A groundbreaking genetic analysis of the bacteria that cause Lyme disease has paved the way for more precise diagnoses, treatments and vaccines.
By sequencing the genomes of 47 strains, researchers can now identify the specific bacteria that cause the disease and thus make more targeted interventions.
Mapping the genetic landscape of Lyme disease
Genetic analysis of Lyme disease bacteria could pave the way for improved diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this tick-borne disease.
By mapping the entire genetic makeup of 47 strains of Lyme disease bacteria from around the world, the international team has created a powerful resource for identifying the specific strains of bacteria that infect patients. The researchers said this could enable more accurate diagnostic tests and treatments tailored precisely to the type or types of bacteria causing each patient’s illness.
“This comprehensive, high-quality sequencing study of Lyme disease and related bacteria provides the foundation to advance the field,” said Steven Schutzer, a professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and co-author of the study, which was published in mBio“Every modern research project – from clinical to public health, ecology and evolution to bacterial physiology, medical tool development and host-bacteria interaction – will benefit from this work.
Revealing the evolution of Lyme disease bacteria
The researchers said the genetic information uncovered in this study – which sheds light on how the bacteria evolve and spread and identifies genes critical for survival – could help scientists develop more effective vaccines against Lyme disease.
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in North America and Europe, affecting hundreds of thousands of people each year. This disease is caused by bacteria from the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato Group that is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks. Symptoms often include fever, headache, fatigue and a characteristic skin rash. Without treatment, the infection can progress and lead to more serious complications affecting the joints, heart and nervous system.
The number of cases is steadily increasing (in the US there are 476,000 new infections each year) and could accelerate due to climate change, researchers say.
Sequencing the genome of Lyme bacteria
The research team sequenced the complete genome of the Lyme disease bacteria, which includes all 23 known species in the group. Most of them had not been sequenced before this effort. National Institutes of HealthThe funded project included several strains of the bacteria most commonly associated with human infections, as well as species not previously known to cause disease in humans.
By comparing these genomes, the researchers reconstructed the evolutionary history of the Lyme disease bacteria and traced their origins back millions of years. They discovered that the bacteria probably originated before the breakup of the ancient continent of Pangaea, which explains their current global distribution.
Genetic exchange and adaptation in bacteria
The study also showed how these bacteria exchange genetic material within and between species. This process, called recombination, allows the bacteria to evolve rapidly and adapt to new environments. The researchers identified certain hotspots in the bacterial genome where this genetic exchange occurs most frequently. These are often genes that help the bacteria interact with their tick vectors and animal hosts.
“By understanding how these bacteria evolve and exchange genetic material, we can better predict and respond to changes in their behavior, including potential changes in their ability to cause disease in humans,” said Weigang Qiu, a professor of biology at the City University of New York and lead author of the study.
Tools for future research and control of Lyme disease
To facilitate ongoing research, the team has developed web-based software tools (BorreliaBase.org) that allow scientists to Borrelia Genomes and identifying the key factors determining the virus’s ability to infect humans.
In the future, the researchers plan to analyze other strains of Lyme disease bacteria, especially from less studied regions. They also want to investigate the functions of genes that are only found in pathogenic strains. This could reveal new targets for therapeutic interventions.
As factors such as climate change accelerate the geographic spread of Lyme disease, this research provides valuable tools and insights to combat this growing public health threat.
“This is a landmark study, one that will provide researchers with data and tools to better tailor future treatments for all causes of Lyme disease and provide a framework for similar approaches against other infectious diseases caused by pathogens,” said Benjamin Luft, Edmund D. Pellegrino Professor of Medicine at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University.
For more information about this research, see “DNA mapping of Lyme disease: The breakthrough that could revolutionize treatment.”
Reference: “Natural selection and recombination at host-interacting lipoprotein loci drive genome diversification of Lyme disease and related bacteria” by Saymon Akther, Emmanuel F. Mongodin, Richard D. Morgan, Lia Di, Xiaohua Yang, Maryna Golovchenko, Natalie Rudenko, Gabriele Margos, Sabrina Hepner, Volker Fingerle, Hiroki Kawabata, Ana Cláudia Norte, Isabel Lopes de Carvalho, Maria Sofia Núncio, Adriana Marques, Steven E. Schutzer, Claire M. Fraser, Benjamin J. Luft, Sherwood R. Casjens, and Weigang Qiu, August 15, 2024, mBio.
DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01749-24
Other scientists among the 20 authors of the study were Claire Fraser and Emmanuel Mongodin from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Sherwood Casjens of the University of Utah School of Medicine. The research was also supported by the Steve and Alexandra Cohen Foundation.
