Each year, nearly half a million Americans are affected by Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness that, if untreated, can lead to serious complications like arthritis, heart issues, and neurological disorders. But exciting new research from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine is reshaping the future of how we treat—and understand—this persistent disease.

In two groundbreaking studies published in Science Translational Medicine, microbiologist Brandon L. Jutras and his team revealed a promising alternative to current Lyme treatments. They discovered that the antibiotic piperacillin—already FDA-approved for pneumonia—can clear Lyme infections in mice at 100 times lower doses than the commonly used doxycycline. Unlike doxycycline, piperacillin spares beneficial gut bacteria and could be safe for young children, a group especially vulnerable to tick bites.

Beyond treatment, the team may have also solved a long-standing mystery: why some patients suffer chronic symptoms even after being treated. Their research suggests that fragments of Lyme bacteria, particularly a stubborn molecule in its cell wall, persist in the liver and may provoke ongoing immune reactions—similar to theories around long COVID.

These findings open the door to better diagnostics for Post Treatment Lyme Disease (PTLD) and pave the way for personalized therapies tailored to both the bacterial strain and the patient’s unique immune response. Jutras is optimistic: “We’re entering an era of customized medicine for Lyme disease,” he says. “The future looks bright.”

With no human vaccine currently available, these discoveries mark a crucial step toward both prevention and long-term care for Lyme patients—just as tick populations are growing due to climate change.