Northwestern University Nov 13 2025 For decades, Lyme disease has frustrated both physicians and patients alike. Caused by the corkscrew-shaped bacterium  Borrelia burgdorferi , the infection, if left untreated, can linger for months, leading to fever, fatigue and painful inflammation. In a new study, Northwestern University and Uniformed Services University (USU) scientists have uncovered a surprising - and ironic - vulnerability in the hardy bacterium. By exploiting this vulnerability,