Understanding how a component of Lyme disease bacteria affects symptoms
Official title: Defining the host and pathogen determinants of peptidoglycan induced pathophysiology in Lyme disease
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-11139176 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a part of the Lyme disease bacteria might cause ongoing symptoms, like arthritis, in people even after they've been treated with antibiotics, and it aims to help us understand why some patients still feel unwell.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $541,558 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AI173256-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11139176 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have been diagnosed with Lyme disease and are experiencing persistent symptoms despite receiving antibiotic therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not been diagnosed with Lyme disease or who do not exhibit ongoing symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of peptidoglycan, a component of the cell wall of the Lyme disease bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, in causing persistent symptoms in patients. The study aims to identify how this unique peptidoglycan contributes to the disease's progression and the development of conditions like arthritis, even after antibiotic treatment. By using animal models, researchers will track the behavior of peptidoglycan in the body to understand its effects on inflammation and tissue damage. The findings could lead to new insights into why some patients continue to experience symptoms long after treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for Lyme disease and its lingering symptoms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding bacterial components can lead to breakthroughs in treatment, suggesting potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jutras, Brandon Lyon — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Jutras, Brandon Lyon
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding why some people have ongoing symptoms after Lyme disease
A long-term study follows people diagnosed with acute Lyme disease to see who develops persistent symptoms and why, with care from a team of Lyme experts.
-
CSF Protein Map in Post-Treatment Lyme Disease
A short study to map proteins in spinal fluid of people who had Lyme disease and still feel sick after standard treatment, to understand what’s going on.
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Lyme disease vaccine research aimed at preventing infection
Researchers are developing a Lyme disease vaccine by studying how the immune system responds to Borrelia burgdorferi and testing vaccine approaches to prevent illness.
-
Lyme disease brain health: tracking brain signals and blood clues after treatment
This study follows people with early Lyme disease and compares them to healthy volunteers to see how the brain and blood markers change over a year after starting antibiotics.
-
Lyme disease symptoms lingering after treatment may be driven by special bacterial fragments
A human-friendly look at a study exploring why some Lyme patients keep symptoms after antibiotics and whether tiny fragments from the bacteria are to blame.
-
Understanding Lyme disease immune signals to predict recovery after antibiotics
A research project at MIT aims to find immune biomarkers that tell which Lyme patients will recover after standard antibiotics and who might have lasting symptoms.
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.