Spirochetes Unwound: About

The goal of this blog is to highlight some of the research being done with spirochetes. Spirochetes are responsible for a variety of human diseases, including syphilis, Lyme disease, relapsing fever, and leptospirosis. Since my background is in basic research, I will focus on the molecular biology and microbiology of spirochetes rather than the clinical and epidemiological aspects of the diseases they cause.

I am a Research Scientist toiling away in the lab to avoid joining the ranks of the unemployed, but I work on this blog whenever I have the time. If you wish to contact me, I can be reached at MicrobeFan AT gmail DOT com.

Common Spirochete Diseases

Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease caused by several members of the Borrelia burgdorferi complex. B. burgdorferi, B. garinii, and B. afzelii account for most cases worldwide. A rash may appear at the site of the tick bite, and the patient may experience flu-like symptoms. Left untreated, the patient may suffer from neurologic, arthritic, and cardiac complications.

The syphilis agent Treponema pallidum is most commonly acquired by sexual contact. A skin lesion called a chancre appears at the site of initial contact with the spirochete. T. pallidum later spreads to other sites in the body to cause the flu-like symptoms and rash of secondary syphilis. Once secondary syphilis resolves, the spirochete may persist for years without causing problems. Later, tertiary syphilis can result in damage to vital tissues. Neurosyphilis and cardiovascular syphilis are two common forms of tertiary syphilis.

Leptospira lives in the kidneys of rodents and other reservoir hosts and is shed via urine into the environment. Humans acquire the spirochete by contact of abraded skin or mucous membranes with infectious urine or contaminated water or soil. Leptospirosis patients may initially experience flu-like symptoms. Jaundice and impaired kidney function occur in the potentially deadly form of leptospirosis called Weil's disease.

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