Project Lyme

NEWS: Massachusetts Institute of Technology biologist Kevin Esvelt and researchers Joanna Buchthal and Sam Telford have created the first genetically modified mouse resistant to Lyme disease and capable of passing its immunity down to subsequent generations. The team recently visited Nantucket, an island in Massachusetts, to present their “Mice Against Ticks” proposal of releasing genetically engineered Lyme-resistant mice into the local ecosystem after an initial private island field trial. The goal is to prevent ticks from getting Lyme disease, break the cycle of infections, and reduce the number of cases on Nantucket, which has the highest incidence rate in the country. “No one has previously engineered a wild animal with the intention of releasing it into the environment and having the new trait stay there for many years," said Esvelt. Community involvement will be crucial as the team navigates regulatory hurdles and addresses local concerns about the project’s potential impact on Nantucket’s ecosystem. Read more from Nantucket Current: https://lnkd.in/eGzGpEvU #projectlyme #lyme #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #health #tickbite #medicine #nantucket #science #research

TICKS ON THE BEACH: A 24-year-old Irish woman showed up at the hospital with severe body aches, fatigue, headaches, and a fever. She had recently returned from a vacation to Spain and recalled getting a bug bite that left a rash after spending time at the beach. She tested positive for Lyme disease and recovered quickly after treatment with IV antibiotics. This case highlights that ticks can be found in a wide range of habitats, not just forested areas. Doctors warn that if black-legged ticks have adapted to beach environments, people can expect an increase in tick-borne disease cases. That’s why it’s vital to be aware of the danger when going outdoors and to take active steps to prevent tick bites. Read more on the Irish Independent: https://lnkd.in/esfz_Ykv #projectlyme #lyme #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #health #tickbite #medicine #brain #beach #science #research #patientstories

Kirstie Haysman, a mother from Watford, England, struggled with severe muscle and joint pain for over a decade before getting diagnosed with and beginning to treat her Lyme disease. She was devastated to learn that her 12-year-old daughter, Harriet, also has Lyme, which Kirstie believes to be congenital. “I felt very guilty that I had passed the disease onto her,” she said, but at least “we caught it early enough to deal with it, and she hasn't got years of misdiagnosis under her belt.” Kirstie says she was inspired to share her family’s story by actress, comedian, and writer Miranda Hart, who recently opened up about her experiences with Lyme disease. Read more from the Watford Observer: https://lnkd.in/e-AkpkAx #projectlyme #lyme #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #health #tickbite #medicine #congenital #congenitallyme #brain #science #research #patientstories

A HOTBED FOR LYME DISEASE: This year, Maine is on track to surpass the state record of reported Lyme disease cases (2,943 in 2023). Scientists from the University of Maine Tick Lab want to know what is making these ticks spread and thrive. They have established 15 monitoring sites across Maine and are busy collecting data on the local wildlife and weather and soil conditions. Additionally, graduate students are dragging for ticks on residential properties and analyzing them to figure out which diseases they carry. Learn more about their efforts in this piece from NEWS CENTER Maine: https://lnkd.in/e9tCk5G5 #projectlyme #lyme #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #health #tickbite #medicine #mentalhealth #brain #science #research

Three Lyme disease coinfections, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, are caused by similar types of Rickettsial bacteria. What makes these bacteria different from more common coinfections like Bartonella and Babesia is that they have an even greater chance of contributing to severe, life-threatening symptoms. Check out this video to learn more. Read more about these Rickettsial infections on our website: https://lnkd.in/gGQc-z4q #projectlyme #lymedisease #lymediseaseawareness #lymewarrior #tickbornediseases #tickbite #coinfections #ehrlichia #anaplasma #rockymountainspottedfeved #rmsf #rickettsia #bacteria #symptoms #reels

