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lyme disease spirochaete borrelia burgdorferi does not require thiamin.thiamin pyrophosphate (thdp), the active form of thiamin (vitamin b1), is believed to be an essential cofactor for all living organisms(1,2). here, we report the unprecedented result that thiamin is dispensable for the growth of the lyme disease pathogen borrelia burgdorferi (bb)(3). bb lacks genes for thiamin biosynthesis and transport as well as known thdp-dependent enzymes(4), and we were unable to detect thiamin or its derivatives in bb cells. we showed that eliminating thiamin in vitro and ...201627869793
lyme disease in poland in 2014lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease, caused by spirochetes of the borrelia genus transmitted by ticks of the ixodes genus. infection caused by borrelia burgdorferi occur throughout poland and therefore, according also to ecdc description, the whole country should be considered as an endemic area.201727870540
peroperative cardiogenic shock suggesting acute coronary syndrome as initial manifestation of lyme carditis.carditis can complicate lyme disease in an estimated <5% of cases, and cardiogenic shock and severe cardiac arrhythmias are described with electrocardiographic abnormalities that could be suggestive of coronary manifestations. we report a case of severe persistent biventricular heart failure complicated by cardiac arrhythmias as initial manifestation of a lyme disease developing peroperatively electrocardiographic abnormalities suggesting acute transmural myocardial infarction.201627871570
heterogeneity in the abundance and distribution of ixodes ricinus and borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) in scotland: implications for risk prediction.cases of lyme borreliosis, a vector-borne zoonosis caused by bacteria in the borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) species group, have increased in recent years in europe. knowledge of environmental factors associated with abundance of the tick vector ixodes ricinus and the pathogen b. burgdorferi (s.l.) is of interest to understand responses to environmental changes, predict variation in risk and to inform management interventions.201627876087
established population of blacklegged ticks with high infection prevalence for the lyme disease bacterium, borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, on corkscrew island, kenora district, ontario.we document an established population of blacklegged ticks, ixodes scapularis, on corkscrew island, kenora district, ontario, canada. primers of the outer surface protein a (ospa) gene, the flagellin (fla) gene, and the flagellin b (flab) gene were used in the pcr assays to detect borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), the lyme disease bacterium. in all, 60 (73%) of 82 adult i. scapularis, were infected with b. burgdorferi s.l. as well, 6 (43%) of 14 unfed i. scapularis nymphs were positive for ...201627877080
balancing the immune response in the brain: il-10 and its regulation.the inflammatory response is critical to fight insults, such as pathogen invasion or tissue damage, but if not resolved often becomes detrimental to the host. a growing body of evidence places non-resolved inflammation at the core of various pathologies, from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases. it is therefore not surprising that the immune system has evolved several regulatory mechanisms to achieve maximum protection in the absence of pathology.201627881137
borrelia burgdorferi – morphological structure and motility as adaptation for transmission and survival in the habitat of a tick-vertebrate setuplyme borreliosis is a multisystem chronic disease caused by borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) spirochete transmitted by ixodes. this bacterium has a remarkable ability to survive in tick-vertebrate setup. its infection causes diagnostic and clinical difficulties. it was distinguished as a separate disease entity over 30 years ago. observations made by steere et al. proved to be a milestone since they found correlation between the occurrence of skin and joint lesions with tick bites. further ...201727883377
neuroborreliosis.appropriate, critical application of evidence-based diagnostic criteria enables both a clear definition of what constitutes neuroborreliosis-nervous system infection with borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto in the us, b garinii and less commonly b. afzelii and other species in europe-and recognition that this disorder is quite similar in europe and the us. most commonly evidenced by lymphocytic meningitis and/or multifocal inflammation of the peripheral (common; cranial neuropathy, radiculopathy, ...201627885483
the impact of temperature and precipitation on blacklegged tick activity and lyme disease incidence in endemic and emerging regions.the incidence of lyme disease shows high degrees of inter-annual variation in the northeastern united states, but the factors driving this variation are not well understood. complicating matters, it is also possible that these driving factors may vary in regions with differing histories of lyme disease endemism. we evaluated the effect of the number of hot (t > 25 °c), dry (precipitation = 0) days during the questing periods of the two immature ixodes scapularis life stages (larval and nymphal) ...201627887625
lyme carditis: an interesting trip to third-degree heart block and back.carditis is an uncommon presentation of the early disseminated phase of lyme disease. we present the case of a young female who presented with erythema migrans and was found to have first-degree heart block which progressed to complete heart block within hours. after receiving ceftriaxone, there was complete resolution of the heart block in sequential fashion. our case illustrates the importance of early recognition and anticipation of progressive cardiac conduction abnormalities in patients pre ...201627891258
progress in the molecular diagnosis of lyme disease.current laboratory testing of lyme borreliosis mostly relies on serological methods with known limitations. diagnostic modalities enabling direct detection of pathogen at the onset of the clinical signs could overcome some of the limitations. molecular methods detecting borrelial dna seem to be the ideal solution, although there are some aspects that need to be considered. areas covered: this review represent summary and discussion of the published data obtained from literature searches from pub ...201727892737
application of ethnobotanical repellents and acaricides in prevention, control and management of livestock ticks: a review.ticks transmit at least the same number or even more pathogens than any other group of blood-feeding arthropods worldwide affecting humans and animals. the eco-friendly control and management of tick vectors in a constantly changing environment is a crucial challenge. besides the development of vaccines against ticks, ipm practices aimed at reducing tick interactions with livestock, emerging pheromone-based control tools, and few biological control agents, the extensive employment of acaricides ...201627892855
