discovery of a protein to treat infection

Vector-borne infectious disease transmitted by the bite of a tick, which carries the bacteria to its host Borrelia burgdorferiLyme disease has long remained poorly understood and therefore underdiagnosed. Work in recent years has shown that infection can manifest itself within 30 days of the bite, initially as a red, round patch extending in a circle (erythema migrans) from the bite area. sting. The skin lesion may be accompanied by muscle and joint pain or even fever. With early treatment, it disappears within weeks or months but, if left untreated, can lead to neurological and heart disorders, as well as facial paralysis.

However, a new study, led by a team of Yale University researchers, could lead to a better diagnosis and therefore a better treatment option for Lyme disease.

An infection shield protein

In the review PLOS pathogens, explain that after expressing more than 1000 human genes in yeast and analyzing their interactions with 36 samples of B. burgdorferi, they managed to identify a protein that acts as an early warning signal for the immune system when exposed to bacteria. Called Peptidoglycan Recognition Protein 1 (PGLYRP1), this protein would prevent the host from becoming infected with bacteria.

Tested in mice, PGLYRP1 was found to be effective in stimulating the immune system, which was therefore able to fight infections more effectively. Mice lacking PGLYRP1 therefore had much higher levels of B. burgdorferi, as well as signs of their immune system dysfunction.

“Increasing people’s ability to make more of this protein could help fight infections.”says Erol Fikrig, of Yale, professor of medicine, epidemiology (microbial diseases) and microbial pathogenesis, co-author of the study.

The next step in the work will be to find out whether people with high levels of PGLYRP1 may be less likely to be B. burgdorferi, which would help explain why some infected people perform better.