Immediate resources for diagnosis and treatment. Key Facts, Information Sources and Research Evidence Information Sources and Key Research Evidence (pdf) Key Facts for Health Professionals (pdf) Lyme Carditis - When borrelia infects the heart (pdf)

Upcoming and past events, both in person and webinars. Events Upcoming Events 28-30th Jan 2026 - BPNA Annual Conference Glasgow Past Events The LRC team supported a wide range of events during 2024 & 2025. Via a combination of exhibition stands and conference presentations we worked to raise awareness of ticks & Lyme disease amongst Members of the Scottish Parliament, health professionals (including GPs, nurses, paramedics, and pharmacists), Directors of Education, leaders of outdoor organisations and members of the general public. In August and September 2025, the Lyme Resource Centre volunteers were out and about at a number of outdoor events across Scotland and England to raise awareness of Ticks and Lyme disease. Locations included: Melfort Community Garden, Clydebank Moy Country Fair Great Wilderness Challenge Poolewe Polbeth Harvest Open Day - Community Woods & Garden West Grinstead & District annual ploughing match & agricultural show. West Sussex. Community Woodlands Association Annual Conference 2025 General Conferences and Presentations Assoc of Directors of Education Conference Nov 2025 Glasgow, Scotland Raising awareness of tick bites and Lyme disease during outdoor activities Find out more RCGP Annual Conference and Exhibition 2025 Oct 2025 ICC Wales, Newport Visiting the LRC Exhibition Stand Find out more DofE Leaders Conference Mar 2025 Stirling, Scotland LRC Attended The Duke Of Edinburgh Awards Scheme Leaders Conference Find out more CWA Conference Oct 2024 Inverness Community Woodlands Association Conference Find out more Light up for Lyme May 2024 Across the UK Venues and landmarks across the UK were Lighting up for Lyme Find out more DofE Scotland Highland Network Event Nov 2025 Inverness, Scotland Supporting DofE leaders with tick awareness information and tick removal cards Find out more 1st Annual Conference on Chronic Infection Pathologies Sept 2025 Jyväskylä , Finland Understanding, prevention, and treatment of infectious chronic illnesses. Find out more ADES Annual Conference Scotland Association of Directors in Scotland Annual Conference Find out more World Congress of Environmental History Aug 2024 Oulu, Finland LRC sponsored presentation by Morven-May and Ritti Soncco Find out more Scottish Parliamentary Event May 2024 Scottish Parliament Thanks go to Evelyn Tweed MSP for hosting this special evening on behalf of LRC Find out more Medical Conferences and Presentations 1st Annual Conference on Chronic Infection Pathologies Jyväskylä , Finland Understanding, prevention, and treatment of infectious chronic illnesses. Clinical Pharmacy Congress Excel London Europe's largest event for clinical pharmacy professionals RCPCH Conference Glasgow Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Conference Royal Pharmaceutical Society Webinar RPS/LRC - ‘Recognising the symptoms of Lyme disease’ Best Practice Birmingham NEC GP presentation ‘Identifying Lyme disease - the 'New Great Imitator' RCGP Annual Conference and Exhibition 2025 ICC Wales, Newport GP presentation : Lyme disease - The New Great Imitator Primary Care Show Birmingham NEC Event for NHS and private clinicians working in primary and community care. Guidelines Live Excel London GP Presentation ‘Diagnosing Lyme disease - unmasking the ‘New Great Imitator’ The Pharmacy Show Birmingham NEC LRC presentation ‘Recognising the signs and symptoms of Lyme Disease’ FAIB/FOFATO Conference Stockport ‘Understanding Lyme disease’

The Lyme Resource Centre is a charity with a mission to minimise risk of Lyme disease whilst enjoying the outdoors, by educating the public and healthcare professionals about ticks and Lyme disease. Lyme Resource Centre is pleased to have worked with the Royal College of GPs on the new RCGP Lyme Disease Toolkit Lyme Disease Experience Survey - Results The Lyme Resource Centre is a charity with a mission to minimise risk of Lyme disease whilst enjoying the outdoors, by educating the public and healthcare professionals about ticks and Lyme disease. Please explore our site, to learn more about our work and how to get involved. Latest News To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Quick Links Info and Support Lyme disease is a bacterial infection, acquired from the bite of an infected tick. Learn more about ticks and Lyme disease Outdoor Initiatives LRC is working with outdoor organisations to encourage tick awareness and safe enjoyment of the great outdoors Clinical Resources Information & resources for health care professionals Events Stay up to date on the latest LRC awareness and educational events. General Resources We have developed a range of resources useful for schools, outdoor organisations, and researchers. Support Us See what you can do to help spread awareness about lyme disease and co-infections.

