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LDA NEWS & UPDATES
July 31, 2024
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Tulane University (7.18.2024) published the article, “Could tragic case be linked to chronic infection from Lyme bacteria?” A new case study from Tulane University, published in the journal Heliyon, examines whether untreated chronic Lyme disease could have contributed to a tragic case involving substance abuse and violence.
The case study focused on a 32-year-old man with a history of multiple tick bites, but delayed Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment. As his symptoms worsened, he turned to substance abuse, particularly PCP, to self-medicate. During PCP withdrawal, he committed homicide, assault, and ultimately took his own life. Read more.
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Alpha-gal meat allergy is acquired from the bite of a lone star tick. | |
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Forbes (7.9.2024) published the article, “Tick Species that can Cause Meat Allergy and Other Illnesses is Spreading Across the US, Study Suggests.”
The lone star tick, known for causing alpha-gal syndrome (a red meat allergy) and other illnesses, is expanding beyond its southeastern U.S. habitat due to climate change, according to a study by the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Walter Reed.
The primary cause of alpha-gal syndrome in the U.S. is bites from the lone star tick, leading to allergic reactions to alpha-gal sugar found in mammalian meats and dairy products. Read more.
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WRVO NPR News for Central New York (7.9.2024) published the article, “Gillibrand requests federal money to fight tick-borne illnesses.” Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is advocating for increased federal funding to combat tick-borne illnesses, particularly Lyme disease.
She emphasized that the spread of Lyme disease affects military readiness and national security, highlighting Fort Drum in New York as a significant hotspot. In 2022, New York reported over 16,000 cases of Lyme disease, with nearly half of adult deer ticks carrying the disease-causing bacteria. Read more.
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Yale School of Medicine (7.8.2024) published the article, “Elucidating Host-microbe Interactions to Address Vector-borne Diseases.” The recent Yale study, published in Cell, has identified human protein targets that pathogens transmitted by vectors like mosquitoes and ticks bind to, offering potential new avenues for combating vector-borne diseases.
The study, led by Thomas Hart, PhD, postdoctoral associate at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) involved testing interactions between thousands of human proteins and 82 diverse pathogens using a yeast display library of 3,324 human extracellular and secreted proteins. Read more.
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The Topeka Capital-Journal (7.3.2024) published the article, “Do you live near the lone-star tick? Map shows where most alpha-gal cases occur.” The article discusses the prevalence and risks of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) caused by bites from the lone star tick.
AGS is a severe allergic reaction to red meat and other mammal products, triggered by the tick’s saliva. The lone star tick is primarily found in the eastern, southeastern, and south-central parts of the United States.
The tick is identifiable by a white spot, or “lone star” on the female’s back. Between 2010 and 2022, over 110,000 AGS cases were reported, with the CDC estimating up to 450,000 unreported cases.
Read more.
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Lone Star tick: Adult female, adult male, nymph. Photo credit: James Occi, PhD. Rutgers University | | |
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The Blade (7.1.2024) published the article, “UT researchers study the mysterious interplay between ticks, viruses, and immunity.” Matthew Hathaway is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Toledo, conducting research in Dr. Travis Taylor’s laboratory for treatment methods of the Powassan virus, a tick-borne illness.
Ticks can now be found worldwide and have been spreading across the United States, bringing diseases like Lyme disease, Powassan virus, and newly discovered ones such as the Bourbon virus, which was discovered back in 2014. Read more.
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CBC (6.30.2024) published the article, “Tick-Killing Fungus Research Underway at N.S. University.” Researchers at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada are studying a naturally occurring fungus, Clonostachys rosea, as a potential method for controlling tick populations and reducing the spread of Lyme disease.
Luís Anholeto discovered the fungus in the Annapolis Valley and found it lethal to blacklegged and American dog ticks when they come in contact with the fungus. With a grant, Anholeto continues his research at Acadia’s tick research lab, led by professors Nicoletta Faraone and Laura Ferguson. Read more.
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Northeastern Global News (6.28.2024) published the article, “A Lyme vaccine is in late-stage trials. Could an anti-tick vaccine be next?” As a vaccine for Lyme disease enters late-stage clinical trials, researchers are exploring the possibility of an anti-tick vaccine to protect against various tick-borne diseases.
This research focuses on a phenomenon called acquired tick resistance (ATR), where repeated tick infestations lead to an immune response that causes ticks to fall off and die when attempting to feed on the host. Read more.
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PR Newswire (6.10.2024) published the article, “MIT Selects Movano Health for Groundbreaking Study on Long COVID and Chronic Lyme Disease.” A groundbreaking study by MIT in partnership with Movano Health aims to revolutionize the understanding of long COVID and chronic Lyme disease.
The MAESTRO study will utilize Movano’s Evie Ring, a medical-grade continuous health monitoring device, to gather comprehensive data from 300 adults aged 18-35 across four cohorts: acute Lyme disease, chronic Lyme disease, long COVID, and a control group.
There are an estimated 40 million affected by long COVID. With 10-15% of cases developing into chronic Lyme disease and the long term health effects still a mystery, this research seeks to uncover critical insights into these conditions. Read more.
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The Lyme Disease Association Inc. (LDA) does not charge any membership fees. Most of our materials are free to download and most of our videos are free on YouTube. Our nationwide doctor referral system is free to access. Printed brochures can be ordered for the cost of S&H. | | | | |
