As you know the University of New Haven established Lyme disease research 8 years ago. To date, over 60 graduate students have received training in Lyme disease related research.
In the last several years, the Lyme disease research group has identified an alarming increase in the co-infection rate in deer ticks, including discovery of novel co-infections such as mycoplasma and microfilarial nematode species.
One of the recent projects is looking for the presence of XMRV virus in ticks. Our other recent studies investigate the different forms of Borrelia bacteria to better understand how Borrelia can hide from the immune system and from different therapies.
Through collaboration with Dr. Alan MacDonald, our group discovered that Borrelia is capable of forming a protective layer around itself - called a Biofilm - which could render it to be resistant to antibiotics and provide a logical explanation as to why extensive antibiotic treatment for patients with a tick-bite history could fail.
Our final goal in this project is to identify antibacterial agents that are effective in killing Borrelia burgdorferi without inducing biofilm, or even capable of destroying Borrelia burgdorferi in biofilm.
Funding is very important to helping us to find the answers we seek, which we hope will benefit patients.
That is why I'm very happy to announce that the Cicada Chamber Players, a group of professional musicians led by New York Philharmonic bassist William Blossom, will play a concert whose proceeds will benefit our research.
The concert will be on Sunday September 19, 2010, 7 PM in Dodds Theater at the University of New Haven.
In addition to the musical program, I look forward to giving a brief update on our Lyme disease research at this event.
Tickets ($25 adult/$15 seniors & students) can be purchased online at