Alzheimer Plaques visualized by in situ DNA Hybridization with Molecular Beacons specific for Borrelia – a novel histomorphologic application
Abstract
Background: This case describes a novel application of Molecular Beacons, which are a patented technology, for the detection of DNA in tissue sections from an infectious microbe, namely Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of Lyme borreliosis. A 65-year-old man with Alzheimer’s disease and previously well documented spinal fluid neuroborreliosis eight years prior to death is the subject of this report. Neuroborreliosis in its tertiary from has been linked to some cases of Alzheimer’s disease (1. -4.)
New York Senate Passed a bill to track Lyme disease related deaths. NY Senate passes bill requiring state to track Lyme-related deaths, News 21-02-12: https://www.lymedisease.org/nys-lyme-deaths-bill/ Autopsies are expensive and infrequent. It would be nice to see Dr. Alan MacDonald’s technique used on more of these cases of death from neurologic disease. We would likely see that many are caused by treatable infections such as Bb.