acarological risk of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infections across space and time in the netherlands.a longitudinal investigation on tick populations and their borrelia infections in the netherlands was undertaken between 2006 and 2011 with the aim to assess spatial and temporal patterns of the acarological risk in forested sites across the country and to assess variations in borrelia genospecies diversity. ticks were collected monthly in 11 sites and nymphs were examined for borrelia infections. tick populations expressed strong seasonal variations, with consistent and significant differences ...201727893309
relapsing-remitting lesions in a woman with progressive hemifacial atrophy and chronic hepatitis b virus infection: a case report.progressive hemifacial atrophy (pha) is a rare disorder characterized by unilateral facial atrophy affecting the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and fat, muscle, and osteocartilagenous structures creating a sunken hemiface appearance.etiopathogenesis of pha is poorly understood; no definitive treatment is currently available.201627893674
is there any association between sarcoidosis and infectious agents?: a systematic review and meta-analysis.during the last few years, investigators have debated the role that infectious agents may have in sarcoidosis pathogenesis. with the emergence of new molecular biology techniques, several studies have been conducted; therefore, we performed a meta-analysis in order to better explain this possible association.201627894280
molecular evidence for toxoplasma gondii in feeding and questing ixodes ricinus ticks.the aim of the present study was to detect toxoplasma gondii in ticks collected from ponies and field vegetation and to determine the role of shetland ponies as a potential reservoir host for t. gondii. a total of 1737 feeding ixodes ricinus collected from 49 horses and 371 questing ticks were tested by pcr and sequencing for the presence and genotyping of t. gondii. all ticks were examined in a previous study to detect and identify pathogenic bacterial species. the aim of this study was also to ...201727894863
gray wolf exposure to emerging vector-borne diseases in wisconsin with comparison to domestic dogs and humans.world-wide concern over emerging vector-borne diseases has increased in recent years for both animal and human health. in the united sates, concern about vector-borne diseases in canines has focused on lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and heartworm which infect domestic and wild canids. of these diseases, lyme and anaplasmosis are also frequently diagnosed in humans. gray wolves (canis lupus) recolonized wisconsin in the 1970s, and we evaluated their temporal and geographic patterns of ...201627898670
the potential of omics technologies in lyme disease biomarker discovery and early detection.lyme borreliosis (lb) is the most prevalent arthropod-borne infectious disease in north america and many countries of the temperate northern hemisphere. it is associated with local and systemic manifestations and has persistent post-treatment health complications in some individuals. innate and acquired immunity-related inflammation is likely to play a critical role in both host defense against borrelia burgdorferi and disease severity. large-scale analytical approaches to quantify gene expressi ...201727900646
influence of tick and mammalian physiological temperatures on borrelia burgdorferi biofilms.the spirochaete bacterium borrelia burgdorferisensu lato is the aetiologic agent of lyme disease. borrelia is transmitted to mammals through tick bite and is adapted to survive at tick and mammalian physiological temperatures. we have previously shown that b. burgdorferi can exist in different morphological forms, including the antibiotic-resistant biofilm form, in vitro and in vivo. b. burgdorferi forms aggregates in ticks as well as in humans, indicating potential of biofilm formation at both ...201627902419
solitary erythematous plaque on the nasolabial fold. 201627904193
tick bite by nymphal amblyomma testudinarium.ticks are parasites that usually suck the blood of wild or domestic animals; rarely, they ingest human blood and spread various febrile infectious diseases along with skin problems. out of 40 cases of tick bite reported in korea, only 3 were caused by nymphal ticks, and tick bites by nymphal amblyomma testudinarium have not been reported previously. herein, we report a rare case of tick bite by nymphal a. testudinarium. a 57-year-old woman presented with an asymptomatic solitary erythematous nod ...201627904278
phylogenetic lineages and postglacial dispersal dynamics characterize the genetic structure of the tick, ixodes ricinus, in northwest europe.dispersal and gene flow are important mechanisms affecting the dynamics of vectors and their pathogens. here, patterns of genetic diversity were analyzed in many north european populations of the tick, ixodes ricinus. population sites were selected within and between areas separated by geographical barriers in order to evaluate the importance of tick transportation by birds in producing genetic connectivity across open sea and mountain ranges. the phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial contr ...201627907193
a novel approach to probe host-pathogen interactions of bovine digital dermatitis, a model of a complex polymicrobial infection.polymicrobial infections represent a great challenge for the clarification of disease etiology and the development of comprehensive diagnostic or therapeutic tools, particularly for fastidious and difficult-to-cultivate bacteria. using bovine digital dermatitis (dd) as a disease model, we introduce a novel strategy to study the pathogenesis of complex infections.201627908274
lyme arrhythmia in an avid golfer: a diagnostic challenge and a therapeutic dilemma.lyme disease is a multisystem disorder affecting dermatologic, cardiac, nervous and musculoskeletal systems. cardiac manifestations occur in about 5% of lyme infections and stem from the involvement of the cardiac conduction system, resulting in varying degrees of sino-atrioventricular block. occasionally, lyme infection may also present with myopericarditis. unlike isolated conduction node disease, myocardial involvement presents a great diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma for the physician. we ...201727909484
seroprevalence of babesia microti in individuals with lyme disease.babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease (tbd) caused by babesia microti, an intracellular parasite of red blood cells. currently, it is the highest ranked pathogen transmitted by blood transfusion. most healthy individuals infected with b. microti are asymptomatic, but may be at risk for chronic infection. similar to lyme disease transmitted by borrelia burgdorferi, b. microti is spread by ixodes scapularis ticks. the rate of coinfection with these tbds in humans is unclear as most studies ...201627911694
against the tide: the role of bacterial adhesion in host colonization.evolving under the constant exposure to an abundance of diverse microbial life, the human body has developed many ways of defining the boundaries between self and non-self. many physical and immunological barriers to microbial invasion exist, and yet bacteria have found a multitude of ways to overcome these, initiate interactions with and colonize the human host. adhesion to host cells and tissues is a key feature allowing bacteria to persist in an environment under constant flux and to initiate ...201627913666
