Thread by @LonnieRhea

Eva Sapi, PhD @UNewHaven | talking about different forms of Borrelia. “Borrelia plays hide & seek” “standard ABx don’t kill aggregate forms of Borrelia” #LivLymeSummit @liv_lyme

@UNewHaven @liv_lyme Sapi | Common bacteria form biofilm. The role of the biofilm is to protect the bacteria. It's like a city. Inside biofilm there are persister cells, sleeper cells, intercellular communication & immigration when the colony gets too large. #LivLymeSummit

Sapi | atomic force microscope shows Borrelia forms biofilm. You can see spirochete inside. #LivLymeSummit

Sapi | found Borrelia biofilm contains alginate (sugar) & calcium, forms a protective barrier. Multiple species of Borrelia were shown to do this. Able to detect B.b. biofilm in skin biopsy, Lymphocytomas, and autopsy. (Sapi, et al 2016) #LivLymeSummit

Sapi |Evidence of In Vivo Existence of Borrelia Biofilm in Borrelial Lymphocytomas. (metagenomic analysis) Currently looking for amaloids: "We're seeing similar changes that we see in Alzheimer's brains" #LivLymeSummit ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

Sapi | Unpublished case, with Columbia U & Dr. Leigner: autopsy tissues show Bb in pt's heart, liver, brain, kidney after antibiotics, corresponded with infiltrating T-cells (indicating an inflammatory response?) #LivLymeSummit

Sapi | Where else can we find Borrelia? (Sapi was trained as a cancer biologist) Pilot study: looking at breast cancer, finding B.b. inside neoplastic tissues. (unpublished data 2019) #LivLymeSummit

Sapi | will present further data at ILADS including slides showing 3 weeks of doxycycline unable to clear B.b from tissues & repeat of Zhang trials of diff combination of triple drug combination, with added 4 drug combo. #LivLymeSummit

Sapi | also studying combining antibiotics with herbal & essential oils. Recommends all researchers look for all forms of and all strains of Borrelia! #LivLymeSummit