Borrelia burgdorferi

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Spirochete, or “corkscrew-shaped” bacteria known as Borrelia burgdorferi
A bulls-eye rash from the bite of a deer tick

Borrelia burgdorferi, defined by the NIH, "is a tick-borne obligate parasite whose normal reservoir is a variety of small mammals. Whereas infection of these natural hosts does not lead to disease, infection of humans can result in Lyme disease, as a consequence of the human immunopathological response to B. burgdorferi."[1] A bulls-eye rash can appear at the site of a deer tick bite but can be in different forms[2] while some people never recall having a rash.


Immune response

Borrelia burgdorferi is recognized by toll-like receptors 1 and 2. Mutations in TLR1 are associated with heightened Th1 inflammatory responses and antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis[3]

See also

Learn more

References

  1. Tilly, Kit; Rosa, Patricia A.; Stewart, Philip E. (2008). "Biology of Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi". Infectious disease clinics of North America. 22 (2): 217–234. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2007.12.013. ISSN 0891-5520. PMID 18452798.
  2. "Does Everyone Get the Telltale Bullseye Rash? | Bay Area Lyme Foundation". Bay Area Lyme Foundation. September 12, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  3. Strle, Klemen; Shin, Junghee J.; Glickstein, Lisa J.; Steere, Allen C. (2012). "Association of a Toll-like receptor 1 polymorphism with heightened Th1 inflammatory responses and antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis". Arthritis and Rheumatism. 64 (5): 1497–1507. doi:10.1002/art.34383. ISSN 1529-0131. PMID 22246581.
  4. "Deer Tick | National Geographic". April 11, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2018.