in vivo expression technology and 5' end mapping of the borrelia burgdorferi transcriptome identify novel rnas expressed during mammalian infection.borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterial pathogen responsible for lyme disease, modulates its gene expression profile in response to the environments encountered throughout its tick-mammal infectious cycle. to begin to characterize the b. burgdorferi transcriptome during murine infection, we previously employed an in vivo expression technology-based approach (bbivet). this identified 233 putative promoters, many of which mapped to un-annotated regions of the complex, segmented genome. herein, we glob ...201727913725
a critical appraisal of the mild axonal peripheral neuropathy of late neurologic lyme disease.in older studies, a chronic distal symmetric sensory neuropathy was reported as a relatively common manifestation of late lyme disease in the united states. however, the original papers describing this entity had notable inconsistencies and certain inexplicable findings, such as reports that this condition developed in patients despite prior antibiotic treatment known to be highly effective for other manifestations of lyme disease. more recent literature suggests that this entity is seen rarely, ...201727914746
use of a tick-borne disease manual increases accuracy of tick identification among primary care providers in lyme disease endemic areas.given the high incidence of tick bites and tick-borne diseases in the united states, it is important for primary care providers to recognize common ticks and the pathogens they may transmit. if a patient has removed and saved an attached tick, identifying the tick helps guide clinical management and determine whether antibiotic prophylaxis for lyme disease is appropriate. to investigate providers' ability to recognize common ticks and the pathogens they may transmit, we asked 76 primary care pro ...201727916581
immunogenetic markers definition in latvian patients with lyme borreliosis and lyme neuroborreliosis.the aim of this study was to determine the human leukocyte antigen (hla)-drb1 alleles in two groups of patients in latvia: patients with lyme borreliosis and patients with lyme neuroborreliosis. the study included 216 patients with lyme borreliosis, 29 patients with lyme neuroborreliosis and 282 control persons. all surveyed persons were residents of latvia. the hla-dr genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction- sequence specific primer (pcr-ssp). the predisposition to the lyme borrel ...201627916969
dna barcodes identify medically important tick species in canada.medically important ticks (acari: ixodidae) are often difficult to identify morphologically. a standardized, molecular approach using a 658 base pair dna barcode sequence (from the 5' region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit i gene) was evaluated for its effectiveness in discriminating ticks in north america, with an emphasis on canadian ticks. dna barcodes were generated for 96 of 154 specimens representing 26 ixodid species. a genetic cluster analysis was performed on the barco ...201727918193
outer membrane proteins bb0405 and bb0406 are immunogenic, but only bb0405 is required for borrelia burgdorferi infection.we recently identified the borrelia burgdorferi outer membrane protein (omp) bb0406 and found that the gene encoding this omp was cotranscribed with the gene encoding the omp bb0405. interestingly, bb0405 and bb0406 share 59% similarity and are grouped into the same b. burgdorferi paralogous gene family. given their overall similarity, it is plausible that both omps have similar or overlapping functions in this pathogenic spirochete. bb0405 was recently shown to be required for mammalian infecti ...201727920211
commercial test kits for detection of lyme borreliosis: a meta-analysis of test accuracy.the clinical diagnosis of lyme borreliosis can be supported by various test methodologies; test kits are available from many manufacturers. literature searches were carried out to identify studies that reported characteristics of the test kits. of 50 searched studies, 18 were included where the tests were commercially available and samples were proven to be positive using serology testing, evidence of an erythema migrans rash, and/or culture. additional requirements were a test specificity of ≥8 ...201627920571
acute clinical worsening after steroid administration in cervical myelitis may reveal a subdural arteriovenous fistula.subdural arteriovenous fistula (sdavf) is a rare condition characterized by clinical manifestations ranging from mild bilateral sensory deficits to quadriplegia. the diagnosis is often delayed due to unspecific neurological symptoms, initially diagnosed as polyneuropathy or myelopathy. the diagnosis can be delayed for as long as 1-15 years. the following report describes a cervical sdavf case initially misdiagnosed as myelitis transversa and treated with intravenous steroids. a 56-year-old male ...201627920716
update of the swiss guidelines on post-treatment lyme disease syndrome.lyme borreliosis is caused by borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection, which responds well to antibiotic therapy in the overwhelming majority of cases. however, despite adequate antibiotic treatment some patients report persisting symptoms which are commonly summarised as post-treatment lyme disease syndrome (ptlds). in 2005, the swiss society of infectious diseases published a case definition for ptlds. we aimed to review the scientific literature with a special emphasis on the last 10 years, ...201627922168
emergence of tick-borne pathogens (borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, anaplasma phagocytophilum, ricketsia raoultii and babesia microti) in the kyiv urban parks, ukraine.to date, only limited data about the presence of ticks and circulation of tick-borne pathogens in urban parks of kyiv in northern ukraine are available. in total, 767 ticks (696 ixodes ricinus and 69 dermacentor reticulatus) collected in seven urban parks and one suburban oak wood park in kyiv were individually analyzed by the pcr assays. tick-borne pathogens, namely spirochetes from borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, anaplasma phagocytophilum, and babesia microti, were detected in 11.1% o ...201727923669
genetic analysis of revertants isolated from the rod-fragile flif mutant of salmonella.flif is the protein comprising the ms-ring of the bacterial flagellar basal body, which is the base for the assembly of flagellar axial structures. from a flif mutant that easily releases the rod-hook-filament in viscous environments, more than 400 revertants that recovered their swarming ability in viscous conditions, were isolated. the second-site mutations were determined for approximately 70% of them. there were three regions where the mutations were localized: two in region i, 112 in region ...201627924254
acute transverse myelitis associated with salmonella bacteremia: a case report.background acute transverse myelitis (atm) is an uncommon and often overlooked complication of certain bacterial and viral infections that can have a rapid onset and result in severe neurological deficits.  case report this case report describes a previously healthy 28-year-old woman who presented to the trauma center after developing acute paralysis and paresthesias of all four extremities within the span of hours. the initial presumptive diagnosis was spinal cord contusion due to a fall versus ...201627928148
