Medical Blog

Dr. Neil L. Spector, MD, was a leading physician-scientist, Duke University oncologist, and cancer researcher whose personal encounter with tick-borne disease transformed research at the intersection of oncology, Borrelia, and Bartonella. His work bridged the gap between modern targeted cancer therapies and infectious disease, offering a framework for understanding chronic tick-borne infections. 1. Personal Experience […]

Why Do Infection Doctors Not Focus On Forms That Are Not The Basic Active Form? The existence of round bodies (also referred to as cysts, L-forms, spheroplasts, “nut,” or pleomorphic forms) in Borrelia burgdorferi—the bacterium that causes Lyme disease—is well-documented and proven across decades of peer-reviewed microbiological research. Rather than being dead cellular debris, round

A decade after being diagnosed with Lyme disease, Dr. Spector’s heart was so severely damaged that he needed an emergency heart transplant.  He received a new heart in July of 2009 after being advised that he only had 72 hours to live. Dr. Spector’s experience with Lyme disease, coupled with his training at Parkland Hospital,

Lynne Bemis, PhD, has contributed to research on the molecular evidence for placental transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease. Key Findings Research Focus: The studies led by Dr. Bemis investigate the potential vertical transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi from mother to fetus, particularly through placental tissues. Methodology: Advanced diagnostic techniques, including PCR and immunofluorescence, were

Research Chronic Bacterial Pathogenesis Dr. Ehrlich and his lab are interested in how chronic bacterial pathogens persist in the face of antimicrobial therapy and the innate and adaptive host responses. To understand this complex phenomenon, Dr. Ehrlich promulgated the rubric of “bacterial plurality,” which embodies the concept that chronic pathogens display enormous heterogeneity at many

The biofilm formed by Borrelia burgdorferi (the Lyme disease spirochete) is a highly complex, multi-layered protective structure. FEMS Microbiology Letters Rather than existing merely as a simple cluster of bacteria, a Borrelia biofilm operates as a organized micro-community embedded within a self-produced matrix known as an Extracellular Polymeric Substance (EPS). PMC The complexity of a Lyme biofilm spans several distinct biological and biochemical