Scientists have confirmed that the pathogen that causes Lyme Disease�unlike any other known organism�can exist without iron, a metal that all other life needs to make proteins and enzymes. Instead of iron, the bacteria substitute manganese to make an essential enzyme, thus eluding immune system defenses that protect the body by starving pathogens of iron.
To cause disease, Borrelia burgdorferi requires unusually high levels of manganese, scientists at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and the University of Texas reported.
Their study, published March 22, 2013, in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, may explain some mysteries about why Lyme Disease is slow-growing and hard to detect and treat.
The findings also open the door to search for new therapies to thwart the bacterium by targeting manganese.
Posts: 217 | From Earth | Registered: Feb 2010
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That is really interesting. Probably explains why Lymies are usually Mn deficient.
Posts: 17 | From Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2012
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lululymemom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
Very good information! Good to see there is progress being made!
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