antibiotics for the neurological complications of lyme disease.various central nervous system-penetrant antibiotics are bactericidal in vitro and in vivo against the causative agent of lyme neuroborreliosis (lnb), borrelia burgdorferi. these antibiotics are routinely used clinically to treat lnb, but their relative efficacy is not clear.201627931077
antibody profiling of canine igg responses to the ospc protein of the lyme disease spirochetes supports a multivalent approach in vaccine and diagnostic assay development.ospc performs essential functions during the enzootic cycle of the lyme disease (ld) spirochetes. in this study, the specificity of antibody (ab) responses to ospc was profiled to define the antigenic determinants during infection and after vaccination. several ospc variants or 'types' were screened with serum from snap4dx c6 positive dogs and with serum from rabbits hyperimmunized with ospc proteins. the ospc type-specific nature of the ab response revealed that variable domains of ospc are imm ...201627938705
the borrelia burgdorferi telomere resolvase, rest, possesses atp-dependent dna unwinding activity.spirochetes of the genus borrelia possess unusual genomes harboring multiple linear and circular replicons. the linear replicons are terminated by covalently closed hairpin (hp) telomeres. hairpin telomeres are formed from replicated intermediates by the telomere resolvase, rest, in a phosphoryl transfer reaction with mechanistic similarities to those promoted by type 1b topoisomerases and tyrosine recombinases. there is growing evidence that rest is multifunctional. upon rest depletion dna repl ...201627940553
identification of ixodes ricinus blood meals using an automated protocol with high resolution melting analysis (hrma) reveals the importance of domestic dogs as larval tick hosts in italian alpine forests.in europe, ixodes ricinus l. is the main vector of a variety of zoonotic pathogens, acquired through blood meals taken once per stage from a vertebrate host. defining the main tick hosts in a given area is important for planning public health interventions; however, until recently, no robust molecular methods existed for blood meal identification from questing ticks. here we improved the time- and cost-effectiveness of an hrma protocol for blood meal analysis and used it to identify blood meal s ...201627955678
the lyme disease pathogen borrelia burgdorferi infects murine bone and induces trabecular bone loss.lyme disease is caused by members of the borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species complex. arthritis is a well-known late-stage pathology of lyme disease, but the effects of b. burgdorferi infection on bone at sites other than articular surfaces are largely unknown. in this study, we investigated whether b. burgdorferi infection affects bone health in mice. in mice inoculated with b. burgdorferi or vehicle (mock infection), we measured the presence of b. burgdorferi dna in bones, bone mineral den ...201727956598
transplantation of human embryonic stem cells in patients with multiple sclerosis and lyme disease.background multiple sclerosis (ms) is an inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease in which the myelin sheath of nerve cells is damaged. it can cause delayed neurologic symptoms similar to those seen in lyme disease (ld) patients. thymus derived t-cells (myelin reactive) migrate to the blood brain barrier and stimulate an inflammatory cascade in the central nervous system. cell based therapies play an important role in treating neurological diseases such as ms and ld. case report human embryoni ...201627956736
different use of cell surface glycosaminoglycans as adherence receptors to corneal cells by gram positive and gram negative pathogens.the epithelium of the cornea is continuously exposed to pathogens, and adhesion to epithelial cells is regarded as an essential first step in bacterial pathogenesis. in this article, the involvement of glycosaminoglycans in the adhesion of various pathogenic bacteria to corneal epithelial cells is analyzed. all microorganisms use glycosaminoglycans as receptors, but arranged in different patterns depending on the gram-type of the bacterium. the heparan sulfate chains of syndecans are the main re ...201627965938
stable transmission of borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto on the outer banks of north carolina.the spirochaete (borrelia burgdorferi) associated with lyme disease was detected in questing ticks and rodents during a period of 18 years, 1991-2009, at five locations on the outer banks of north carolina. the black-legged tick (ixodes scapularis) was collected at varied intervals between 1991 and 2009 and examined for b. burgdorferi. the white-footed mouse (peromyscus leucopus), house mouse (mus musculus) marsh rice rat (oryzomys palustris), marsh rabbit (sylvilagus palustris), eastern cottont ...201627966833
chronic pain in children and adolescents: diagnosis and treatment of primary pain disorders in head, abdomen, muscles and joints.primary pain disorders (formerly "functional pain syndromes") are common, under-diagnosed and under-treated in children and teenagers. this manuscript reviews key aspects which support understanding the development of pediatric chronic pain, points to the current pediatric chronic pain terminology, addresses effective treatment strategies, and discusses the evidence-based use of pharmacology. common symptoms of an underlying pain vulnerability present in the three most common chronic pain disord ...201627973405
retrospective study investigating the seroprevalence of anaplasma phagocytophilum in manitoba, canada: 2011-2014.human granulocytic anaplasmosis is currently not nationally notifiable in canada. this for the most part accounts for gross under-estimation of true incidence and prevalence of hga and would potentially culminate in clinical missed opportunities. to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the seroprevalence of anaplasma phagocytophilum in a canadian jurisdiction with known established black-legged tick populations.201627975075
lyme borreliosis.lyme borreliosis is a tick-borne disease that predominantly occurs in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere and is primarily caused by the bacterium borrelia burgdorferi in north america and borrelia afzelii or borrelia garinii in europe and asia. infection usually begins with an expanding skin lesion, known as erythema migrans (referred to as stage 1), which, if untreated, can be followed by early disseminated infection, particularly neurological abnormalities (stage 2), and by late infe ...201627976670
tick-borne diseases in turkey: a review based on one health perspective.the importance of tick-borne diseases is increasing all over the world, including turkey. global warming, environmental and ecological changes and the existence of suitable habitats increase the impact of ticks and result in frequent emergence or re-emergence of tick-borne diseases (tbds) with zoonotic characteristics. in turkey, almost 19 tbds have been reported in animals and men, involving four protozoa (babesiosis, theileriosis, cytauxzoonosis, hepatozoonosis), one filarial nematode (acantho ...201627977689
