New vulnerability found in Lyme disease bacteria
Manganese: both shield and weakness in Lyme disease bacteria.
Why it matters
- Lyme disease affects about 476,000 people annually in the U.S.
- Current treatments have limitations and no approved vaccines exist.
By the numbers
- 476,000 annual Lyme disease diagnoses in the U.S.
The big picture
- Manganese acts as both defense and weakness in Borrelia burgdorferi.
- New therapies could target manganese balance to combat Lyme disease.
What they're saying
- Comments highlight the dual role of manganese as a defense and vulnerability.
Caveats
- Further research needed to develop new therapies based on this discovery.
What’s next
- Potential development of drugs that disrupt manganese balance in the bacteria.