I'm not sure if this has been posted before. But these authors (including one that would surprise most of us) have discovered a three-drug combo that seems to wipe out Lyme persister cells.
As I understand it, persisters include round bodies, various cyst-forms, blebs, spores, etc., and biofilm communities.
Most of the standard Lyme drugs, even used in combination, did not touch these persistent forms. In fact, only one three-drug combo was able to do the trick. They tested this -- to my understanding -- by trying to culture live spirochetes from the dead colonies 7 days and 15 days after treatment. The spirochetes were able to return with all the tested drugs, used singly and in two- and even three-drug combos.
Two separate three-drug combos were seemingly able to wipe out the Lyme colonies. But one of those tested combos was able to culture live spirochetes seven days later. The colonies killed by the other three-drug combo, however, did not culture spirochetes after 15 days. There was no mention of longer times that I have noticed so far. All of this was done in the lab, in the dish, and not in animals or humans. I have limited understanding of this stuff, so anyone with a background, please feel free to comment.
As far as patients go, I have heard talk of some doctors trying this, but don't know their results, or even if it is true.
But even if true, I have to wonder about the safety, and if very ill patients, sensitized to just about everything, will be able to withstand the die-offs without being hospitalized (which no one will do for Lyme patients). And even if tolerated, will this help patients recover?
But, still, one of the more promising things I have read in a while.
Posts: 845 | From Eastern USA | Registered: Jul 2006
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Two main obstacles with these three abx are expense and crossing the bbb. Doxy crosses, cefoperazone does not, and daptomycin does not cross in normal people. The later did penetrate some in rabbits with meningitis.
I'm still looking for anybody to report on their experience with this particular combo...
As an aside, not long ago I read an article that suggested the BBB was a lot more porous than previously thought. I never looked into it further, or saw any more written on the topic, so I don't know if it's true, and if so to what extent. I don't remember where I read it or I would go back and supply a link. But I remember thinking at the time that, if true, this would change a lot of our current thinking. Do you know if there is anything to this?
Posts: 845 | From Eastern USA | Registered: Jul 2006
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