Protein in Human Sweat Found to Protect Against Lyme Disease

Researchers uncover a protein in sweat that may offer a new way to prevent or treat Lyme disease, with implications for those resistant to antibiotics.

• A protein in human sweat, identified as SCGB1D2, has been found to protect against Lyme disease, a condition affecting nearly half a million Americans annually.
• Researchers from MIT and the University of Helsinki discovered that about one-third of the population carries a genetic variant of this protein, associated with Lyme disease susceptibility.
• The protein's exact mechanism in inhibiting the bacteria that cause Lyme disease remains unknown, but it holds potential for developing preventative skin creams or treatments for antibiotic-resistant cases.
• Initial findings were confirmed by researchers in Estonia, adding credibility to the potential of SCGB1D2 as a defense against Lyme disease.
• Despite the protective qualities of SCGB1D2, factors such as sweating during a tick bite could still influence Lyme disease infection, highlighting the need for further research.

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