Recordings of Webinars and Training Sessions. Educational Webinars and Videos LRC Video Presentations Lyme Disease - The Great New Imitator "It's more than skin deep..." - Dr Anne Cruikshank Recording of a symposium from the RCGP Annual Conference and Exhibition 9-10 October 2025 - available here courtesy of RCGP. Diagnosing and Treating Lyme Disease "The Great New Imitator" - Dr Anne Cruikshank Lyme Disease: Skin Manifestations and More - Dr Z Husain Series: Recorded Webinars March 2022 Webinar Lyme Disease - Delving Deeper Into The Diagnosis & Treatment Of Tick-Borne Infections Introduction to Lyme Disease Lyme disease in children Neuroborreliosis: the neurological manifestations of Lyme disease September 2021 Webinar Lyme Disease - The New Great Imitator: Diagnosis & Treatment of Tick-Borne Infections in Primary Care What primary care clinicians need to know about Lyme disease? The challenges in diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease Lyme disease – When your patient doesn’t get better. March 2021 Webinar Lyme Disease - The New Great Imitator: Diagnosis & Treatment of Tick-Borne Infections in Primary Care Diagnosing and managing Lyme disease in Primary Care settings Lessons from a GP’s personal experience of tick bites and Lyme disease Chronic Infections With Lyme And Other Tickborne Pathogens Series: Lyme Disease - Small Bites for GPs MAY 2021 Presentation Lyme Disease - Small Bites for GPs Prof. Jack Lambert is a Professor in Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and UCD School of Medicine, Dublin, with both extensive clinical and research expertise. As part of our series "Lyme Disease - Small Bites for GPs", he introduces Lyme disease and its origins. Series: Lyme Disease - Lectures December 2019 Presentation Lyme Disease and PoTS Prof. Jack Lambert is a Professor in Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and UCD School of Medicine, Dublin, with both extensive clinical and research expertise. In this lecture from a London PoTS masterclass by charity PoTS UK on 9th December 2019 he discusses Lyme disease and PoTS. Series: Conferences June 2023 Conference 3rd European Crypto-Infections Conference 2023 Event details available from the registration page. View more September 2020 Conference 2nd European Crypto-Infections Conference 2020 Crypto-infections,which include tick- borne bacterial pathogens and others, are well recognised as a significant burden of disease in both human and animal hosts. However, much remains to be done to further diagnose, understand the underlying pathogenesis, and optimally treat these infections. May 2019 Conference 1st European Crypto-Infections Conference 2019 The First European Crypto-Infections Conference was held in Dublin from Friday 31st May - Saturday 1st June, looking behind the science of Lyme Disease and co-infections. It was a basic science conference suitable for university researchers and patient groups as well as doctors and vets. Series: General Health Advice about removing ticks safely Taking a Stand4Lyme - Scientists Tackle the Lyme Disease Epidemic Chronic infection and the etiology of dementia Monica E. Embers, PhD Associate Professor in the Division of Immunology Director of Vector-borne Disease Research Tulane National Primate Research Center Monica Embers, PhD, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at Tulane University School of Medicine, has released a new continuing medical education course, “Chronic Infection and the Etiology of Dementia,” presenting evidence that the Lyme bacteria could be one possible cause of dementia. This course is available for credit and is published on Invisible International's Montecalvo Education Platform. In her 31-minute course, Dr. Embers describes the clinical symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia, the impact on public health, genetic risks, and the list of known pathogens associated with dementia-like symptoms. The course also reviews a well-documented case study about a 54-year-old woman who was treated for Lyme (Borrelia burgdorferi), developed dementia, then died 15 years after the initial infection. After death, B. burgdorferi was identified by PCR (DNA detection) in her brain and central nervous system tissues, and by immunofluorescent staining of the bacteria in the spinal cord. This CME is presented in loving memory of Susan M. (White) Kelemen, July 4, 1939 – February 26, 2022, by her family, the Montecalvos and the Kelemens. Chronic infection and the etiology of dementia - Invisible International: Montecalvo Foundation

