Frontiers in Medicine (Aug 2021)

Recent Progress in Lyme Disease and Remaining Challenges

  • Jason R. Bobe,
  • Brandon L. Jutras,
  • Elizabeth J. Horn,
  • Monica E. Embers,
  • Allison Bailey,
  • Robert L. Moritz,
  • Ying Zhang,
  • Mark J. Soloski,
  • Richard S. Ostfeld,
  • Richard T. Marconi,
  • John Aucott,
  • Avi Ma'ayan,
  • Felicia Keesing,
  • Kim Lewis,
  • Choukri Ben Mamoun,
  • Alison W. Rebman,
  • Mecaila E. McClune,
  • Edward B. Breitschwerdt,
  • Panga Jaipal Reddy,
  • Ricardo Maggi,
  • Frank Yang,
  • Bennett Nemser,
  • Aydogan Ozcan,
  • Omai Garner,
  • Dino Di Carlo,
  • Zachary Ballard,
  • Hyou-Arm Joung,
  • Albert Garcia-Romeu,
  • Roland R. Griffiths,
  • Nicole Baumgarth,
  • Brian A. Fallon

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.666554
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Lyme disease (also known as Lyme borreliosis) is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States with an estimated 476,000 cases per year. While historically, the long-term impact of Lyme disease on patients has been controversial, mounting evidence supports the idea that a substantial number of patients experience persistent symptoms following treatment. The research community has largely lacked the necessary funding to properly advance the scientific and clinical understanding of the disease, or to develop and evaluate innovative approaches for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Given the many outstanding questions raised into the diagnosis, clinical presentation and treatment of Lyme disease, and the underlying molecular mechanisms that trigger persistent disease, there is an urgent need for more support. This review article summarizes progress over the past 5 years in our understanding of Lyme and tick-borne diseases in the United States and highlights remaining challenges.

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