Researchers at Northwestern University and Uniformed Services University have discovered that manganese, which helps protect the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi from its host’s immune system, is actually a weakness in its armor. If the bacteria are starved of or overloaded with manganese, it becomes vulnerable to attack by the immune system or treatments. This finding holds potential for new therapeutic strategies against Lyme disease.
Source: https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2025/11/manganese-is-lyme-diseases-double-edge-sword