A comprehensive genetic analysis of the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease has the potential to revolutionise the way we diagnose, treat, and prevent this increasingly prevalent tick-borne illness.
By charting the genetic landscapes of 47 distinct strains of Lyme disease-causing bacteria from across the globe, an international research team has crafted an invaluable resource that could pinpoint the exact bacterial strains infecting individuals. This precision might lead to the development of more accurate diagnostic tools and bespoke treatments that directly target the specific bacteria involved in each patient’s illness, thereby enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of medical interventions.
Steven Schutzer, a professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and co-author of this pivotal study published in the journal mBio, highlights the significance of their findings: “This detailed and high-calibre sequencing study of Lyme disease and its related bacteria lays a robust foundation that will significantly advance the entire field. It supports a wide spectrum of research—from clinical studies and public health initiatives to investigations into bacterial physiology, ecology, evolution, and the development of medical tools.”
The genetic data unearthed through this study elucidates how the bacteria evolve and disperse and identifies genes crucial for survival. Such insights are expected to spur the development of more effective vaccines against Lyme disease, a pressing need given the disease’s status as the most commonly reported tick-borne illness in North America and Europe, where it impacts hundreds of thousands annually.
The research delineates the complete genomes of bacteria from all 23 known species within the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato group, responsible for Lyme disease, including several strains that had yet to be sequenced before this project. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, this groundbreaking endeavour provides a historical reconstruction of the evolutionary trajectory of Lyme disease bacteria, tracing their origins back millions of years to a time likely preceding the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Pangea. This ancient origin story helps explain the bacteria’s current global distribution.
The team also shed light on the bacteria’s genetic recombination processes, through which they exchange genetic material within and between species. This mechanism enables rapid evolution and adaptation to new hosts and environments. By identifying specific genomic ‘hot spots’ where the genetic exchange is most frequent, researchers have pinpointed areas that often involve genes essential for the bacteria’s interactions with their tick carriers and various animal hosts.
Weigang Qiu, a biology professor at the City University of New York and the senior author of the study, explained the practical implications of these findings: “Understanding the evolutionary dynamics and genetic adaptability of these bacteria enhances our capacity to predict and mitigate shifts in their pathogenic potential, which is crucial for anticipating and thwarting their ability to cause disease in humans.”
To aid further research, the team has developed BorreliaBase.org, a web-based platform that allows scientists worldwide to analyse Borrelia genomes and pinpoint critical factors influencing their pathogenicity. This tool is set to be instrumental in future research efforts.
Future directions of this research include deeper genomic analyses of Lyme disease bacteria, particularly those from regions previously underexplored, and an in-depth investigation into the functions of genes unique to disease-causing strains. Such studies could uncover novel targets for therapeutic intervention.
As Lyme disease expands geographically, partly due to climate change, this research offers essential tools and insights for addressing this growing public health challenge. Benjamin Luft, the Edmund D. Pellegrino Professor of Medicine at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, aptly summarises the impact of this work: “This seminal study not only equips researchers with the data and tools needed to refine treatments for all variants of Lyme disease but also sets a model for similar strategies against other infectious diseases caused by pathogens.”
More information: Saymon Akther et al, Natural selection and recombination at host-interacting lipoprotein loci drive genome diversification of Lyme disease and related bacteria, mBio. DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01749-24
Journal information: mBio Provided by Rutgers University
