Scientists have mapped the genomes of all 23 species of the bacterium that causes Lyme disease They've found genes that help the tick-borne germ better infect animals and humans Insights from the study could lead to better treatments MONDAY, Aug. 19, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- All 23 known species of the bacteria that cause Lyme disease have now been genetically mapped, providing an aid to better diagnosis and research. "This comprehensive, high-quality sequencing investigation of Lyme disease and related bacteria provides the foundation to propel the field forward,” said study co-author Steven Schutzer , a Rutgers New Jersey Medical School professor.
“Every modern research project -- from clinical to public health to ecology and evolution to bacterial physiology to medical-tool development to host-bacteria interaction -- will benefit from this work." According to the researchers, Lyme disease remains the most common tick-borne illness in the world, infecting hundreds of thousands of people annually. People contract the disease as the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium is transmitted to a person via the bite of a tick.
Initial symptoms can include fever, headache, rash and fatigue, but long-term effects can be debilitating and include symptoms in the joints, heart and the nervous system. There are 23 separate species of B. burgdorferi within the sensu lato group that can infect humans.
Schutzer and colleagues sequenced (mapped) the complete genomes of all members of the group, .