How immune responses change during acute Lyme disease due to altered antibody sugars
Official title: Immune Modulation During Acute Lyme Disease Infection as the Result of Aberrant Immunoglobulin Glycosylation
Funded at Drexel University · NIH-10908696 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how sugars on antibodies change when someone has acute Lyme disease, and it hopes to find patterns that could help doctors diagnose and treat the condition better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drexel University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $187,033 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI178567-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10908696 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have recently been diagnosed with acute Lyme disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have chronic Lyme disease or those who are not currently experiencing acute symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the sugars attached to antibodies change during acute Lyme disease and how these changes affect the immune response. The study aims to identify specific patterns of glycosylation in immunoglobulins that occur in patients with acute Lyme disease, which may help in diagnosing the condition more reliably. By analyzing serum samples from patients, the researchers will explore how these glycosylation patterns influence inflammation and the overall immune response. This could lead to improved diagnostic methods and treatment strategies for Lyme disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better diagnostic tools and treatment options for patients with acute Lyme disease, potentially reducing long-term health complications.
How similar studies have gone: While this specific approach to studying glycosylation in Lyme disease is novel, similar research has shown that glycosylation patterns can significantly impact immune responses in other diseases.
Where this research is happening
-
Drexel University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Comunale, Mary Ann — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Comunale, Mary Ann
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.