Bee Venom VS Lyme Disease

Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is a complex, multi-systemic illness transmitted by ticks. While antibiotics are the primary treatment, relapses often occur after stopping the medication. The exact reason for these relapses is unclear, but studies suggest the presence of antibiotic-resistant Borrelia forms, such as round bodies, persisters, and biofilms.

Soccaras et al. showed in their study that both, bee venom and melittin, significantly impacted all tested forms of B. burgdorferi. In contrast, the antibiotics, whether used alone or in combination, had limited effects on the biofilm form. These findings suggest that bee venom and melittin could be potent antimicrobial agents against Lyme disease. However, further research is needed to confirm their effectiveness in vivo and to develop safe delivery methods for therapeutic use.

Reference

-Socarras KM, Theophilus PAS, Torres JP, Gupta K, Sapi E. Antimicrobial Activity of Bee Venom and Melittin against Borrelia burgdorferi. Antibiotics (Basel). 2017 Nov 29;6(4):31. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics6040031. PMID: 29186026; PMCID: PMC5745474.