15/11/2025
Scientists just uncovered a major twist in how the Lyme bacteria works — and it could change future treatments. 💚🧬
A new study published this week in the journal mBio reveals that manganese, the mineral Borrelia burgdorferi uses to shield itself from your immune system, is also a major crack in its armor.
Northwestern’s Brian Hoffman, one of the study leaders, explained it perfectly:
“Manganese is a double-edged sword in Lyme disease. It’s both Borrelia’s armor and its weakness. If we can target the way it manages manganese, we could open doors for entirely new approaches for treating Lyme disease.”
Here’s what that means in simple terms ⤵️
Borrelia needs manganese to survive — it uses it like a protective forcefield.
But if the bacteria don’t get enough manganese, the shield collapses.
And if they get too much, the manganese becomes toxic and harms them.
Either way, the bacteria become much easier for the immune system — or treatments — to destroy.
Researchers used advanced imaging to watch Borrelia try to juggle this delicate manganese balance.
🔬 As the bacteria age, they lose their ability to manage manganese, making their weak spot even bigger.
This discovery opens the door to future treatments that could weaken Lyme by disrupting this manganese balance — starving the bacteria, overwhelming it, or blocking its ability to use manganese as protection.
Real science. Real hope. 💚✨
Northwestern University Article: https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2025/11/manganese-is-lyme-diseases-double-edge-sword
Research Study - EPR spectroscopy reveals antioxidant manganese defenses in the Lyme disease pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.02824-25
