human protein biomarkers were analysed simultaneously.
RESULTS
In total, 52 LB patients and 75 healthy blood donors were included. The blood donors represented both previously Borrelia exposed (n = 34) and not exposed (n = 41) based on anti-Borrelia antibody status. Ten of the examined 92 proteins differed between patients and blood donors and were chosen for further logistic regression (p<0.1). Six proteins were statistically significantly different between LB patients and blood donors (p<0.05). These six proteins were then combined in an index and analysed using receiver-operating-characteristic curve analysis showing an area under the curve of 0.964 (p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
The results from this study suggest that there is an immunological protein pattern that can distinguish a present Borrelia infection from a previous exposure as well as anti-Borrelia antibody negative blood donors. Although this method is not adapted for routine clinical use at this point, the possibility is interesting and may open new diagnostic opportunities improving the laboratory diagnostics of LB.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Lyme Disease; Borrelia; Blood Donors; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Biomarkers; Antibodies, Bacterial; Borrelia burgdorferi
PubMed: 37363901
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287586 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Jun 2021Bacterial vector-borne diseases, including species, present a significant diagnostic, clinical, and public health challenge due to their overlapping symptoms and the...
Bacterial vector-borne diseases, including species, present a significant diagnostic, clinical, and public health challenge due to their overlapping symptoms and the breadth of causative agents and arthropod vectors. The relapsing fever (RF) borreliae encompass both established and emerging pathogens and are transmitted to humans by soft ticks, hard ticks, or lice. We developed a real-time semimultiplex PCR assay that detects multiple RF borreliae causing human illness and classifies them into one of three groups. The groups are based on genetic similarity and include agents of soft-tick relapsing fever (Borrelia hermsii and others), the emerging hard-tick-transmitted pathogen B. miyamotoi, and the agent of louse-borne relapsing fever (B. recurrentis). The real-time PCR assay uses a single primer pair designed to amplify all known pathogenic RF borreliae and multiple TaqMan probes to allow the detection of and differentiation among the three groups. The assay detects all RF borreliae tested, with an analytical limit of detection below 15 genome equivalents per reaction. Thirty isolates of RF borreliae encompassing six species were accurately identified. Thirty-nine of 41 residual specimens (EDTA whole blood, serum, or plasma) from patients with RF were detected and correctly classified. None of 42 clinical samples from patients with other infections and 46 culture specimens from non-RF bacteria were detected. The development of a single-assay real-time PCR approach will help to improve the diagnosis of RF by simplifying the selection of tests to aid in the clinical management of acutely ill RF patients.
Topics: Animals; Arthropod Vectors; Borrelia; Humans; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Relapsing Fever
PubMed: 33910966
DOI: 10.1128/JCM.02981-20 -
Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... May 2009Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) has been reported in Eurasia and attributed mainly to Borrelia persica, although other entities have also been described. Ornithodoros... (Review)
Review
Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) has been reported in Eurasia and attributed mainly to Borrelia persica, although other entities have also been described. Ornithodoros tholozani is the most important tick vector, found in India and Kashmir, the southern countries of the former USSR, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, and Cyprus. It inhabits caves, ruins, and burrows of rodents and small mammals. In the northern countries, O. tholozani also lives in houses and cowsheds. In Israel, 30-60% of caves were found to be infested. PCR studies of Borrelia infection of O. tholozani ticks collected in caves showed very variable rates, ranging from less than 2% to 40%. The number of human cases reported varies among countries, from eight cases per year in Israel to 72 cases per year in Iran. The incubation period is 5-9 days. The fever attacks last from several hours to 4 days, and are accompanied by chills, headache, nausea and vomiting, sweating, abdominal pain, arthralgia, and cough; complications are rare. Other described Borrelia species are Borrelia caucasica, Borrelia latyschewii, Borrelia microtii, and Borrelia baltazardi. The classic taxonomy based on the co-speciation concept is very complex and very confusing. For this reason, 16S rRNA and flaB genes were used for taxonomic clarification. Sequencing of Israeli TBRF flaB genes, from human and tick samples, has demonstrated a third cluster corresponding to the Eurasia strains, in addition to both New World and Old World clusters. Thin and thick blood smears remain the most frequently used methods for laboratory diagnosis, with a sensitivity of 80%. PCR-based diagnosis is the most sensitive method, and has the advantage of allowing species identification.
Topics: Animals; Asia; Bacterial Typing Techniques; Borrelia; Case Management; Cluster Analysis; DNA, Bacterial; Disease Vectors; Europe; Genotype; Humans; Incidence; Ornithodoros; Relapsing Fever; Sequence Analysis, DNA
PubMed: 19489923
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2009.02767.x -
PloS One 2016Lyme borreliosis is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, a fastidious bacterium that replicates slowly and requires special conditions to grow in... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Lyme borreliosis is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, a fastidious bacterium that replicates slowly and requires special conditions to grow in the laboratory. Borrelia isolation from clinical material is a golden standard for microbiological diagnosis of borrelial infection. Important factors that affect in vitro borrelia growth are temperature of incubation and number of borrelia cells in the sample. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of temperature on borrelia growth and survival by evaluation and comparison of growth of 31 different borrelia strains at five different temperatures and to determine the influence of different inoculums on borrelia growth at different temperatures. Borreliae were cultured in the MKP medium; the initial and final number of spirochetes was determined by dark field microscopy using Neubauer counting chamber. The growth of borrelia was defined as final number of cells/mL after three days of incubation. For all three Borrelia species, the best growth was found at 33°C, followed by 37, 28, and 23°C, while no growth was detected at 4°C (P<0.05). The growth of B. afzelii species was weaker in comparison to the other two species at 23, 28, 33 and 37°C (P<0.05), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the growth of B. garinii and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto at 28, 33, and 37°C (P>0.05), respectively. Inoculum had statistically significant influence on growth of all three Borrelia species at all tested temperatures except at 4°C.