effect of rpon, rpos and luxs pathways on the biofilm formation and antibiotic sensitivity of borrelia burgdorferi.borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of lyme disease, is capable of forming biofilm in vivo and in vitro, a structure well known for its resistance to antimicrobial agents. for the formation of biofilm, signaling processes are required to communicate with the surrounding environment such as it was shown for the rpon-rpos alternative sigma factor and for the luxs quorum-sensing pathways. therefore, in this study, the wild-type b. burgdorferi and different mutant strains lacking rpon, rpos, a ...201627980856
strain-dependent recognition of a unique degradation motif by clpxp in streptococcus mutans.streptococcus mutans, a dental pathogen, has a remarkable ability to cope with environmental stresses. under stress conditions, cytoplasmic proteases play a major role in controlling the stability of regulatory proteins and preventing accumulation of damaged and misfolded proteins. clpxp, a well-conserved cytoplasmic proteolytic system, is crucial in maintaining cellular homeostasis in bacteria. clpx is primarily responsible for recognition of substrates and subsequent translocation of unfolded ...201627981232
lyme disease: why the controversy?some australians have become convinced of the existence of locally acquired lyme disease (ld). the history of ld, since its recognition in the early 1970s, is reviewed as a model for investigative approaches to unknown syndromes. australian management guidelines for ld include the requirement for diagnostic testing by national association of testing authorities-accredited laboratories using therapeutic goods administration-licensed tests, which result in the efficient diagnosis of ld in overseas ...201627981776
serosurvey of borrelia in dogs, horses, and humans exposed to ticks in a rural settlement of southern brazil.the aims of the present study were to serosurvey dogs, horses, and humans highly exposed to tick bites for anti-borrelia burgdorferi s.l. antibodies, identify tick species present, and determine risk factors associated with seropositivity in a rural settlement of paraná state, southern brazil. eighty-seven residents were sampled, along with their 83 dogs and 18 horses, and individual questionnaires were administered. immunofluorescence antibody test (ifat) was performed on serum samples and posi ...201627982299
comparison of the lifetime host-to-tick transmission between two strains of the lyme disease pathogen borrelia afzelii.transmission from the vertebrate host to the arthropod vector is a critical step in the life-cycle of any vector-borne pathogen. how the probability of host-to-vector transmission changes over the duration of the infection is an important predictor of pathogen fitness. the lyme disease pathogen borrelia afzelii is transmitted by ixodes ricinus ticks and establishes a chronic infection inside rodent reservoir hosts. the present study compares the temporal pattern of host-to-tick transmission betw ...201627986081
the domestic pig as a potential model for borrelia skin infection.the skin lesion erythema migrans is a characteristic early manifestation of lyme borreliosis in humans. however, the pathomechanisms leading to development of this erythema are not fully understood. models that mimic human skin would enhance research in this field. human and porcine skin structures strongly resemble each other. therefore, we attempted to induce erythema migrans lesions in experimental borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection in the skin of domestic pigs. the formation of erythe ...201727986402
molecular epidemiological survey of bacterial and parasitic pathogens in hard ticks from eastern china.ticks are able to transmit various pathogens-viruses, bacteria, and parasites-to their host during feeding. several molecular epidemiological surveys have been performed to evaluate the risk of tick-borne pathogens in china, but little is known about pathogens circulating in ticks from eastern china. therefore, this study aimed to investigate the presence of bacteria and parasites in ticks collected from xuzhou, a 11258km(2) region in eastern china. in the present study, ticks were collected fro ...201727986546
lyme disease or a lemon? 201627989005
borrelia miyamotoi and co-infection with borrelia afzelii in ixodes ricinus ticks and rodents from slovakia.borrelia miyamotoi causes relapsing fever in humans. the occurrence of this spirochete has been reported in ixodes ricinus and wildlife, but there are still gaps in the knowledge of its eco-epidemiology and public health impact. in the current study, questing i. ricinus (nymphs and adults) and skin biopsies from rodents captured in slovakia were screened for the presence of b. miyamotoi and borrelia burgdorferi s.l. dna. the prevalence of b. miyamotoi and b. burgdorferi s.l. in questing ticks wa ...201727995301
erratum for chu et al., function of the borrelia burgdorferi ftsh homolog is essential for viability both in vitro and in vivo and independent of hflk/c. 201627999167
no association between borrelia burgdorferi antibodies and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a case-control study.previous studies, mostly case reports and uncontrolled studies, provide a low level of evidence for the hypothesized link between lyme disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (als). in order to make evidence-based recommendations regarding testing for borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in the diagnostic work-up for als, the objective of this study was to explore the evidence for an association between these antibodies and als in a case-control design including age-, gender- and residency-matched ...201728000348
the accuracy of diagnostic tests for lyme disease in humans, a systematic review and meta-analysis of north american research.there has been an increasing incidence of lyme disease (ld) in canada and the united states corresponding to the expanding range of the ixodes tick vector and lyme disease agent (borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto). there are many diagnostic tests for ld available in north america, all of which have some performance issues, and physicians are concerned about the appropriate use and interpretation of these tests. the objective of this systematic review is to summarize the north american evidence ...201628002488
ordered membrane domain-forming properties of the lipids of borrelia burgdorferi.co-existing disordered and ordered (raft) membrane domains exist in borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of lyme disease. however, although b. burgdorferi contains cholesterol lipids, it lacks sphingolipids-a crucial component of rafts in eukaryotes. to define the principles of ordered lipid domain formation in borrelia, the domain forming properties of vesicles composed of its three major lipids, acylated cholesteryl galactoside (acgal), monogalactosyl diacyglycerol (mgald), and phosphatid ...201628002743
[follow-up of patients with ixodes tick-borne borrelioses caused by borrelia miyamotoi or borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato].ixodes tick-borne borrelioses (itbb) are caused by two different spirochetes: borrelia from the group of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the agents of the classic lyme borreliosis (lb), and borrelia miyamotoi that belongs to the group of borrelia causing tick-borne relapsing fevers. itbb caused by b. miyamotoi (bm-itbb) is a previously unknown infectious disease discovered in russia. it is known that the lb sequelae may reduce the long-term life guality of convalescents.201628005031
