New discovery could help in Lyme disease vaccines testing

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Researchers identified the bacterium behind the debilitating Lyme disease decades ago.

They have understood its life cycle requires an interaction between infected deer and the specific species of ticks that feeds on them.

And they've known while there are many different strains of the Lyme disease-causing bacterium, reinfection of people by the same strain of the bacteria is rare.

Up until recently, scientists had presumed the antibodies produced to neutralize the bacteria did their work inside a person's body.

A recent study completed by a team of Rocky Mountain Laboratory researchers in Hamilton led by Dr. Patti Rosa discovered that wasn't the case.