Lyme disease affects nearly half a million people in the U.S. annually, often leading to severe health issues if not treated early. Piperacillin, an antibiotic similar to penicillin, has shown promise in treating this disease more effectively than doxycycline, the current standard. Researchers at Northwestern University found that piperacillin cured Lyme disease in mice at doses 100 times lower than doxycycline and did not disturb gut bacteria.
Doxycycline and other antibiotics can disrupt beneficial gut bacteria and cause side effects while treating Lyme. Additionally, doxycycline is ineffective for up to 20% of users and is unsuitable for young children, the group most at risk for Lyme. Climate change has further increased the demand for effective treatments as tick seasons expand.
Research team leader Brandon L. Jutras noted, "Powerful, broad-spectrum antibiotics that kill extracellular bacteria are seen as the most effective medication because physicians want to just kill the bacterium and don't care how." He highlighted the potential for customized medicine, emphasizing a tailored approach to Lyme treatment.
Jutras's lab at Northwestern University, a recognized phase 3 winner in the LymeX Diagnostics competition by the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, focuses on developing innovative Lyme treatments. Piperacillin is FDA-approved for pneumonia and could serve as a preemptive Lyme treatment following a deer tick bite.
The research involved screening nearly 500 drugs using a molecular framework to find effective compounds without harming other bacteria. Piperacillin uniquely targets the unusual cell wall synthesis of Lyme bacteria.
Historically used alongside tazobactam for strep, piperacillin appears effective against Lyme without additional inhibitors. Jutras remarked, “Strep and some other bacteria combat antibiotics by secreting beta-lactamases that inactivate piperacillin. We found the approach is totally irrelevant in the context of Lyme disease and another way that makes piperacillin more specific."
Efforts to prevent Lyme remain challenging due to the absence of an approved vaccine, but Jutras's ongoing research aims to improve diagnostic and treatment strategies. The study received support from several foundations, including the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, the Global Lyme Alliance, and the NIH.