Lyme Disease Bacterium Genome Sequenced
Researchers at The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) announced the
completion of an 18-month effort to sequence the genome of Borrelia
burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. The work, described in
a paper by Claire Fraser et al that appeared in the 11 December issue of
Nature, represents the 6th genome completely sequenced at TIGR in 2.5
years. Sequence data and related annotation are available on the TIGR web
site (http://www.tigr.org/new/). The most common tick-transmitted illness
in the U.S., Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose and to cure and if not
treated early with antibiotics causes nerve damage and progressive
arthritis.