Correlation between COVID-19 severity and previous exposure of patients to Borrelia spp.

Szewczyk-Dąbrowska, Alina; Budziar, Wiktoria; Harhala, Marek; Baniecki, Krzysztof; Pikies, Aleksandra; Jędruchniewicz, Natalia; Kaźmierczak, Zuzanna; Gembara, Katarzyna; Klimek, Tomasz; Witkiewicz, Wojciech; Nahorecki, Artur; Barczyk, Kamil; Kłak, Marlena; Grata-Borkowska, Urszula; Dąbrowska, Krystyna

doi:10.1038/s41598-022-20202-x

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…The presence of SARS-CoV-2 combined with Spirochaetes may be one of the reasons for relatively severe symptoms. The study proved that there was a significant correlation between the serum level of anti Spirochaetes antibodies observed in the same individual and the severity of COVID-19, and the serum level of anti Spirochaetes antibodies was closely related to the severity of COVID-19 and the risk of hospitalization ( Szewczyk-Dąbrowska et al., 2022 ). Tenericutes have a single membrane and lack a cell wall, and can form a close relationship with humans in a symbiotic or parasitic state ( Razin et al., 1998 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Analysis of coexisting pathogens in nasopharyngeal swabs from COVID-19

Gao

Cao

Yang

et al. 2023

Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.

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BackgroundThe impact of COVID-19 on the world is still ongoing, and it is currently under regular management. Although most infected people have flu-like symptoms and can cure themselves, coexisting pathogens in COVID-19 patients should not be taken lightly. The present study sought to investigate the coexisting pathogens in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients and identify the variety and abundance of dangerous microbes to guide treatment strategies with a better understanding of the untested factors.MethodsWe extracted total DNA and RNA in COVID-19 patient specimens from nasopharyngeal swabs to construct a metagenomic library and utilize Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to discover chief bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the body of patients. High-throughput sequencing data from Illumina Hiseq 4000 were analyzed using Krona taxonomic methodology for species diversity.ResultsWe studied 56 samples to detect SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens and analyzed the species diversity and community composition of these samples after sequencing. Our results showed some threatening pathogens such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and some previously reported pathogens. SARS-CoV-2 combined with bacterial infection is more common. The results of heat map analysis showed that the abundance of bacteria was mostly more than 1000 and that of viruses was generally less than 500. The pathogens most likely to cause SARS-CoV-2 coinfection or superinfection include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Human gammaherpesvirus 4.ConclusionsThe current coinfection and superinfection status is not optimistic. Bacteria are the major threat group that increases the risk of complications and death in COVID-19 patients and attention should be paid to the use and control of antibiotics. Our study investigated the main types of respiratory pathogens prone to coexisting or superinfection in COVID-19 patients, which is valuable for identifying and treating SARS-CoV-2.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Analysis of coexisting pathogens in nasopharyngeal swabs from COVID-19

Gao

Cao

Yang

et al. 2023

Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.

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“…There is anecdotal evidence that COVID-19 infections have resulted in the re-activation of latent Borrelia infections [ 348 ]. Increased levels of Borrelia -specific IgG antibodies strongly correlated with SARS-CoV-2 viral severity and the risk of hospitalization [ 349 ]. The human microbiota has been implicated in the development of a variety of mental illnesses, including Alzheimer’s disease, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anorexia nervosa, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders [ 350 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbes and Mental Illness: Past, Present, and Future

Bransfield,

Mao,

Greenberg

2023

Healthcare

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A review of the association between microbes and mental illness is performed, including the history, relevant definitions, infectious agents associated with mental illnesses, complex interactive infections, total load theory, pathophysiology, psychoimmunology, psychoneuroimmunology, clinical presentations, early-life infections, clinical assessment, and treatment. Perspectives on the etiology of mental illness have evolved from demonic possession toward multisystem biologically based models that include gene expression, environmental triggers, immune mediators, and infectious diseases. Microbes are associated with a number of mental disorders, including autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depressive disorders, and anxiety disorders, as well as suicidality and aggressive or violent behaviors. Specific microbes that have been associated or potentially associated with at least one of these conditions include Aspergillus, Babesia, Bartonella, Borna disease virus, Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), Candida, Chlamydia, coronaviruses (e.g., SARS-CoV-2), Cryptococcus neoformans, cytomegalovirus, enteroviruses, Epstein–Barr virus, hepatitis C, herpes simplex virus, human endogenous retroviruses, human immunodeficiency virus, human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1, influenza viruses, measles virus, Mycoplasma, Plasmodium, rubella virus, Group A Streptococcus (PANDAS), Taenia solium, Toxoplasma gondii, Treponema pallidum (syphilis), Trypanosoma, and West Nile virus. Recognition of the microbe and mental illness association with the development of greater interdisciplinary research, education, and treatment options may prevent and reduce mental illness morbidity, disability, and mortality.

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“…Here we used a SARS-CoV-2 spike protein immunization which has been previously used ( 41 ) to detect humoral immune suppression. Interestingly, a study conducted in Poland found that increased levels of serum Borrelia -specific IgG was strongly correlated with COVID-19 severity and risk of hospitalization ( 42 ), suggesting the potential for compromised immunity in former Lyme disease patients. However, it remains unclear whether the patients included in that study tested seropositive due to active infection or due to prior exposure to Borrelia .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suppression of host humoral immunity by Borrelia burgdorferi varies over the course of infection

Williams,

Zhang,

Pulse

et al. 2024

Infect Immun

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Borrelia burgdorferi , the spirochetal agent of Lyme disease, utilizes a variety of strategies to evade and suppress the host immune response, which enables it to chronically persist in the host. The resulting immune response is characterized by unusually strong IgM production and a lack of long-term protective immunity. Previous studies in mice have shown that infection with B. burgdorferi also broadly suppresses host antibody responses against unrelated antigens. Here, we show that mice infected with B. burgdorferi and concomitantly immunized with recombinant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein had an abrogated antibody response to the immunization. To further define how long this humoral immune suppression lasts, mice were immunized at 2, 4, and 6 weeks post-infection. Suppression of host antibody production against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein peaked at 2 weeks post-infection but continued for all timepoints measured. Antibody responses against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were also assessed following antibiotic treatment to determine whether this immune suppression persists or resolves following clearance of B. burgdorferi . Host antibody production against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein returned to baseline following antibiotic treatment; however, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM remained high, comparable to levels found in B. burgdorferi -infected but untreated mice. Thus, our data demonstrate restored IgG responses following antibiotic treatment but persistently elevated IgM levels, indicating lingering effects of B. burgdorferi infection on the immune system following treatment.

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Correlation between COVID-19 severity and previous exposure of patients to Borrelia spp.

Cited by 9 publications

References 34 publications

Analysis of coexisting pathogens in nasopharyngeal swabs from COVID-19

Analysis of coexisting pathogens in nasopharyngeal swabs from COVID-19

Microbes and Mental Illness: Past, Present, and Future

Suppression of host humoral immunity by Borrelia burgdorferi varies over the course of infection

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