What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine whether human skin fibroblasts and other eukaryotic cell types protect Borrelia burgdorferi from the bactericidal effects of ceftriaxone in vitro.

August 1, 1992The Journal of Infectious Diseases

Fibroblasts Protect the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, from Ceftriaxone In Vitro

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Authors

KGK. GeorgilisAlexandra Hospital MPMonica PeacockeVA NY Harbor Healthcare System MKMark S. KlempnerUniversity of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

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Implication

In vitro study demonstrates that fibroblasts rescue Borrelia burgdorferi from ceftriaxone in cell culture, indicating host cells may support long-term bacterial persistence.

Key Points

To determine whether human skin fibroblasts and other eukaryotic cell types protect Borrelia burgdorferi from the bactericidal effects of ceftriaxone in vitro.
Co-cultured Borrelia burgdorferi with human foreskin fibroblasts, glutaraldehyde-fixed fibroblasts, or cell lysates during exposure to ceftriaxone at 1 µg/mL (10–20× MBC).
Monitored spirochete survival over exposure intervals extending up to 14 days.
Tested protective effects across multiple eukaryotic lines, including mouse keratinocytes, HEp-2 cells, Vero cells, and Caco-2 cells.
Living human foreskin fibroblasts preserved B. burgdorferi viability during ceftriaxone exposure (1 µg/mL, 10–20× MBC) for at least 14 days, whereas spirochetes without fibroblasts failed to survive.
Protective action required viable host cells, as glutaraldehyde-fixed fibroblasts and cell lysates conferred no protection, regardless of bacterial infectivity status.
Cross-protection was similarly observed in mouse keratinocytes, HEp-2 cells, and Vero cells, but was absent in Caco-2 cells.

Cite This Study

Georgilis et al. (1992) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a87d48b3bdf89560ead3475 https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/166.2.440

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Implication

In vitro study demonstrates that fibroblasts rescue Borrelia burgdorferi from ceftriaxone in cell culture, indicating host cells may support long-term bacterial persistence.

Fibroblasts Protect the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, from Ceftriaxone In Vitro

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Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Fibroblasts Protect the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, from Ceftriaxone In Vitro

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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