topical azithromycin for the prevention of lyme borreliosis: a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 efficacy trial.lyme borreliosis develops in 1-5% of individuals bitten by ticks, but with a diagnostic gap affecting up to 30% of patients, a broadly applicable pharmacological prevention strategy is needed. topical azithromycin effectively eradicated borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato from the skin in preclinical studies. we assessed its efficacy in human beings.201728007428
succinyl-β-cyclodextrin modified gold biochip improved seroimmunological detection sensitivity for lyme disease.cyclodextrin (cd) is a kind of cyclic oligosaccharides, which forms host-guest interactions with hydrophobic molecules and is widely applied in capillary electrophoresis and pharmaceutical engineering. in this study, we established a succinyl-β-cd modified gold biochip for improvement of seroimmunological detection sensitivity of lyme disease. we found that the cd modified biochip platform presented a stronger affinity property for vlse protein in conjugation with >0.000475 μg/ml of antigen immo ...201728010742
evaluation of doxycycline-laden oral bait and topical fipronil delivered in a single bait box to control ixodes scapularis (acari: ixodidae) and reduce borrelia burgdorferi and anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in small mammal reservoirs and host-seeking ticks.a field trial was conducted on residential properties in a lyme disease endemic area of new jersey to determine the efficacy of maxforce tick management system (tms) bait boxes modified with doxycycline hyclate-laden bait to reduce the acarological risk of lyme disease and the utility of galvanized steel shrouds to protect the bait boxes from squirrel depredation and ability to routinely service these devices. the strategy began with a 9-wk deployment against larvae followed by a 17-wk deploymen ...201628011722
combined whole-cell high-throughput functional screening for identification of new nicotinamidases/pyrazinamidases in metagenomic/polygenomic libraries.nicotinamidases catalyze the hydrolysis of the amide bond in nicotinamide (nam) to produce ammonia and nicotinic acid (na). these enzymes are an essential component of the nad(+) salvage pathway and are implicated in the viability of several pathogenic organisms. its absence in humans makes them a promising drug target. in addition, although they are key analytical biocatalysts for screening modulators in relevant biomedical enzymes, such as sirtuins and poly-adp-ribosyltransferases, no commerci ...201628018295
pseudomonas aeruginosa enolase influences bacterial tolerance to oxidative stresses and virulence.pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram negative opportunistic pathogenic bacterium, which causes acute and chronic infections. upon entering the host, bacteria alter global gene expression to adapt to host environment and avoid clearance by the host. enolase is a glycolytic enzyme involved in carbon metabolism. it is also a component of rna degradosome, which is involved in rna processing and gene regulation. here, we report that enolase is required for the virulence of p. aeruginosa in a murine acute ...201628018326
prevalence and diversity of tick-borne pathogens in nymphal ixodes scapularis (acari: ixodidae) in eastern national parks.tick-borne pathogens transmitted by ixodes scapularis say (acari: ixodidae), also known as the deer tick or blacklegged tick, are increasing in incidence and geographic distribution in the united states. we examined the risk of tick-borne disease exposure in 9 national parks across six northeastern and mid-atlantic states and the district of columbia in 2014 and 2015. to assess the recreational risk to park visitors, we sampled for ticks along frequently used trails and calculated the density of ...201628028138
whole genome sequence and comparative genomics of the novel lyme borreliosis causing pathogen, borrelia mayonii.borrelia mayonii, a borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (bbsl) genospecies, was recently identified as a cause of lyme borreliosis (lb) among patients from the upper midwestern united states. by microscopy and pcr, spirochete/genome loads in infected patients were estimated at 105 to 106 per milliliter of blood. here, we present the full chromosome and plasmid sequences of two b. mayonii isolates, mn14-1420 and mn14-1539, cultured from blood of two of these patients. whole genome sequencing and asse ...201628030649
sandfly fever with skin lesions: a case series from turkey.sand fly fever (sf) is an arthropod-borne viral disease, also known as "phlebotomus fever", "mosquito fever", three-day fever or "papatacci fever". it is transmitted by phlebotomus papatasi, starts with acute onset of high fever, and lasts for three days. we present first cases in a different district of turkey with the clinical findings of fever, myalgia-arthralgia, headache, gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea and nausea-vomiting and skin lesions (in two of them). all the patients were ...201628032114
the incidence of borrelia burgdorferi, anaplasma phagocytophilum and babesia microti coinfections among foresters and farmers in eastern poland.lyme borreliosis is the most common tick-borne disease in europe and the usa. however, a great variety of pathogens are transmitted by ticks, which results in mixed infections, with lyme borreliosis. the aim of the present study was to show the incidence of borrelia burgdorferi, anaplasma phagocytophilum, and babesia microti coinfections among the population of foresters and farmers, as these people, due to their profession, are particularly exposed to tick contact.201628035112
serological surveillance of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases among hunters in eastern poland.many etiological agents of zoonoses are considered as significant biological hazard to people visiting forested areas frequently, for instance, hunters. they may be exposed to ticks, rodents, and birds as well as excreta/secretions of wild animals or contaminated water and soil. hence, this population is at risk of contracting infection with pathogens such as borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), anaplasma phagocytophilum, babesia spp., tick-borne encephalitis virus, bartonella spp., francisel ...201628035113
establishment of an artificial tick feeding system to study theileria lestoquardi infection.the establishment of good experimental models for theileria sp. infection is important for theileriosis research. routinely, infection of ticks is accomplished by feeding on parasite-infected animals (sheep, cows and horses), which raises practical and ethical problems, driving the search for alternative methods of tick infection. artificial tick feeding systems are based mainly on rearing ticks on host-derived or hand-made artificial membranes. we developed a modified feeding assay for infectin ...201628036364
