Lyme Disease Breakthrough: New Antibiotic and Understanding Chronic Symptoms

Northwestern University researchers have identified piperacillin, an antibiotic significantly outperforming doxycycline, the current gold standard for Lyme disease treatment. Piperacillin cured Lyme disease in mice at a dosage 100 times lower than doxycycline, with minimal impact on gut microbiota. Furthermore, the research uncovered a potential cause for Post-Treatment Lyme Disease (PTLD): lingering Borrelia cell wall remnants in the liver triggering an immune response. This discovery paves the way for more precise Lyme disease diagnostics, treatments, and strategies to prevent chronic symptoms.