Unusual bacterial fragments that may cause long-lasting Lyme symptoms
The natural release of unusual peptidoglycan fragments drives persistent Lyme disease symptoms in susceptible hosts
This work looks at whether pieces of the Lyme bacterium left behind after antibiotics cause ongoing joint pain in people who had Lyme disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168835 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will examine joint fluid and other samples from people who continue to have Lyme-related joint pain after standard antibiotic treatment to identify leftover bacterial cell-wall fragments. They will chemically map the unusual peptidoglycan pieces and track how long they remain in tissues. Parallel animal and lab experiments will test whether these fragments can trigger persistent inflammation and whether they can be targeted or removed. The team aims to link what is found in patients to specific approaches that could reduce lingering symptoms.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who previously had Lyme disease and still have joint pain or Lyme arthritis after completing recommended antibiotic therapy are the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People with newly diagnosed, untreated Lyme infection or whose symptoms are caused by a different condition may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to treatments that remove or neutralize leftover bacterial fragments and ease persistent Lyme arthritis.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies have shown purified Borrelia peptidoglycan can cause arthritis and researchers have detected these fragments in patient joint fluid, but human treatments based on this idea are not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jutras, Brandon Lyon — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Jutras, Brandon Lyon
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 below.