New hope in the fight against Lyme Borreliosis: MedUni Vienna discovered therapy approach

New hope in the fight against Lyme Borreliosis: MedUni Vienna discovered therapy approach

A new study from Vienna could mark significant progress in the fight against Lyme Borreliosis, one of the most commonly transmitted diseases in Europe. The Medical University of Vienna (MedUni Vienna) has discovered innovative opportunities to develop new therapies and thus take an important step away from conventional antibiotics.

A year, around 70,000 people in Austria are affected by Lyme Borreliosis. The disease is transferred by parasitic ticks, with an estimated every fourth tick is the carrier of the so-called Borreliosis pathogen. Without timely diagnosis and treatment, the disease can cause serious health problems, including inflammation of the heart and joints. At the moment there is no vaccine to prevent this disease. A common misconception states that vaccination against early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE) also protects against Lyme disease, which does not apply.

new approaches to combat borreliosis

The research team at the Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology of the MedUni Vienna, led by Michiel Wijnveld, has focused on the Borrelia's restriction modification system (RMS). This system protects the bacteria from foreign genetic material and plays a central role in the survival ability of the Borrelia during an infection. In addition to these mechanisms, the team examined the DNA of the borrelia and found that the process of methylation - the attachment of small molecules to the bacterial DNA - is crucial for the protection of the bacteria.

The study, published in the "International Journal of Molecular Sciences", shows that Borrelia can make significant progress in the absorption of new genetic materials by imitation of their own DNA. This could lead to a better understanding of the survival mechanisms of these pathogens in the long term.

Way of antibiotics

These new findings open up the possibility of researching alternative treatment methods such as phageal therapy. As part of this therapy, viruses are used that specifically attack bacteria, which could reduce the use of antibiotics. Wijnveld emphasizes the importance of further research in this area, since this could contribute to reducing the dependency of antibiotics and reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance.

Developments at MedUni Vienna offer hope for more effective combating Lyme-Borreliosis, an illness that increasingly accepts worrying proportions in Europe. If you would like to learn more about the progress in research, you will find detailed information here .