Galaxy Radar – Week of June 3, 2024

Human Genetics and Lyme Disease

Enhanced Understanding of Genetic and Immunological Aspects of Lyme Disease on Amsterdam UMC’s news website – What human genes are involved in the response to Lyme disease? Researchers at Amsterdam University Medical Center have found genetic characteristics that are protective from infection and also genetic characteristics that affect the immune response to infection.

About the Bartonella Four Species IFA Panel from Galaxy Diagnostics

Our website contains  deep information resources about Bartonella species. Visit these pages to find out more about the species added to the Bartonella Four Species IFA Panel and an explanation of the IFA process.

Three Important Considerations for Bartonella IFA Serology Testing – What is the risk profile for Bartonella infection? Should the test be combined with direct testing?

Now Offering Antibody Tests for Bartonella vinsonii berkhoffii and Bartonella koehlerae – Why were these species added to the IFA panel in 2021?

More on Serology – What happens in the lab when an IFA test is being processed?

How Likely is Bartonellosis in Dogs? – Find out more about an important zoonotic risk for Bartonella vinsonii berkhoffii.

Relevant COVID-19 Research

Cerebral Microstructural Alterations in Post-COVID Condition are Related to Cognitive Impairment, Olfactory Dysfunction and Fatigue by JA Hosp et al. publishing from the University of Freiburg – Neurocognitive changes after infection are little understood. In a study of people with post-COVID condition (PCC), researchers found differences in their brains compared to people without PCC. The researchers also found signs of changes to the brains, indicating these differences did not exist before the infections.

Total-Body PET Imaging to Identify Deep-Tissue SARS-CoV-2 Reservoirs in Long COVID, a project of PolyBio –  A university consortium has used radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies to identify reservoirs of SARS-COV-2 in Long COVID patients. This study was performed using a new kind of sensitive PET scan technology to identify where the radiolabeled antibodies bound to the pathogen.

Autoantibodies in Post-Treatment Lyme Disease and Association with Clinical Symptoms by M Keshtkarjahromi et al. publishing from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine – A small study of autoantibodies in patients who had experienced Lyme disease or COVID-19 and either returned to health or experienced post-acute symptoms found autoantibodies in all the groups, not necessarily tied to symptoms. The researchers note, “While our data show no difference in autoantibody prevalence across the four post-infectious states, we do not imply that autoantibodies are irrelevant in this setting. Rather, this study highlights the need for novel antibody discovery in larger cohorts of well-defined patient populations.”

Biosecurity Standards for Rickettsia Research

Gaps and Inconsistencies in the Current Knowledge and Implementation of Biosafety and Biosecurity Practices for Rickettsial Pathogens by SD Blacksell et al. publishing from University of Oxford, Mahidol University and the Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory – What laboratory biosafety conditions should be used to work with Rickettsia and Orientia species? Is it possible that over-classification is holding back research on these neglected diseases? Researchers from Thailand, Australia & the UK weigh in.

The Galaxy Diagnostics test menu goes beyond Bartonella and Borrelia. Find out more about tests for Rickettsia and more.

Chiggers as a Zoonotic Disease Vector

Microbiome and Mitogenomics of the Chigger Mite Pentidionis agamae: Potential Role as an Orientia Vector and Associations with Divergent Clades of Wolbachia and Borrelia by HA Alkathirty et al. publishing from Saudi Arabia, UK, USA, Germany and Russia – Chiggers remain suspicious as pathogen vectors. In this study, chiggers were collected in Saudi Arabia. The chiggers themselves were genetically diverse and among their pathogens was a Borrelia species with no known vector.

Information and Guideline Updates

Clinical Signs and Symptoms of Other Spotted Fever Rickettsioses by the US CDC – The US CDC has updated its Other Spotted Fever Rickettsioses web pages. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is perhaps the most recognized spotted fever by the public, but here you can learn about other species found in the United States.

WHO Offers Strategies for Preventing Mpox by J Parkinson on Contagion Live – The WHO has released a guide to preventing and controlling mpox, including protection from zoonotic transmission.

June 2024 US CDC Zoonoses and One Health Updates Call/Webinar – This month’s call focused on the new US dog regulation and petting zoo lessons from two E. coli outbreaks in 2023. The recording will be up within 30 days. CE available.

Disease Case Surveillance

At Least 60 Reports of Lyme Disease So Far as Ontario Enters Tick Season by A O’Brien on CTV News Toronto – Ontario, Canada, is seeing an early Lyme disease year, with more than 60 cases so far as ticks are found in an expanding geographical range.

Alaskapox Virus Claims its First Fatality by S Abene on Contagion Live – Alaska has seen the first death from Alaskapox, a virus carried by small mammals. The elderly cancer patient was misdiagnosed for six weeks and was the first case in his geographic area. The case is prompting calls for more animal surveillance to better understand the geographic range of the pathogen.

Antibiotics and Auto-Brewery Syndrome

Her Gut was Producing Alcohol. Doctors Didn’t Believe Her by S. LaMotte on CNN – Auto-brewery syndrome develops when the gut microbiome produces alcohol. In a new case, a woman developed the syndrome after several antibiotic treatments for UTIs. It’s rarely diagnosed, but may be more common than previously thought. “I believe many people may walk around feeling foggy and just think they are tired when they might be fermenting alcohol.” – Barbara Cordell, President of Auto-Brewery Syndrome Information and Research, an advocacy association

Auto-Brewery Syndrome in a 50-Year-Old Woman by RT Zewude et al. publishing from Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario – A woman developed auto-brewery syndrome after repeated treatment with antibiotics for UTIs. For two years, she repeatedly went to the emergency department for excessive sleepiness and was found to be intoxicated despite not drinking, as confirmed by family members. They were not believed and in one case she received certification under the Mental Health Act for attempting to leave prior to a psychiatric assessment. On her seventh ED visit, a physician trialed oral fluconazole for suspected auto-brewery syndrome.

Meetings and Presentations

Investor-Ready Entrepreneur Program – Dr. Elam will be speaking at this North Carolina training event. As an entrepreneurship educator and cofounder of Galaxy Diagnostics, Dr. Elam will share her experience as a life sciences CEO and early-stage fundraiser with new founders in Research Triangle Park, NC. Sharing our industry knowledge and startup experience with the community of life science entrepreneurs is part of how we fulfill our mission to help bring better products to patients.

The Alzheimer’s Pathobiome Initiative Symposium – Edward Breitschwerdt, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), will be presenting with Janice Bush, CVM, on “Bartonella henselae, Neurobartonellosis and Alzheimer’s Disease: Is there a link?”