LymeSci: What I learned at ILADS 2016

My new "LymeSci" blog post at LymeDisease.org

LYME SCI: Filling my mind with Lyme knowledge at ILADS 2016

"In November, I had the pleasure of attending the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) conference, in Philadelphia. Its purpose is to give physicians and scientific researchers from around the world a platform to discuss medical literature, current research, and evidence-based treatments. The theme of this year’s conference was “Lyme Disease: An Evolving Paradigm for Chronic Illness.” It was a collaborative effort between ILADS and Drexel University."

When Lyme Disease Triggers Multiple Food and Chemical Sensitivities

In the Summer of 2013, my daughter was diagnosed with Lyme Disease, Ehrlichia Chaffeensis and Bartonella, it all began the year before, after a family trip to Hawaii (her story here).  Her case of Bartonella was one of the worst her doctors had ever seen (see Bartonella rash here), and the diagnosis of her tick borne diseases was complicated by the fact that she had come down with a case of Parvo B-19 Virus at the beginning of her illness. All of these infections worked in concert to crash her immune system leading to multi systemic illness and a low white count, which she continues to struggle with today.

How Mast Cell Activation Disorder and Histamine Intolerance May Be Affecting Your Recovery From Lyme Disease

When Infection Triggers an Auto-Inflammatory Reaction

Lyme disease is the fastest growing vector-borne disease in the U.S. today with an estimated 329,000 Americans affected annually. Studies have shown that anywhere from 10-60% of patients who are treated with a standard course of antibiotics for Lyme Disease, will have continuing, sometimes debilitating symptoms. The CDC calls this chronic condition "Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome" (PTLDS). There is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates the reason for this condition may be due to an undiagnosed co-infection (like babesia bartonella, ehrlichia or anaplasma)[1] and/or treatment resistant Lyme bacteria, also known as persistent infection. (see my prior post on Lyme Persisters) The other possibility is that the infection triggers a dysfunction within the immune system. This can lead to an autoimmune or auto-inflammatory disease separate from or in addition to the infection. In this post I will be exploring how Lyme Disease can trigger an auto-inflammatory reaction through Mast Cell Activation.

Can A New Type Of Antibiotic Help Treat Lyme Disease?

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified a new family of proteins involved in the synthesis of bacterial cell walls. This study found that shape, elongation, division and sporulation (SEDS) peptidoglycan proteins have a major part in the formation of bacterial cell walls. For decades it was thought that penicillin-binding proteins (PBP's) were the only set of enzymes that worked in complexes to build the cell wall. Now it appears there are two sets of enzymes working in two different systems. The researchers findings entitled, "SEDS Proteins are a Widespread Family of Bacterial Cell Wall Polymerases" were published in Nature, International Weekly Journal of Science, on August 15, 2016. [1] Perhaps this discovery will lead to new treatment for Lyme Disease.

How My Daughter Became a Motivational Speaker

"Last week, I got a phone call out of the blue from my old principal. He called, saying that the superintendent of our school district specifically asked for me, because he wanted me to come speak at the teacher assembly. He thought my graduation speech was by far the best of all the ones he saw this last June, and he in-fact he said that my speech was his "favorite speech ever!"...

Link: "How I Became a Motivational Speaker"

A Model List of Essential Diagnostics Needs to Include Tick-Borne Diseases

Prior to the advent of laboratory testing medical decisions were based on the interpretation of a patient's symptoms. Today the majority of medical decisions are based upon diagnostic tests. Tests have become an essential part of modern healthcare.

