Borrelia Burgdorferi May 2026

It can change its outer surface proteins to "camouflage" itself, staying one step ahead of your body's antibodies.

This spirochete causes a characteristic annular rash, arthritis, carditis, and in late stages, encephalopathy. National Institutes of Health (.gov) Why Is Lyme Disease So Hard to Treat? borrelia burgdorferi

If left untreated, the infection can move through different stages: Borrelia Burgdorferi - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - NIH It can change its outer surface proteins to

Unlike almost all other life forms, this bacterium does not need iron to survive. Instead, it uses manganese, allowing it to bypass the body's natural defense of "starving" invaders of iron. 3. Symptoms to Watch For and in late stages

Its spiral shape allows it to "drill" through dense tissues, like cartilage and nerves, where other bacteria might get stuck.