enzootic origins for clinical manifestations of lyme borreliosis.both early localized and late disseminated forms of lyme borreliosis are caused by borrelia burgdorferi senso lato. differentiating between the spirochetes that only cause localized skin infection from those that cause disseminated infection, and tracing the group of medically-important spirochetes to a specific vertebrate host species, are two critical issues in disease risk assessment and management. borrelia burgdorferi senso lato isolates from lyme borreliosis cases with distinct clinical ma ...201728040562
the upside of bias: a case of chronic meningitis due to sporothrix schenckii in an immunocompetent host.chronic meningitis of unknown etiology is a vexing illness for patients and clinicians. identification of the correct pathogen can be challenging and time consuming, leading to delays in appropriate treatment. although sporothrix schenckii is a recognized and treatable cause of chronic meningitis, neurologists and infectious diseases physicians may not regularly evaluate for sporothrix infection. we describe an immunocompetent patient with chronic meningitis who partially responded to empiric fl ...201628042367
the upside of bias: a case of chronic meningitis due to sporothrix schenckii in an immunocompetent host.chronic meningitis of unknown etiology is a vexing illness for patients and clinicians. identification of the correct pathogen can be challenging and time consuming, leading to delays in appropriate treatment. although sporothrix schenckii is a recognized and treatable cause of chronic meningitis, neurologists and infectious diseases physicians may not regularly evaluate for sporothrix infection. we describe an immunocompetent patient with chronic meningitis who partially responded to empiric fl ...201628042367
polymorphism of 41 kd flagellin gene and its human b-cell epitope in borrelia burgdorferi strains of china.the 41 kd flagellin of borrelia burgdorferi (b. burgdorferi) is a major component of periplasmic flagellar filament core and a good candidate for serodiagnosis in early stage of lyme disease. here, we chose 89 b. burgdorferi strains in china, amplified the gene encoding the 41 kd flagellin, and compared the sequences. the results showed that genetic diversity presented in the 41 kd flagellin genes of all 89 strains among the four genotypes of b. burgdorferi, especially in the genotype of b. gari ...201628042565
simultaneous combined myositis, inflammatory polyneuropathy, and overlap myasthenic syndrome.immune-mediated neuromuscular disorders include pathologies of the peripheral nervous system, neuromuscular junction, and muscles. if overlap syndromes (or the association of almost two autoimmune disorders) are recognized, the simultaneous occurrence of several autoimmune neuromuscular disorders is rare. we describe two patients presenting the simultaneous occurrence of inflammatory neuropathy, myositis, and myasthenia gravis (with positive acetylcholine receptor antibodies). for each patient, ...201628044116
rare cause of bilateral sudden deafness.in this paper, we describe the case of a 62-year-old female with recurring episodes of sudden deafness with vertigo and facial paresis. within a month's time, this resulted in bilateral deafness and vestibular areflexia. erroneously, the patient was diagnosed with sudden deafness of unknown origin and subsequently with neuroborreliosis (lyme disease). the true diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis (rp) was revealed 9 months after initial presentation. the diagnostic delay is in part explained by ...201628049117
infectious agents and neurodegenerative diseases: exploring the links.recent studies have shown that bacterial and viral infections are risk factors for various neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (als), multiple sclerosis (ms), alzheimer's disease (ad), and lyme disease (ld). however, it is still controversial how the infections play a role in neurological diseases progression. infections in central nervous system may lead multiple damages in infected and neighboring cells. the infection leads to the activation of inflammatory process ...201728049398
catestatin and vasostatin concentrations in healthy dogs.the neuroendocrine glycoprotein chromogranin a is a useful biomarker in humans for neuroendocrine tumors and stress. chromogranin a can be measured in both blood and saliva. the objective of this study was to investigate concentrations of and correlation between the chromogranin a epitopes catestatin and vasostatin in healthy dogs accustomed to the sample collection procedures. blood and saliva samples were collected from 10 research beagle dogs twice daily for 5 consecutive days, and from 33 pr ...201728049540
unusual presentation of gianotti-crosti syndrome due to epstein-barr virus infection.gianotti-crosti syndrome (gcs) is viral exanthema of childhood. it typically presents with a symmetric erythematous papular and papulovesicular eruption. it has been classically associated with hepatitis b virus, as well as rarely with epstein-barr virus (ebv). we report a case of gcs related to ebv infection without the classical systemic symptoms in a five-year-old male patient.201628050291
spermine and spermidine alter gene expression and antigenic profile of borrelia burgdorferi.borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of lyme disease, responds to numerous host-derived signals to alter adaptive capabilities during its enzootic cycle in an arthropod vector and mammalian host. molecular mechanisms that enable b. burgdorferi to detect, channel, and respond to these signals have become an intense area of study for developing strategies to limit transmission/infection. bioinformatic analysis of the borrelial genome revealed the presence of polyamine transport components (pota, potb, ...201728052993
macrophage ltb4 drives efficient phagocytosis of borrelia burgdorferi via blt1 or blt2.unresolved experimental lyme arthritis in c3h 5-lipoxygenase (5-lox)(-/-) mice is associated with impaired macrophage phagocytosis of borrelia burgdorferi in the present study, we further investigated the effects of the 5-lox metabolite, leukotriene (lt)b4 on phagocytosis of b. burgdorferi bone marrow-derived macrophages (bmdms) from 5-lox(-/-) mice were defective in the uptake and killing of b. burgdorferi from the earliest stages of spirochete internalization. bmdms from mice deficient for the ...201728053185
cancrum oris (noma): the role of nutrition in management.cancrum oris (noma) is caused by the spirochete borrelia vincenti in association with anaerobic bacteria, commonly a member of the fusobacteria. the disease occurs in deprived and undernourished individuals with poor hygiene. we present a case of clinically diagnosed cancrum oris in a 2-year old child in sub-saharan africa that was conservatively managed by wound care and hyperalimentation. as the underlying factor and cause of mortality from noma is the immune depression of malnutrition, the ro ...201628053869
cancrum oris (noma): the role of nutrition in management.cancrum oris (noma) is caused by the spirochete borrelia vincenti in association with anaerobic bacteria, commonly a member of the fusobacteria. the disease occurs in deprived and undernourished individuals with poor hygiene. we present a case of clinically diagnosed cancrum oris in a 2-year old child in sub-saharan africa that was conservatively managed by wound care and hyperalimentation. as the underlying factor and cause of mortality from noma is the immune depression of malnutrition, the ro ...201628053869
