Scientists reveal quirky feature of Lyme disease bacteria
Thursday, March 21, 2013 - 15:33
in Biology & Nature
Scientists have confirmed that the pathogen that causes Lyme Disease—unlike any other known organism—can exist without iron, a metal that all other life needs to make proteins and enzymes. Instead of iron, the bacteria substitute manganese to make an essential enzyme, thus eluding immune system defenses that protect the body by starving pathogens of iron.