Illinois health officials have confirmed that the first black-legged tick in the area tested positive for Ehrlichia muris eauclairensis (EME), the bacteria that causes human ehrlichiosis. Ehrlichiosis is also commonly spread by the bite of the lone star tick. “If you experience common symptoms of tick-borne illnesses — such as fever, sweats, chills, muscle aches, nausea or vomiting — see your health care provider immediately and let them know about tick exposure,” advises Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. Early treatment with antibiotics like doxycycline is critical to prevent complications and long-term symptoms. Read more about the discovery in this piece by the Daily Herald: https://lnkd.in/eW2kitBn #projectlyme #lyme #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #health #tickbite #medicine #ehrlichia #ehrlichiosis #science #research #news

CAN'T MISS THIS: The iDart Lyme IgG ImmunoBlot Kit is a stand-alone test for the detection of IgG antibodies against Borrelia-causing Lyme disease. The iDart ImmunoBlot Kit features 31 Lyme antigen bands, which are more antigen bands than any other Lyme immunoblot test on the market. Moreover, it is the only immunoblot that includes Osp A (P31) and Osp B (P34). Dr. Joseph Burrascano will join Project Lyme to discuss the importance of this new test, its FDA clearance, and how it will impact the Lyme testing space and patients. Limited space is available. Learn more or reserve your spot today: https://lnkd.in/eEatwPcV #projectlyme #lyme #tickbornediseases #coinfections#lymediseaseawareness #health #tickbite #medicine#chroniclyme #testing #antibodies #antibodytest #research #science #news #webinar #event

BABESIOSIS ON THE RISE: Babesiosis infects red blood cells and shares many symptoms with malaria, such as fever, chills, anemia, low blood pressure, and respiratory distress, among others. In a new study, the tick-borne disease, which some have termed “American malaria,” increased an average of 9% per year from 2015 to 2022. The researchers called out warmer temperatures and the spread of white-tailed deer, which carry infected ticks, as major contributing factors. Of the sample group of over 3,000 patients, 42% of people infected with babesiosis were also battling other tick-related illnesses, such as Lyme disease. Surprisingly, as one researcher noted, “Having both babesiosis and Lyme disease seemed not to be associated with worse mortality.” Learn more about the science in this TIME article: https://lnkd.in/gkCkrRnH #projectlyme #lyme #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #health #tickbite #medicine #babesia #babesiosis #malaria #mentalhealth #brain #science #research

Rob Kress was a popular meteorologist on his local news station in Detroit for about 16 years until debilitating symptoms caused by persistent Lyme disease and chronic fatigue syndrome made it impossible for him to do his job. He publicly shared his battle in 1993, explaining, “For the last two years all I've done is my weather shows and go home. Nothing else. I’m exhausted all the time." Despite leaving the air, Kress remained popular with local viewers. He spent the rest of his life enjoying music and time with family before dying of natural causes at age 77. Read more about Kress in this tribute from the Detroit Free Press: https://lnkd.in/epVcsxww #projectlyme #lyme #tickbornediseases #lymediseaseawareness #chronicillness #chronicpain #tickbite #health #mentalhealth #medicine #science #advocacy #loss #inmemoriam #weather #meteorology #patientstory #news

In 2018, Amanda Fairbanks, a journalist and author of ‘The Lost Boys of Montauk,’ was moving with her family to Sag Harbor when she noticed a circular red rash on her leg. It was a bull’s-eye rash—a hallmark sign of Lyme disease—but the urgent care doctor dismissed it as a bacterial skin infection. As a result, Amanda wasn’t treated properly, and the Lyme disease spread through her system, causing memory issues, brain fog, Bell’s palsy, depression, and a host of other debilitating symptoms. Amanda spent the next 6 years fighting her way back to health—and simultaneously waging a battle with her insurance company to get life-saving treatments covered. She shares 6 lessons she learned along her healing journey in this article for Oprah Daily: https://lnkd.in/e6sVE9K9 #projectlyme #lyme #lymedisease #tickbornediseases #coinfections #lymediseaseawareness #chronicillness #chronicpain #neurological #brain #health #mentalhealth #medicine #patientstories