"Without diagnostics, medicine is blind." ~ Alain Merieux

Phase 1-Physical Therapy: Patients with Lyme Disease, ME/CFS and/or POTS

Physical Therapy- Phase 1 

Check Vital Signs

Inaccurate Tests for Lyme Disease Are Causing Harm

Faulty Serological Blood Tests for Lyme Disease Are Harming People

While a diagnosis Lyme Disease should be based upon Clinical Symptoms, most Physicians today are requiring a positive blood test before providing treatment. There is significant scientific evidence proving the two-tier blood test for Lyme Disease is inconsistent and inaccurate. Imprecise results are leading to wrongful diagnoses and/or delayed diagnoses, which greatly increases the severity of illness and human suffering. (See: A Negative Lyme Test Doesn't Exclude the Diagnosis of Borreliosis)

The Latest Research in Lyme Disease Treatment

Note: I will be using this page to catalog the most recent published science in Lyme Disease treatment. I will be updating as new research becomes available so check back often.
<<Skip to "New Drugs and New Drug Combinations" below for the latest on Lyme treatment. >>

In my previous post I give a detailed background on Borrelia Burgdorferi persister cells and why many researchers now feel the only way to eradicate Late Stage (disseminated) or persistent Lyme Disease (PTLDS) is through the use of multi-drug combinations like they do for Tuberculosis and Leprosy.

Savannah's Story - "The Life of an Insomniac"

My Daughter Savannah's Story - "The Life of an Insomniac"

'New Hope' For Patients Suffering from Chronic Lyme Disease?

Every year science learns more and more about how bacteria affect the human body, but what do we really know about Borrelia Burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme and Lyme-like illness? 

A Little Background 

If you read the research of Dr's Burgdorfer, Barbour, Steere and others, you learn a great deal about Lyme. Believe me, there is no shortage of research on Borrelia Burgdorferi (B.b)--A quick Pubmed search reveals nearly 12,000 published research articles on Lyme Disease. However, with the advent of better DNA and Genetic testing scientists are now able to identify new keys to persistent infection. As science evolves, so must our approach to treating all diseases. I believe we are truly on the verge of a whole new discovery of Lyme Disease.

Dr. Kenneth Liegner says it best,

"It took medical science roughly 500 years to gain a good understanding of syphilis. We are but 40 years in to Lyme disease, caused by a spirochete considerably more genetically complex than Treponema pallidum, the organism causing syphilis.”

How To Do A Lyme and Tickborne Disease Awareness Event

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month

May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Many areas of the US do not experience cold enough Winters for the ticks to die off. This year especially take the time to educate yourself and others about the dangers that lurk in our ticks.

Tick-Borne Diseases in California - It's Not Just Lyme and It's Not Just Deer Ticks!

Lyme Disease is currently the fastest growing bacterial infectious disease in the United States of America. Lyme is caused by a spiral shaped bacteria (spirochete) called Borrelia burgdorferi.  On the East Coast the primary vector for Lyme Disease is the Ioxdes Scapularis Tick with the primary reservoir  being the White Footed Mouse. On the West Coast the primary vector is the Ioxdes Pacificus Tick with the Gray Squirrel being the primary reservoir. (See Previous Post On North American Ticks)

#LYME2016 A Call To Action

#LYME2016 A Call To Action

The #LYME2016 "Call-to-Action" is for you to help us get our message all the way to Washington DC. We need The Senate to pass "The Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Prevention, Education and Research Act of 2015" (S. 1503). The House version of this Bill has already passed. The Bill sets up an Advisory Committee composed of Doctors, Scientists, Patients, as well as Patient Advocates. Lyme advocates have been trying to pass Legislation since 1998, and now we have less than a month to achieve this monumental goal. We hope we can count on your support. LymeDisease.org has created a "Voter Voice" link to their website which allows you to send your State Senator a direct message. (Link Here)

CDC Finds Several New Species of Bartonella: What You Need to Know

In a Paper Titled: "Identification of Novel Zoonotic Activity of Bartonella spp., France" to be published March 2016 in Emerging Infectious Disease Journal, the CDC reports they identified six strains of Bartonella in patients with chronic subjective symptoms and a history of tick bites. Three of the strains strains were B. henselae and 3 were from other animal-associated Bartonella spp. (B. doshiae, B. schoenbuchensis, and B. tribocorum). 

Six Things You Need to Know About Bartonella: