Identifying Vancomycin as an Effective Antibiotic for Killing Borrelia burgdorferi

• DOI: 10.1128/aac.01201-18
• Publication Date: 2018-08-17T10:24:22Z
• Authors: Xiaoqian Wu; Bijaya Sharma; Samantha Niles; Kathleen O'Connor; Rebecca Schilling; Nicole Matluck; Anthony D'Onofrio; Linden T. Hu; Kim Lewis
• Keywords: Borrelia Burgdorferi Infection

Borrelia burgdorferi is the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis. Antibiotic therapy early acute infection effective for most patients, but 10 to 20% go on develop posttreatment disease syndrome (PTLDS). The nature PTLDS remains unknown, currently approved antibiotics treatment do not appear impact these symptoms after they have developed. We reason that minimizing time pathogen interacts with host will diminish probability developing PTLDS, irrespective its nature. This calls an efficient eradication during infection. In search a superior killing antibiotic, we examined their ability kill B. Vancomycin proved more in vitro than ceftriaxone, standard care disseminated Both compounds were also stationary-phase cells. surprising, given inhibitors cell wall biosynthesis are known only growing bacteria. found peptidoglycan synthesis continues cells burgdorferi, explaining this paradox. A combination vancomycin and gemifloxacin sterilized culture Examination action severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice showed doxycycline, uncomplicated infection, did clear pathogen. contrast, both ceftriaxone cleared trial examining use potent development may be warranted.