By: Nina M. Holz

1. Investigating Lymes Disease Symptoms and Current Vaccines and Possible Future Ideas to Develop a New Vaccine. By: Nina M. Holz

2. Some Basic Background Information Regarding Ticks and Lymes Disease • The tick that passes enables animals to contract Lymes Disease is called: Ixodesscapularis. • The ticks generally feed on a wide variety of small mammals, birds, and reptiles, but prefer to feed on white-footed mice(Peromyscusleucopus), which are the important reservoir of infection in nature. • Adults prefer to feed and mate on white-tailed deer . • The infection is a bacteria calledBorreliaburgdorferi. The ticks usually get infected from feeding on a infected host. • Not all humans that get bite by ticks get Lymesdiesease • Only ticks that are infected with the bacteria can give Lymes to humans • This is generally after a prolonged amount of time feeding on the human where they can also get Lymes disease

3. Internal Anatomy of a Tick • Shown to the left is the internal anatomy of a tick. The picture shows the major areas involved in feeding and reproducing in the tick.

4. Early Onset Symptoms of Lymes Disease • Within 1-4 weeks of being bitten by an infected tick, most people will experience some symptoms of Lyme disease. • A circular, expanding rash (called erythemamigrans) at the site of the bite develops in about 70%-80% of cases. • Some people report flu-like symptoms at this stage, including fever, chills, headaches, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, joint pain, and muscle aches.” (WebMD)

5. Mid-Stage Onset Symptoms of Lymes Disease • If the disease is not detected and treated in its early stages, it can extend to more areas of the body, affecting the joints, heart, and nervous system (about 1-4 months after the initial bite). • Additional rashes may occur, and there may be intermittent periods of pain and weakness in the arms or legs. • Facial-muscle paralysis (Bell's palsy), headaches, and poor memory are other symptoms at this stage, along with a rapid heartbeat and some loss of control of facial muscles.” (WebMD)

6. Late-Stage Onset Symptoms of Lymes Disease • This is the most serious stage of the disease, when treatment was either not successful or never started (usually occurring many months after the initial bite). • Joint inflammation (arthritis), typically in the knees, becomes apparent, and may become chronic. • The nervous system can develop abnormal sensation because of disease of peripheral nerves (peripheral neuropathy), and confusion. • Heart problems are less common, but can include inflammation of the heart muscle.” (WebMD)

7. Current Treatments for Lymes Disease • Most Lyme disease is curable with antibiotics, particularly when the infection is diagnosed and treated early. • Doxycycline, amoxicillin, and cefuroxime are the drugs of choice most of the time for early illness. • Later stages might require longer-term, intravenous antibiotics, such as ceftriaxone.” (WebMD)

8. Vaccines made for Lymes Disease • Currently, there is no human vaccine for Lyme disease. • The one that did exist -- LYMErix -- is no longer available. • Originally approved by the FDA in 1998 to help prevent the disease, the vaccine was pulled from the market by the manufacturer in 2002 due to poor sales. • There was concern that the vaccine could trigger arthritis problems, although the FDA never found evidence that the vaccine was dangerous.” (WebMD)

9. Possible Ideas for a Future Vaccine for Lymes Disease • Since the Salp15 protein is the protein that enables the bacteria to enter the host initially undetected, learning more about the protein anatomy and morphology would be beneficial. • If there is some way to possibly degrade the protein so that the bacteria is exposed and becomes vulnerable, I think this would allow the host’s body to fight off the bacteria faster and more efficiently with hopefully less damage to the body.