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HEADLINES: Tick-Borne Pathogens Found in New York City Parks * Targeted Antibiotic for Lyme Disease Going to Phase I * From Cancer Research to Long-Haul Diseases * 18-Year-Old with High Troponin and a Rash * More
Tick-Borne Pathogens Found in New York City Parks
Warm wet weather has taken over much of the US as the first day of Spring approaches, making for perfect tick weather. Ticks are found in places as tame as backyards, groomed beaches, and urban parks.
A new paper from researchers at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and other government partners describes Five Human Pathogens Detected by Tick Surveillance in New York City Parks, 2014-2015. They found the pathogens that cause Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in ticks from the parks.
Find out more about preventing tick bites using physical barriers and repellants, including “natural” tick repellants.
Use tick prevention measures and if you become sick after outdoor activities, be sure to mention your tick-bite risk to your doctor. Not everyone who acquires a tick-bite disease remembers a bite.
Will my insurance cover tick-borne pathogen testing from Galaxy Diagnostics? More information here.
Targeted Antibiotic for Lyme Disease Going to Phase I
The twentieth century saw the development of fantastic broad-spectrum antibiotics that worked against a wide range of microbes. Infections that used to kill people regularly were tamed. With so much success in broad-spectrum antibiotics, it was difficult to get development money for targeted antibiotics. At the end of the century, as antimicrobial resistance was on the rise, that started to change.
Now, one of those undeveloped antibiotics is heading to Australia for phase I testing. Phase I testing just looks at the safety and tolerability of a drug in healthy people. Northwestern University reports that Experimental Antibiotic Treatment for Lyme Heads to for Human Safety Trials. This particular antibiotic was ho-hum against most bacteria in the lab, but did very well against spirochetes.
From Cancer Research to Long-Haul Diseases
MIT researcher Mikki Tal, PhD, was studying immune evasion by cancer cells when her attention was captured by Borrelia burgdorferi using some of the same tricks. The number of women with chronic Lyme disease symptoms in particular interested her. Now she’s studying long-haul diseases, including long COVID. MIT Technology Review has her story: Tackling Long-Haul Diseases.
Dr. Tal’s story includes some of the reasons that cancer researchers become interested in tick-borne pathogens. At Galaxy, we remember Dr. Neil Spector, a cancer researcher whose life was turned upside-down by a Lyme disease infection that ultimately led to a heart transplant. You can find out more about Dr. Spector in Galaxy Diagnostics CEO Dr. Amanda Elam’s remembrance published shortly after his death in 2020.
18-Year-Old with High Troponin and a Rash
An 18-year-old with serious ECG abnormalities and elevated troponin (a protein released in response to heart injury) fortunately isn’t seen very often. This 18-year-old had an erythema migrans (EM) rash on his back that was fairly new – the center was just starting to clear to create the bullseye that first comes to mind when thinking about an EM rash.
Last week’s Galaxy Radar featured a paper discussing atypical EM rash.
As is common with recent Lyme disease, the young man did not test positive for Lyme serology. These tests commonly are not positive until 4-6 weeks after infection, and in some patients they never become positive. However he was treated for Lyme-induced pericarditis and improved.
A combination of indirect testing (serology) and direct detection methods is more likely to confirm infection. Find out more about the Galaxy Diagnostics Lyme Borrelia Nanotrap Antigen Test.
MORE NEWS: Aptamers for Anaplasma * Theileria orientalis Ikedia * Pathogens Modifying Phospholipid Metabolism * Protecting Cats from Flea-Borne Diseases * International Women’s Day
Aptamers for Anaplasma
Aptamer Selection Against Cell Extracts Containing the Zoonotic Obligate Intracellular Bacterium, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, by Lisa Lucie Le Dortz et al., publishing from France – The researcher team identified three aptamers to track A. phagocytophilum through its infection process.
Aptamers are tiny bits of RNA or DNA used in research to track biological material. They bind much like antibodies. In identifying aptamers to track anaplasmosis, researchers faced two challenges. First, A. phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular pathogen. Living inside a host cell makes it much more difficult to monitor. Second, the proteins that could be tracked off the cell used in the laboratory changed considerably through its infection process. Consequently, three aptamers were needed.
Last week, we shared an article about the utility of Rickettsia species as model for the study of bacteria. As in that case, the complexity of vector-borne pathogens pushes new science to the limit, potentially creating understanding and breakthroughs that go well beyond vector-borne disease.
Theileria orientalis Ikedia
When Asian longhorned ticks arrived in North America, there was concern they could bring pathogens not currently found on the continent or become vectors for existing pathogens carried by other ticks. In general, neither fear has been realized. The exception is their involvement in the spread of the Theileria orientalis Ikedia genotype, a protozoon that can be fatal to cattle and has caused major losses in Asia, New Zealand and Australia.
When cases were first discovered in Virginia in 2017, anaplasmosis was among the more common pathogens suspected. The process of diagnosis was reported in Theileria orientalis Ikeda Genotype in Cattle, Virginia, USA by Vanessa J. Oakes and a group of authors from universities and state and federal governments.
Most recently, two cases were reported in Kentucky last year: Kentucky Officials Confirm Two Cases of Theileria Infections in Cattle
The invasive Asian longhorned tick remains an unfolding opportunity for research as a case of a dramatic increase in the territory of a tick vector.
Pathogens Modifying Phospholipid Metabolism
Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Transmitted Singly and in Duo with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum Bacteria by Ticks as Pathogens Modifying Lipid Metabolism in Human Blood by Marta Dobrzyńska et al., a multi-institution team of researchers publishing from Poland – Differing combinations of vector-borne infections cause differing impacts on phospholipid metabolism. Supportive antioxidants may be called for.
Protecting Cats from Flea-Borne Diseases
Epidemiology of Bartonella henselae Infection in Pet and Stray Cats in Croatia with Risk Factors Analysis by Maja Stepanić et al., a multi-institution team of researchers publishing from Croatia and Germany – The team found five strains of Bartonella henselae; four had been previously identified and one was novel. The multivariate analysis revealed a co-incidence with intestinal parasites, also spread by fleas.
With two flea-borne zoonotic pathogens being found together, the researchers note that flea control is important in protecting both animal and human health.
Find out more about the risks Bartonella species infections pose to human health.
International Women’s Day
Galaxy Diagnostics’ business leaders discussed #InspireInclusion, the theme for International Women’s Day 2024.
“Every young woman out there should know that she is unstoppable. Surround yourself with strong supporters, both peers and mentors. As leaders, one of the most important ways we can develop a diverse talent pool is with key introductions and advocating for talented women. Network barriers are the final frontier in advancing gender equality.” Galaxy Diagnostics Cofounder & CEO Amanda Elam
“My class at MIT was the first one in history to be 50% women. From partnering with another female executive to FDA-clear a new surgical robot, to working with Amanda to change the diagnostics landscape for patients with vector-borne disease, my career has spanned a time when women are driving key medical advances.” Galaxy Diagnostics Chief Business Officer Nicole Bell
Find out more about this year’s theme at International Women’s Day.
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