lymphocytoma cutis: diagnostic enigma for the maxillofacial surgeon.cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia (clh) is a cutaneous pseudolymphoma with a worldwide distribution, equally affecting all races and ethnic groups. due to its vast array of characteristics, it is most often missed in the differential diagnosis of firm to soft lumps on the head and neck. a systematic approach to the workup and diagnosis along with treatment of such lesions is discussed in this article. a 20-year-old asian indian female presented to our oral and maxillofacial unit with a lump on the ...201628053910
diagnosing borreliosis.borrelia species fall into two groups, the borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (bbsl) complex, the cause of lyme borreliosis (also known as lyme disease), and the relapsing fever group. both groups exhibit inter- and intraspecies diversity and thus have variations in both clinical presentation and diagnostic approaches. a further layer of complexity is derived from the fact that ticks may carry multiple infectious agents and are able to transmit them to the host during blood feeding, with potential ...201728055580
temperature-dependent srna transcriptome of the lyme disease spirochete.transmission of borrelia burgdorferi from its tick vector to a vertebrate host requires extensive reprogramming of gene expression. small regulatory rnas (srna) have emerged in the last decade as important regulators of bacterial gene expression. despite the widespread observation of srna-mediated gene regulation, only one srna has been characterized in the lyme disease spirochete b. burgdorferi. we employed an srna-specific deep-sequencing approach to identify the small rna transcriptome of b. ...201728056764
lyme disease risk in southern california: abiotic and environmental drivers of ixodes pacificus (acari: ixodidae) density and infection prevalence with borrelia burgdorferi.tick-borne diseases, particularly lyme disease, are emerging across the northern hemisphere. in order to manage emerging diseases and predict where emergence will likely occur, it is necessary to understand the factors influencing the distribution, abundance and infection prevalence of vector species. in north america, lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease and is transmitted by blacklegged ticks. this study aimed to explore the abiotic and environmental drivers of density and infe ...201728057067
a case of lyme disease accompanied by uveitis and white dot syndrome.in this case report we aimed to present a case of lyme disease presenting as peripheral retinal vasculitis, intermediate uveitis and multifocal white dots in the posterior pole. the patient exhibited vitritis and snowball opacities in both eyes. a diagnosis of lyme disease was made based on clinical, angiographic and laboratory findings. fundus fluorescein angiography revealed optic nerve and retinal venous leakage as well as multiple hyperfluorescent foci in both eyes. the patient's symptoms an ...201628058168
[extensive myelitis as a manifestation of neuroborreliosis].neurological manifestations of lyme disease are reported in 3% - 12% of patients, with the most common form of presentation being meningoradiculitis. other symptoms involving the central nervous system, such as myelitis or encephalitis, are rare (< 5 %). we report a case of a 66-year-old male, with a subacute extensive transverse myelitis, secondary to borrelia burgdorferi infection. the patient underwent antibiotic therapy filed for neuroborreliosis with a good clinical outcome. the rareness in ...201628060695
borrelia miyamotoi in vectors and hosts in the netherlands.ixodes ticks transmit borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), the causative agent of lyme borreliosis (lb). these tick species also transmit borrelia miyamotoi, which was recently found to cause infections in humans. we were interested in the prevalence of b. miyamotoi infection in ticks and natural hosts in the netherlands, and to what extent ticks are co-infected with b. burgdorferi. in addition, erythema migrans has been sporadically described in b. miyamotoi-infected patients, but these skin ...201728065617
role of vitamin d in the hygiene hypothesis: the interplay between vitamin d, vitamin d receptors, gut microbiota, and immune response.the hygiene hypothesis postulates that higher levels of cleanliness and improper exposure to microorganisms early in childhood could disturb the intestinal microbiome resulting in abnormal immune responses. recently, more attention has been put on how a lack of sun exposure and consequently vitamin d deficiency could lead to less immune tolerance and aberrant immune responses. moreover, vitamin d receptor (vdr) function has been positioned to be a critical aspect of immune response and gut homeo ...201628066436
induction of apoptosis in normal human dermal fibroblasts infected with borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.the spirochete borrelia burgdorferi s.l. can enter into different eukaryotic cells. intracellular localization of bacteria may cause many changes in different cell pathways like apoptosis-mediated caspase cascade. the present studies focused on gene expression associated with caspase cascade after normal human dermal fibroblasts (nhdf) infection with borrelia garinii, borrelia afzelii, and b. burgdorferi s.s. the use of oligonucleotide microarray technique enabled an expression level comparison ...201728068192
bacterial serine protease htra as a promising new target for antimicrobial therapy?recent studies have demonstrated that the bacterial chaperone and serine protease high temperature requirement a (htra) is closely associated with the establishment and progression of several infectious diseases. htra activity enhances bacterial survival under stress conditions, but also has direct effects on functions of the cell adhesion protein e-cadherin and extracellular matrix proteins, including fibronectin and proteoglycans. although htra cannot be considered as a pathogenic factor per s ...201728069057
comprehensive spatial analysis of the borrelia burgdorferi lipoproteome reveals a compartmentalization bias toward the bacterial surface.the lyme disease spirochete borrelia burgdorferi is unique among bacteria in its large number of lipoproteins that are encoded by a small, exceptionally fragmented, and predominantly linear genome. peripherally anchored in either the inner or outer membrane and facing either the periplasm or the external environment, these lipoproteins assume varied roles. a prominent subset of lipoproteins functioning as the apparent linchpins of the enzootic tick-vertebrate infection cycle have been explored a ...201728069820
environmental factors affecting survival of immature ixodes scapularis and implications for geographical distribution of lyme disease: the climate/behavior hypothesis.recent reports suggest that host-seeking nymphs in southern populations of ixodes scapularis remain below the leaf litter surface, while northern nymphs seek hosts on leaves and twigs above the litter surface. this behavioral difference potentially results in decreased tick contact with humans in the south, and fewer cases of lyme disease. we studied whether north-south differences in tick survival patterns might contribute to this phenomenon. four month old larvae resulting from a cross between ...201728076359
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