Borrelia

Borrelia burgdorferi is the causative agent of Lyme disease uses a verity of the outer surface proteins to establish the infection. There are two different mechanisms in which Borrelia uses to enter a host. One of them is when Borrelia feeds on blood, it regulates OspC, which inhibits antibody-mediated killing and CD4 T cell activation. Upon Borrelia reaches dermis it expresses adhesins, which are binding proteins to facilitate Borrelia dissemination. Another way is to penetrate the matrix and the

pacificus are the two species of blacklegged ticks that act as vectors of transmission of the spirochete bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi to small mammals or human host, which cause Lyme disease in humans, also known as Lyme borreliosis (cdc.gov 2016; Qiu et al. 2002). After the pathogen’s initial entry through the skin, it proliferates in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid; Borrelia burgdorferi has also been seen in much smaller quantities in the following locations: ‘myocardium, retina, muscle,

Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorfer, this bacterium is transmitted to humans through ticks. Borrelia burgdorferi is a gram negative bacterium that belongs to the spirochetes class, its usually 1um wide but can be up to 10-25um long. Some of the structures that Borrelia burgdorferi have are the flagellum, which allows the bacterium to migrate through viscous fluids (i.e. blood) and burrow through tissues, the bacterium also has outer surface proteins that are OspA and OspC which

In 1981, a spirochetal bacterium was discovered in a nymphal tick, Ixodes scapularis and named Borrelia burgdorferi. This species has now been divided into multiple species, three of which cause human infection. Agents belonging to the eubacterial phylum of spirochetes, which are bacteria shaped like corkscrews and are actively motile, cause Lyme borrelioses, also called Lyme disease. As discovered from its sequenced genome, B. burgdorferi depends entirely on its host for nutrients. Another unique

Introduction Statistics obtained from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention show that there are approximately 300,000 cases of Lyme Disease reported in the United States annually (CDC, 2016). The above data categorizes Lyme Disease as the number one animal carried and vector-borne disease. Vector is a term used to describe a living organism able to carry and spread an infectious disease from either animal to human or human to human (WHO, 2016). Surprisingly, it was not until 1982 that the

Disease      Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, which is a tick-borne spirochete. The dangers of this disease became more publicised in 1977, where a geographic grouping of children in Lyme, Conneticut were thought to have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis1. Soon after, it was discovered that lyme disease was an illness that mainly affects the skin, nervous system, heart, and joints. The borrelia species is part of the eubacterial phylum of spirochetes. Containted

There are four different strain of the Borrelia genus that is known to be found in arthropod vectors. The Borrelia bacteria is a spirochete bacterium that is located in the gut of the infected vector. Borrelia afzelii is commonly found in Asian and European countries, Borrelia garinii is found throughout Europe, Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii are both strains that are seen here in the United States. Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii are both found in the vector, a deer tick, or

Transmission The first case of maternal-fetal transmission of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi), was observed in 1983, following the postpartum death of an infant born to a Wisconsin woman (Schlesinger, Duray, Burke, Steere, & Stillman, 1985). The 28-year-old mother developed Lyme disease during the first trimester of pregnancy but did not report symptoms, as all resolved quickly in the absence of treatment (Schlesinger et al., 1985). The pregnancy resulted in the

Borrelia burgdorferi was first diagnosed as Lyme disease in 1982 when the bacteria were isolated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The spirochete has been in the United States and Europe for many years but had gone un-diagnosed because of the limited medical knowledge. It is named after the leading American bacteriologist, Willy Burgdorfer, after his extensive research between the arachnid vectors and the human host was acknowledged. He studied many different diseases caused by animals

where the disease was first discovered. I would then draw out a group of people who appear to be in pain, with swollen joints and large rashes. These people would be examined by a doctor named Willy Burgdorfer, who discovers a specific bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, that is causing their suffering (bayarealyme.org). To conclude the background discussion, I would show the students maps that indicate the prevalence of Lyme disease, and how they have changed from the 1980s to the present to reflect