10-MAY-2016 UTSA professor Janakiram Seshu explores new method to stop the spread of Lyme disease Research suggests that cholesterol medication could stop disease from spreading
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO
Medication that is normally used to lower cholesterol could stop the spread of Lyme disease, according to a new study co-authored by Janakiram Seshu, associate professor of biology at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).
"Roughly 300,000 cases of Lyme disease are estimated to occur in the US by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention every year," Seshu said. "One of the questions we're asking is how Lyme disease can be stopped before it's transmitted from ticks to humans."
Most cases of Lyme disease come from ticks that bite humans after they have acquired the agent of Lyme disease from infected animals, referred to as reservoir hosts. If the burden of infection is reduced in the reservoir hosts, it can be predicted that the chances for ticks to acquire the Lyme disease pathogen will be lower presumably leading to a reduction in the number of cases of human Lyme disease.
Seshu and his team have discovered that statins, medications usually used to lower cholesterol, can reduce the burden in mice and can therefore be exploited to reduce the number of Lyme disease bacteria acquired by the feeding ticks. These investigators believe that this could be one of the many strategies to lower the incidence of Lyme disease by restricting bacterial survival at its source.
"We've figured out that there's one enzyme in the Lyme disease bacteria that is essential for creating its cell wall, which would allow the Lyme disease bacteria to live and cause infection," he said. "We discovered that this enzyme can be inhibited by statins, which means that one class of drugs could reduce the number of infectious bacteria in the reservoir hosts."
Seshu noted that these studies are based on experimental models of Lyme disease infection and more work needs to be done to determine how effective statins could be in blocking the natural life cycle of this pathogen.
While the use of statins doesn't spell a complete elimination of Lyme disease, it has the potential to drastically reduce the number of new cases. Now Seshu and his UTSA graduate students are working to better understand how statins can be modified to primarily affect the survival of Lyme disease bacteria.
"First we want to determine how statins can be used to stop the growth of the pathogen and how we can exploit these findings to our benefit," Seshu said. "Our hope is that if we reduce the number of viable organisms in infected reservoir hosts then we can block the transmission to a point that the disease doesn't affect humans significantly in many areas of the US."
TNT
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This is laughable isn't it? I got this study in my inbox this morning and nearly laughed out loud. It looks like someone is going to be eating statins. Are they proposing to feed it to the animals, ticks, or us?
Aren't statins fraught with the risk of heart attack?
What about the worse risk of cell-wall-deficient forms. As soon as you try inhibiting the cell wall of many pathogens (especially Borrelia) you induce the CWD form (l-form).
My personal opinion is that they are going to have to try much harder than this about "restricting bacterial survival at its source."
Sheesh. Another institution that is wasting grant money.
But a wonderful study that keeps the "pharma-grant" cycle going in which a cure is never really pursued. Posts: 1308 | From Eastern USA | Registered: Oct 2013
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"So while one of statins' claims to fame is warding off heart disease, you're actually increasing your risk when you deplete your body of CoQ10. The depletion of CoQ10 caused by the drug is why statins can increase your risk of acute heart failure."
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Keebler
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- No. No. No. No. Absolutely not a good idea. Statins cause so much serious trouble. Glad so many realize that here but many in the general public may not. Shooting fish in a barrel, they want this be, it seems. Big Sigh.
Actually, this could cause MORE lyme. The statin is said to interfere with lyme making its cell wall. Well, we all know that when there is interference with spirochetes they - change forms. Pandora's box.
Yes, they want to sell more dangerous drugs. It's their job. And they have more spin doctors than any other kind.
Who funded the study? Who funds this university in other ways? Likely a connection. Of course, the pharmaceutical industry funds a lot of doctors' scholarships and that gets them the foot soldiers they need to deal the drugs.
Touting already developed drugs to a wider market - for life - so much easier than actually learning about the science of lyme as ILADS doctors have been doing now for decades. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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"So while one of statins' claims to fame is warding off heart disease, you're actually increasing your risk when you deplete your body of CoQ10. The depletion of CoQ10 caused by the drug is why statins can increase your risk of acute heart failure."
--
Oh, yes. That is true.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Jordana
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I didn't even know what to make of this when I saw it. Statins are as dangerous as Lyme.
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me
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I find it interesting that this article recommends statins when it is noted that it can increase the risk of heart failure while knowing that Lyme patients are more at risk for heart problems.
Hmmm . . . What are the agendas here?
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Seshu and his team have discovered that statins, medications usually used to lower cholesterol, can reduce the burden in mice and can therefore be exploited to reduce the number of Lyme disease bacteria acquired by the feeding ticks. These investigators believe that this could be one of the many strategies to lower the incidence of Lyme disease by restricting bacterial survival at its source.
"We've figured out that there's one enzyme in the Lyme disease bacteria that is essential for creating its cell wall, which would allow the Lyme disease bacteria to live and cause infection," he said. "We discovered that this enzyme can be inhibited by statins, which means that one class of drugs could reduce the number of infectious bacteria in the reservoir hosts."
- So .. are they wanting to feed it to mice??
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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me
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I'm not sure. I find the whole article confounding. I'm glad I'm not the only one.
I just posted it because it was a new article about Lyme to share and also to see what others made of it.
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Keebler
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- me,
Thanks for posting. It's important that we are aware of all the "news" and "science news" about lyme even when it's a bit bonkers. It's important for many reasons.
It just frustrates me that those working on this "new" use for a life-time dangerous drug don't know that lyme can morph into a CWD (cell wall deficient) form, too, and still go about its work.
Most of all, appalled they are even spending time and money on such a dangerous drug to push on a new population. Bad way to begin. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Most of all, appalled they are even spending time and money on such a dangerous drug to push on a new population. Bad way to begin. -
- But I think they are talking about mice, not humans.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Keebler
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- Even in mice, what could make this dangerous if they run with what they think is going to be their findings, (because they ignore it) the CWD form of borrelia could blossom.
And, really, we need the mice out there to be as healthy as they can be so they have a chance of fending off lyme. Statins will make mice sicker to begin with and then their immune systems don't stand a chance.
Really, though, why not just figure out a way to kill the ticks ? I thought there was a cotton ball sort of thing that could be put in mice nest that already does that.
This statin mice study could be interesting research, of course, except that it seems they don't know about the various forms and ability of borrelia to shape shift. They would not be able to "see" CWD form if they don't know to look for it.
ILADS doctor / researchers could already tell them lots about the various forms of borrelia they seem to have overlooked. But no one ever seems to consult ILADS before designing these university studies.
And, they aren't doing this to treat mice. They are doing this this to, ultimately, push this to humans. I don't trust them to not be thinking this.
Perhaps, they are considering putting this only in mice bait but they can't get to all the mice out there. And, how would they dose each mouse with correct dose numerous times a day, day in and day out? I don't think this is to treat mice at all, they are just the middle mice, so to speak.
Most studies that work on mice are intending to then move on to humans. Sill, even if they do want to feed all the mice out there (good luck with that - and it IS an honorable idea and important) . . . however they could be creating a big mistake by inadvertently strengthening the CWD form of borrelia. -
[ 05-12-2016, 06:37 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
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me
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Keebler, I agree that it is very important for us to be aware of as much research as possible--the good and the bad. Knowledge is power and boy does the Lyme community need power to get correct diagnoses and treatment.
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Rumigirl
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Profit at all costs, same old, same old! Got to sell more drugs, you know---they just don't make enough profits! Grrrr!! Any old which way will do.
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