Topics: Bacterial Load; Borrelia burgdorferi; Borrelia burgdorferi Group; Culture Media; Humans; Lyme Disease; Multilocus Sequence Typing; Species Specificity; Temperature
PubMed: 27310556
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157706 -
Cell Host & Microbe Nov 2021Lyme disease, which is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, is on the rise. Current treatment relies on broad-spectrum antibiotics that perturb the gut...
Lyme disease, which is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, is on the rise. Current treatment relies on broad-spectrum antibiotics that perturb the gut microbiome. In a recent paper in Cell, Leimer et al. demonstrate the utility of a long-forgotten antibiotic, Hygromycin A, as a spirochete-specific antibacterial that is conducive to gut health.
Topics: Borrelia burgdorferi; Borrelia burgdorferi Group; Cinnamates; Humans; Hygromycin B; Lyme Disease
PubMed: 34762823
DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.10.007 -
Journal of Applied Microbiology Sep 2017Borrelia sp., a causative pathogenic factor of Lyme disease (LD), has become a major public health threat. Current treatments based on antibiotics often lead to relapse...
AIMS
Borrelia sp., a causative pathogenic factor of Lyme disease (LD), has become a major public health threat. Current treatments based on antibiotics often lead to relapse after their withdrawal. Naturally derived substances that could work synergistically to display higher efficacy compared with the individual components may serve as a resource for the development of novel approaches to combat both active and latent forms of Borrelia sp.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Using checkerboard assay, we investigated the anti-borreliae reciprocal cooperation of phytochemicals and micronutrients against two species of Borrelia selected as prevalent causes of LD in the United States and Europe. We tested 28 combinations of phytochemicals such as polyphenols (baicalein, luteolin, rosmarinic acids), fatty acids (monolaurin, cis-2-decenoic acid) and micronutrients (ascorbic acid, cholecalciferol and iodine). The results showed that the combinations of baicalein with luteolin as well as monolaurin with cis-2-decenoic acid expressed synergistic anti-spirochetal effects. Moreover, baicalein and luteolin, when combined with rosmarinic acid or iodine, produced additive bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects against typical corkscrew motile spirochaetes and persistent knob/round-shaped forms, respectively. An additive anti-biofilm effect was noticed between baicalein with luteolin and monolaurin with cis-2-decenoic acid. Finally, application of the combination of baicalein with luteolin increased cytoplasmic permeability of Borrelia sp. but did not cause DNA damage.
CONCLUSIONS
These results show that a specific combination of flavones might play a supporting role in combating Borrelia sp. through either synergistic or additive anti-borreliae effects.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY
Presented here in vitro results might help advancing our knowledge and improving the approach to target Borrelia sp.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Biofilms; Borrelia; Europe; Flavanones; Humans; Lyme Disease; Micronutrients; Phytochemicals
PubMed: 28644529
DOI: 10.1111/jam.13523 -
Research in Microbiology 1992The success of an invading organism must depend on several cytoplasmic, surface-associated and secreted factors. The technical difficulties in handling pathogenic... (Review)
Review
The success of an invading organism must depend on several cytoplasmic, surface-associated and secreted factors. The technical difficulties in handling pathogenic spirochetes like Treponema pallidum and Borrelia burgdorferi have made it difficult to define specific factors involved in entry and long-term survival. The problem of defining virulence factors has been attacked by several strategies: T. pallidum secretes a number of immunogenic low molecular mass proteins. The most predominant are of molecular weight 15.5 and 22 kDa. Preliminary data suggest that antibodies against these proteins induce protective immunity in rabbits experimentally infected with T. pallidum. Many potentially important surface-associated antigens of T. pallidum have now been cloned and characterized. Two of these, TpD and TpE, are lipoproteins which exhibit characteristic size heterogeneity. The apparent molecular weight of TpE from T. pallidum and T. pertenue are different. The clinical symptoms in syphilis and yaws are very different, but sequence analysis of TpE has shown that the TpE proteins are indeed very similar in the two strains. This observation makes it unlikely that heterogeneity of TpE can account for the different clinical symptoms of syphilis and yaws. Sequence data for another newly sequenced surface-associated antigen of T. pallidum (molecular weight 41 kDa) indicate that this protein is involved in glucose transport and chemotaxis/motility. Intracellular factors like the molecular chaperonin GroEL have been documented both in treponemes and borreliae. This stress protein is involved in cellular repair processes and folding/assembly of protein subunits. Indirect evidence suggests that GroEL affects the ability of spirochetes to survive in the stressful environment of the infected host. Several lines of evidence suggest that the Osp proteins of Borrelia are important for host/parasite interaction. Further support for this idea has come from studies of a series of monoclonal antibodies against OspA. A monoclonal antibody against OspA (9B3D) is able to block attachment of B. burgdorferi to a cell monolayer. Borrelia loses infectivity after several passages in vitro. The loss of pathogenicity is associated with loss of specific plasmids and proteins. One of the low-passage-associated proteins (Lap30) has been cloned and sequenced. Lap30 is a lipoprotein encoded by a 38-kb plasmid, not present in high passage B. burgdorferi. Aberrant immunological processes induced by the lipopolysaccharide component of Treponema hyodysenteriae could explain the dramatic intestinal lesions in swine dysenteriae. But analysis by TLC reveals that the LPS of this treponeme is different from classical Salmonella LPS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Topics: Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; Bacterial Proteins; Borrelia burgdorferi Group; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Heat-Shock Proteins; Host-Parasite Interactions; In Vitro Techniques; Treponema; Treponema pallidum; Virulence
PubMed: 1475523
DOI: 10.1016/0923-2508(92)90121-4