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64 < Back to Research Top Published Date 20/04/2020 Clofazimine, a Promising Drug for the Treatment of Babesia microti Infection in Severely Immunocompromised Hosts Journal The Journal of Infectious Diseases Citation 222(6):1027-1036 DOI 10.1093/infdis/jiaa195 Authors Tuvshintulga B, Vannier E, Tayebwa DS, Gantuya S, Sivakumar T, Guswanto A, Krause PJ, Yokoyama N, Igarashi I Abstract Background: Persistent and relapsing babesiosis caused by Babesia microti often occurs in immunocompromised patients, and has been associated with resistance to antimicrobial agents such as atovaquone. Given the rising incidence of babesiosis in the United States, novel drugs are urgently needed. In the current study, we tested whether clofazimine (CFZ), an antibiotic used to treat leprosy and drug-resistant tuberculosis, is effective against B. microti. Methods: Mice with severe combined immunodeficiency were infected with 107B. microti-infected erythrocytes. Parasites were detected by means of microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood smears or nested polymerase chain reaction. CFZ was administered orally. Results: Uninterrupted monotherapy with CFZ curtailed the rise of parasitemia and achieved radical cure. B. microti parasites and B. microti DNA were cleared by days 10 and 50 of therapy, respectively. A 7-day administration of CFZ delayed the rise of parasitemia by 22 days. This rise was caused by B. microti isolates that did not carry mutations in the cytochrome b gene. Accordingly, a 14-day administration of CFZ was sufficient to resolve high-grade parasitemia caused by atovaquone-resistant B. microti parasites. Conclusions: Clofazimine is effective against B. microti infection in the immunocompromised host. Additional preclinical studies are required to identify the minimal dose and dosage of CFZ for babesiosis. Keywords: Babesia microti; babesiosis; clofazimine; immunocompromised; mice; mutation; radical cure; resistance. URL Previous https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/222/6/1027/5822825 No Review Needed? Next

102 < Back to Research Top Published Date 24/06/2019 Molecular Testing of Serial Blood Specimens from Patients with Early Lyme Disease during Treatment Reveals Changing Coinfection with Mixtures of Borrelia burgdorferi Genotypes Journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy Citation Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2019; 63 (7) DOI 10.1128/AAC.00237-19 Authors Mosel MR, Carolan HE, Rebman AW, Castro S, Massire C, Ecker DJ, Soloski MJ, Aucott JN, Eshoo MW Abstract Borrelia burgdorferi is the etiological agent of Lyme disease. In the current study, we used direct-detection PCR and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to monitor and genotype B. burgdorferi isolates from serially collected whole-blood specimens from patients clinically diagnosed with early Lyme disease before and during 21 days of antibiotic therapy. B. burgdorferi isolates were detected up to 3 weeks after the initiation of antibiotic treatment, with ratios of coinfecting B. burgdorferi genotypes changing over time. URL Previous https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31036693 No Review Needed? Next

