Researchers have mapped the genetic makeup of the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, opening the way to potential vaccines.
- Researchers have conducted a genetic analysis of several bacteria linked to Lyme disease.
- This mapping of bacteria helps to better understand the evolution of bacteria over the centuries as well as how they function.
- The discovery could pave the way for improved diagnosis, treatment and prevention of tick-borne disease.
Every year, approximately 50,000 new cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed in France. This pathology, also called Lyme borreliosis, is transmitted during a bite from a tick infected with borrelia.
The work of a team at the CUNY Graduate Center is paving the way for improved diagnosis and treatment of the disease transmitted to humans by ticks. Biologists have managed to map the DNA of the bacteria responsible for the infection.
Their results were detailed in mBiothe journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
Lyme disease: DNA of 47 strains of bacteria examined
Scientists conducted an analysis of the complete genetic makeup of 47 strains of Lyme disease bacteria from around the world. By comparing their genomes, they were able to establish their evolutionary history over millions of years. According to the data collected, they appeared before the fragmentation of the ancient supercontinent Pangaea. This could explain their current global distribution.
The team also discovered how these bacteria exchange genetic material within and between species. “This process, known as recombination, allows bacteria to evolve rapidly and adapt to new environments.”the authors specify. They managed to identify “nerve points”” specific in bacterial genomes where this genetic exchange occurs most frequently. These involve “often genes that help bacteria interact with their tick vectors and animal hosts.”
“By understanding how these bacteria evolve and exchange genetic material, we are better equipped to monitor their spread and respond to their ability to cause disease in humans.”explains Weigang Qiu, the corresponding author of the study.
Lyme disease: a new path to improving care
This mapping of the genome of the bacteria studied is likely to help improve the management of Lyme disease. According to the researchers, it could lead to more precise diagnostic tests and treatments adapted to the bacteria causing each patient’s pathology. In addition, this genetic information could also help develop effective vaccines against the infection.
“As Lyme disease expands its geographic range due to climate change, research provides valuable tools and information to combat this growing public health threat.”conclude the authors in their press release.