How Ticks Transmit Lyme Disease to Humans
By Linda on Nov 22, 2009 in Infections
Imaging Technique Leads to Better Understanding
ScienceDaily (Nov. 16, 2009) — Using a powerful microscopic live imaging technique, a research team led by Dr. Justin Radolf, professor in the Departments of Medicine and Genetics and Developmental Biology at the University of Connecticut Health Center, has discovered the way ticks transmit Lyme disease to humans is different than previously thought. The research is published online in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Lyme disease is caused by transmission of the spirochete bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi from ticks to humans but for a number of technical reasons, the transmission process has been difficult to study.
Radolf and researchers Star Dunham-Ems and Melissa Caimano tried a novel approach. They genetically modified a virulent strain of B. burgdorferi to expres”This bacterium glows and can be followed in the living state as it migrates through the tick to the mouse during feeding,” explains Radolf. “Then using a powerful microscopic technique called confocal microscopy, we discovered that the transmission process unfolds quite differently than previously believed.”
Spirochetes in culture are highly motile, and it is widely believed that during feeding, the spirochetes in the midgut rapidly move through the wall of the midgut. But Radolf and his team found that during much of the feeding period, the spirochetes do not move. They actually divide and surround the cells of the midgut lining or epithelium, forming tight networks. “We also found that the reason they don’t move is that the tick midgut secretes molecules that actually inhibit the motility of the spirochetes,” explains Radolf.
Eventually, spirochetes in the networks reach the base of the epithelium by completely surrounding the epithelial cells. At this point, they become motile, detach, and completely penetrate the midgut, although in very small numbers. These few bacteria then swim to the salivary glands, which they penetrate en route to the mouse. “So rather than being entirely motility-driven, dissemination of spirochetes within ticks actually happens in two phases,” says Radolf, “which is something we didn’t know before.”
Lyme disease is the most prevalent vector-borne infection in the United States with more than 25,000 new cases reported annually. A substantial percentage of these cases occur inepithelium. “The improved understanding of the transmission process revealed by our study could lead to novel strategies for controlling the spread of Lyme disease,” says Radolf.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091116180134.htm
On Nov 23, 2009, Dr. Patricia Jordan said:
I just wanted to let you know that there is another way that Lyme Disease patholgoy can be transmitted and that is through vaccines. I have found while researching for the book, MARK OF THE BEAST HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT that the use of Lymerix vaccine when it was available and the use of the canine lyme vaccines all wer able to confer the same dis ease patholgoy associated with actual Lyme Disease. Now, there is substantial proof that the antigen in the vaccines is able to cause the reaction between immune cells of the body and the antigen (immunopathology) that is essentially no difference than the disease itself.So, if any vaccine say for the flu contains the antig of Lyme vaccine (unintentional cross over) than the disease can be set up in the body the same way as if the actual infection took place. Autoantibodies to Vit E or nerve tissue, (autoantibodies are only produced in vaccinated individuals) go on to produce autoimmune disease. Vit B 12 (cobalamine) is compromised in vaccinated indivuals and so both Vit E and Vit B 12 are important supplements for vaccine damaged individuals exhibitng any form of neuropathy. Vaccines are certainly not the golden chalic of immunity we were all lead to believe, rather they are indeed the vector to just about all internal medicine cases we now experience including cancer, atuoimmune disease, asthma, allergies. The important thing to realize is that any vaccine, any vaccine at all can set up the auto destruction of your body. I certainly hope that those in the North east are not receving vaccines of any type contaminated with Lyme antigen.Don’t blame it all on the ticks.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jordan
On Nov 26, 2009, LymeAngl said:
THANK YOU Dr Jordan….I totally agree. I’m the type that never has and never will take ANY vacines. I personally am an advocate against “any” vaccine. I’m not sure that the first case of Lyme back in 2003 was not caused from the Polio vaccinesI received as a child. I was 8 yrs (1953) and the first case of Poilo diagnosed in my county in Illinois. Of course they began shoving the polio vaccine.
I’ve been on the FIGHT program for ovr a year now and I only wish I had known about it, during the first Lyme infection. I don’t do antibiotics and have beaten 5 Cancers with 2 Lyme infections all alternatively.
I’m driven to bring education and awareness to all who will listen.
Regards,
Linda