Biofilms busters to improve the detection of Borrelia using PCR

Med Hypotheses. 2018 Mar:112:4-6. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2018.01.005. Epub 2018 Jan 30.

Abstract

Lyme disease is an affection caused by a spirochete infection called Borrelia Burgdorferi which may harbor a varied and misleading clinical symptomatology. The serology tests commonly used for diagnosis show a wide sensitivity varying from 34% to 70,5%, leaving many infected patients with false negative tests. Alternative techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) could be helpful but not conclusive enough. Using biofilm busters, such as stevia and serratiopeptidase, could lead to bacterial blood release, thus increasing the spirochete load, making PCR test more sensitive, thus improving the patient's diagnosis and management.

Keywords: Biofilms; Borrelia; Lyme; PCR; Serratiopeptidase; Stevia.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Load
  • Biofilms / drug effects*
  • Blood / drug effects
  • Blood / microbiology
  • Blotting, Western
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / classification
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / drug effects
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / isolation & purification*
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / physiology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay
  • False Negative Reactions
  • Humans
  • Lyme Disease / diagnosis*
  • Peptide Hydrolases / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Serogroup
  • Serologic Tests
  • Stevia*

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • Peptide Hydrolases
  • serratiopeptidase