121 < Back to Research Top Published Date 25/01/2019 Identification of novel activity against Borrelia burgdorferi persisters using an FDA approved drug library Journal Emerging Microbes & Infections Citation Emerg Microbes Infect. 2014 Jul;3(7):e49 DOI 10.1038/emi.2014.53 Authors Feng J, Wang T, Shi W, Zhang S, Sullivan D, Auwaerter PG, Zhang Y Abstract Although antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease is effective in the majority of cases, especially during the early phase of the disease, a minority of patients suffer from post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). It is unclear what mechanisms drive this problem, and although slow or ineffective killing of Borrelia burgdorferi has been suggested as an explanation, there is a lack of evidence that viable organisms are present in PTLDS. Although not a clinical surrogate, insight may be gained by examining stationary-phase in vitro Borrelia burgdorferipersisters that survive treatment with the antibiotics doxycycline and amoxicillin. To identify drug candidates that can eliminate B. burgdorferipersisters more effectively, we screened an Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug library consisting of 1524 compounds against stationary-phase B. burgdorferi by using a newly developed high throughput SYBR Green I/propidium iodide (PI) assay. We identified 165 agents approved for use in other disease conditions that had more activity than doxycycline and amoxicillin against B. burgdorferipersisters. The top 27 drug candidates from the 165 hits were confirmed to have higher anti-persister activity than the current frontline antibiotics. Among the top 27 confirmed drug candidates from the 165 hits, daptomycin, clofazimine, carbomycin, sulfa drugs (e.g., sulfamethoxazole), and certain cephalosporins (e.g. cefoperazone) had the highest anti-persister activity. In addition, some drug candidates, such as daptomycin and clofazimine (which had the highest activity against non-growing persisters), had relatively poor activity or a high minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against growing B. burgdorferi. Our findings may have implications for the development of a more effective treatment for Lyme disease and for the relief of long-term symptoms that afflict some Lyme disease patients. URL Previous https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1038/emi.2014.53 No Review Needed? Next

11 < Back to Research Top Published Date 10/05/2021 Detecting Borrelia Spirochetes: A Case Study With Validation Among Autopsy Specimens Journal Frontiers in Neurology Citation 12:628045 DOI 10.3389/fneur.2021.628045. Authors Gadila SKG, Rosoklija G, Dwork AJ, Fallon BA, Embers ME Abstract The complex etiology of neurodegenerative disease has prompted studies on multiple mechanisms including genetic predisposition, brain biochemistry, immunological responses, and microbial insult. In particular, Lyme disease is often associated with neurocognitive impairment with variable manifestations between patients. We sought to develop methods to reliably detect Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochete bacteria responsible for Lyme disease, in autopsy specimens of patients with a history of neurocognitive disease. In this report, we describe the use of multiple molecular detection techniques for this pathogen and its application to a case study of a Lyme disease patient. The patient had a history of Lyme disease, was treated with antibiotics, and years later developed chronic symptoms including dementia. The patient's pathology and clinical case description was consistent with Lewy body dementia. B. burgdorferi was identified by PCR in several CNS tissues and by immunofluorescent staining in the spinal cord. These studies offer proof of the principle that persistent infection with the Lyme disease spirochete may have lingering consequences on the CNS. Keywords: Borrelia; Lewy body; Lyme; PCR; RNA in situ hybridization; dementia; immunofluorescent. URL Previous https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34040573/ No Review Needed? Next

84 < Back to Research Top Published Date 10/01/2020 Salp15, a Multifunctional Protein From Tick Saliva With Potential Pharmaceutical Effects Journal Frontiers in Immunology Citation 2.546527778 DOI 10.3389/fimmu.2019.03067 Authors Wen S, Wang F, Ji Z, Pan Y, Jian M, Bi Y, Zhou G, Luo L, Chen T, Li L, Ding Z, Abi ME, Liu A, Bao F Abstract Ixodes ticks are the main vectors for a number of zoonotic diseases, including Lyme disease. Ticks secrete saliva directly into a mammalian host while feeding on the host's blood. This action serves to modulate host immunity and coagulation, thus allowing ticks to attach and feed upon their host. One of the most extensively studied components of tick saliva is Salp15. Research has shown that this protein binds specifically to CD4 molecules on the surface of T lymphocytes, interferes with TCR-mediated signaling transduction, inhibits CD4+ T cell activation and proliferation, and impedes the secretion of interleukin 2 (IL-2). Salp15 also binds specifically to dendritic cell dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN) to up-regulate the expression of CD73 in regulatory T cells. Collectively, these findings render this salivary protein a potential candidate for a range of therapeutic applications. Here, we discuss our current understanding of Salp15 and the mechanisms that might be used to treat disease. Keywords: Borrelia burgdorferi; Salp15; T cell; immunomodulation; therapeutic effects; tick. URL Previous https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6968165/ No Review Needed? Next

