Microscopic image from Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria Cultura Creative RF/Alamy
It is possible to eradicate Lyme disease in the wild by proving that a chemical that kills the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, but is safe for animals.
Kim Lewis from Northeastern University in Boston says Lyme disease is well-positioned for eradication. We are preparing, the first field trial is scheduled for next summer.
Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacterium that lives in wild mice, is responsible for Lyme disease. Infected ticks can spread the disease to other animals and people by eating wild mice.
Advertisement
It is becoming a problem in North America and Europe as well as Asia. Initial symptoms include a bullseye rash, and flu-like symptoms. It can cause serious, long-term issues such as Lyme arthritis if left untreated.
It is currently treated with antibiotics like doxycycline, which kill many bacteria. This can lead to antibiotic resistance and disrupted microbiome in the gut, which can cause symptoms like diarrhoea.
Lewis' team discovered that a compound called Hygromycin A is completely safe for animals, has very little effect on most bacteria, and is deadly to spirochaete strains such as B. Burgdorferi.
Spirochaete bacteria has a corkscrew-shaped shape that allows them to burrow into tissues. Lewis says they can also cause diseases like syphilis. They can be very dangerous pathogens.
The team found no evidence of any adverse effects from hygromycin in animal testing, regardless of how high the dosage. Lewis says it is extremely safe.
FlightPath, a company, is currently filing in the US to obtain the initial go-ahead before the chemical can be tested on humans.
Syphilis could be treated with Hygromycin, especially as this bacterial infection has become resistant to other treatments.
Lewis' team also demonstrated that feeding mice baits laced hygromycin can eliminate B. burgdorferi infection. The theory is that such baits could be dropped to eradicate Lyme disease in whole areas, or even entire countries.
Lewis says that a field trial with doxycycline baits ten years ago was successful. However, the widespread use is not recommended as it could result in many microbes developing antibiotic resistance.
Lewis' studies show that it is very difficult for B.burgdorferi, however, to develop resistance to hygromycin. This chemical is similar to essential nutrients that spirochaetes can't make and that they take up using a particular transporter. Therefore, mutations that prevent spirochaetes from taking up hygromycin could also result in them being deprived of these nutrients.
Lewis claims that his team wasn't the first to recognize the benefits of hygromycin. It was first studied in 1980s as a possible treatment for pig disease, but it was abandoned.
Lyme disease vaccines are being developed. However, eradicating it would be a better option.
Journal reference: Cell, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.09.011
