Lyme borreliosis research

Borrelia burgdorferi The etiological agent of Lyme disease has been the object of intensive molecular analysis. Animal models have been developed to study the pathogenesis of the disease. Early diagnosis is being improved by using appropriate antigens for antibody detection and polymerase chain reaction for detection of Borrelia DNA. However, even using better diagnostic tools, many cases, especially those seen early in the development of the disease, can only be diagnosed clinically. Intensive research is also in progress to develop a Borrelia vaccine. The outer surface proteins have been efficacious in animal models. Vaccine development appears difficult, however, because of the antigenic heterogeneity of strains, especially those isolated in Europe.