176 < Back to Research Top Published Date 17/03/2016 Co-infection of Ticks: The Rule Rather Than the Exception Journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Citation PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016 Mar 17;10(3):e0004539 DOI 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004539 Authors Moutailler S, Valiente Moro C, Vaumourin E, Michelet L, Tran FH, Devillers E, Cosson JF, Gasqui P, Van VT, Mavingui P, Vourc'h G, Vayssier-Taussat M Abstract Introduction Ticks are the most common arthropod vectors of both human and animal diseases in Europe, and the Ixodes ricinus tick species is able to transmit a large number of bacteria, viruses and parasites. Ticks may also be co-infected with several pathogens, with a subsequent high likelihood of co-transmission to humans or animals. However few data exist regarding co-infection prevalences, and these studies only focus on certain well-known pathogens. In addition to pathogens, ticks also carry symbionts that may play important roles in tick biology, and could interfere with pathogen maintenance and transmission. In this study we evaluated the prevalence of 38 pathogens and four symbionts and their co-infection levels as well as possible interactions between pathogens, or between pathogens and symbionts. Methodology/principal findings A total of 267 Ixodes ricinus female specimens were collected in the French Ardennes and analyzed by high-throughput real-time PCR for the presence of 37 pathogens (bacteria and parasites), by rRT-PCR to detect the presence of Tick-Borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and by nested PCR to detect four symbionts. Possible multipartite interactions between pathogens, or between pathogens and symbionts were statistically evaluated. Among the infected ticks, 45% were co-infected, and carried up to five different pathogens. When adding symbiont prevalences, all ticks were infected by at least one microorganism, and up to eight microorganisms were identified in the same tick. When considering possible interactions between pathogens, the results suggested a strong association between Borrelia garinii and B. afzelii, whereas there were no significant interactions between symbionts and pathogens. Conclusion/significance Our study reveals high pathogen co-infection rates in ticks, raising questions about possible co-transmission of these agents to humans or animals, and their consequences to human and animal health. We also demonstrated high prevalence rates of symbionts co-existing with pathogens, opening new avenues of enquiry regarding their effects on pathogen transmission and vector competence. URL Previous https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0004539 No Review Needed? Next

182 < Back to Research Top Published Date 18/11/2015 Development of a Multiantigen Panel for Improved Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi Infection in Early Lyme Disease Journal Journal of Clinical Microbiology Citation J Clin Microbiol. 2015 Dec;53(12):3834-41 DOI 10.1128/JCM.02111-15 Authors Lahey LJ, Mao R, Delanoy M, Flanagan JJ, Binder SR, Rebman AW, Montoya JG, Soloski MJ, Steere AC, Dattwyler RJ, Arnaboldi PM, Aucott JN, Robinson WH Abstract The current standard for laboratory diagnosis of Lyme disease in the United States is serologic detection of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a two-tiered testing algorithm; however, this scheme has limited sensitivity for detecting early Lyme disease. Thus, there is a need to improve diagnostics for Lyme disease at the early stage, when antibiotic treatment is highly efficacious. We examined novel and established antigen markers to develop a multiplex panel that identifies early infection using the combined sensitivity of multiple markers while simultaneously maintaining high specificity by requiring positive results for two markers to designate a positive test. Ten markers were selected from our initial analysis of 62 B. burgdorferi surface proteins and synthetic peptides by assessing binding of IgG and IgM to each in a training set of Lyme disease patient samples and controls. In a validation set, this 10-antigen panel identified a higher proportion of early-Lyme-disease patients as positive at the baseline or post-treatment visit than two-tiered testing (87.5% and 67.5%, respectively; P < 0.05). Equivalent specificities of 100% were observed in 26 healthy controls. Upon further analysis, positivity on the novel 10-antigen panel was associated with longer illness duration and multiple erythema migrans. The improved sensitivity and comparable specificity of our 10-antigen panel compared to two-tiered testing in detecting early B. burgdorferi infection indicates that multiplex analysis, featuring the next generation of markers, could advance diagnostic technology to better aid clinicians in diagnosing and treating early Lyme disease. URL Previous https://jcm.asm.org/content/53/12/3834.long No Review Needed? Next