Assessment Of Patients With Borrelia Infection

National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

Tickborne diseases are a serious health threat that has steadily risen. Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, accounts for more than 80% of the reported cases of tickborne diseases in the US. It is estimated that over 476,000 cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed and treated per year in the US, and 200,000 cases are reported annually from European countries with surveillance for the infection. Our current work addresses the following areas in Lyme disease: development of new tests and biomarkers for infection, investigation of persistence of infection with B. burgdorferi in humans, and investigation of the role of immune response in Lyme disease and post treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). We have three clinical protocols exploring diverse aspects of Lyme disease and tick immunity that are currently open to recruitment. In these, and past clinical studies, we have evaluated more than 800 patients. Together with this large clinical database, we have assembled a biorepository that has served to explore multiple avenues of research in Lyme borreliosis and tickborne diseases.