Protein found in human sweat inhibits growth of Lyme bacteria

International researchers looked at biobank samples from 617,731 patients and discovered that patients with Lyme disease were more likely to have a human sweat protein variant than those without the disease. They then discovered that a specific variation of that protein inhibited the growth of the Lyme bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, in the lab and also in their experiments using mice. 

This research shines a light on physiological variability for those diagnosed with Lyme disease, and opens the door to further research regarding the prevention and treatment of the disease.

Strausz, S., Abner, E., Blacker, G. et al. SCGB1D2 inhibits growth of Borrelia burgdorferi and affects susceptibility to Lyme disease. Nat Commun 15, 2041 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-45983-9