Borrelia burgdorferi disrupts gut barrier functions and microbiota-antibody interactions.

Borrelia burgdorferi causes a "leaky gut" syndrome in mice and humans, disrupting gut barrier function and immune responses during Lyme disease.

• Why it matters: Understanding how Bb affects gut health is crucial because gut barrier dysfunction can lead to systemic inflammation and complicate disease symptoms, yet the mechanisms remain unclear.
• What they did: The study involved infecting mice with Bb and analyzing blood and gut samples, alongside examining blood changes in patients with acute Lyme disease, to assess immune and microbiota alterations.
• The result: Findings reveal that Bb impairs mucosal immunity and gut integrity, leading to microbiota changes and systemic immune effects, which may drive disease progression and offer targets for intervention.