Under the Microscope
A fascinating look into some of Alan MacDonald’s work (shown on the Documentary Under Our Skin) regarding the various forms of spirochetes and the protective biofilm which can inhibit successful antibiotic treatment:
Includes close up views of the following:
Spiral Type
Cystic Type
Granular Type
Cell Wall Deficient Type
http://www.molecularalzheimer.org/files/Biofilm_New_Haven_ppt_Read-Only_.pdf
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Spirochetes Unwound Blog Spot
An absolutely amazing website looking up close and personal at spirochetes, Lyme rashes and containing many scientific articles on borrelia. Great for a student studying Lyme.
http://spirochetesunwound.blogspot.com/search/label/Lyme%20disease
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Identifying tick species by their mouth parts!
http://webpages.lincoln.ac.uk/fruedisueli/FR-webpages/parasitology/Ticks/TIK/tick-key/index_larva.htm
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Excellent pictures of ticks under the microscope with some explanation of body parts. Did you know that ticks beathe not through their mouth parts but through holes called spiracles at the base of their legs? You do now!
http://webpages.charter.net/balplanman/_MicPix/Ticks/Ticks.html
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The Lyme Bug Life-cycle
Video shows spirochete, dividing spirochetes, biomass & cyst formations (a survival strategy, making it hard to eradicate!)
http://lymeonline.org/2009/09/25/the-lyme-spirochete-life-ccyle-video/
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Gorgeous high-res pictures – not only of Lyme but everything from the brain, blood cells, parasites, bacteria – yummy!
For Lyme (borrelia images) go to Image Search on the site..
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Absolutely amazing videos of Lyme spirochetes morphing
http://wn.com/Lyme_disease_microbiology
Including blebs, cysts, spiros & biomass formations
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BORRELIA BURGDORFERI: THE SPIROCHETE AND ITS DETECTION
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/lyme_disease.html
The spirochete that causes Lyme disease cannot live outside the body of a host. It must live within either a mammal or a tick.
In the mammal’s body, the spirochete is especially adept at binding to connective tissue. If one is doing additional reading on this organism, one will encounter references to the spirochete’s surface proteins called “Osp’s” (“Osp” stands for “outer surface protein”). Different Osp’s are expressed depending on whether the spirochete is attached to the tick midgut (OspA), the mammal’s connective tissue (OspC), or whether the tick is in an early or late stage of mammal infection (Osps E and F respectively). By modifying its Osp’s, the spirochete is able to change its presentation to the mammalian host’s immune system thus escaping immune destruction. In addition to changing Osp’s, the spirochete can change its shape into at least 3 different forms and is able to hide within cellular folds. (The Lyme spirochete is a master of disguise and camouflage.)
This presents an enormous diagnostic challenge: if the host’s immune system can’t even find the organism, how are we supposed to detect it?
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Various you-tube clips:
Lyme sprio clips from Dr McDonald’s research – prepare to be eeked!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBWvytTofF8&feature=player_profilepage
Video of spriro turning into cyst form for protection against antibiotics
http://www.youtube.com/user/cdntnkrbell#p/f/30/lVmCa70bAxE
Another good clip: Borellia burgdorferi spirochete in motion
http://www.youtube.com/user/cdntnkrbell#p/f/38/F9B60gsCg4w
Babs, Myscoplasm & Lyme in blood cells
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i3UdPDuQoE&NR=1
A look at bacteria under the microscope
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPEBbGNmBi0&feature=related
