# Borrelia miyamotoi meningioencephalitis

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA · 2020 · $176,250

## Abstract

The meninges are important mediators of immune cell trafficking in response to infection in the central nervous
system (CNS). A recently identified tick-borne human pathogen, Borrelia miyamotoi, causes an acute febrile
illness, and may have serious complications in immunocompromised patients. Specifically, these patients are
deficient in B cells and develop meningoencephalitis upon infection with B. miyamotoi. Our long-term goal is to
determine the physiological mechanisms that underlie the neuropathologies associated with severe Borrelia
miyamotoi disease (BMD). Our central hypothesis is that B. miyamotoi colonization of the meninges routinely
occurs only in the absence of B cells. We will address this hypothesis with 2 Specific Aims: 1) Determining the
kinetics of B. miyamotoi dissemination into the meninges in the absence of B cells; and, 2) Identifying immune
responses that contribute to pathogen control. In Aim 1 of this proposal we will determine a) the kinetics of
meningeal infection; b) the effects of inoculation site variation; and c) the spatial and temporal colonization
patterns of meningeal infection. In Aim 2, we will determine the role of T-dependent B cell responses; and
changes in brain microglial activation in response to B. miyamotoi infection. Completion of these aims will define
the kinetics of B. miyamotoi colonization of the meninges and will determine if B cell responses are indeed
required for control of infection. Overall, this proposal is relevant to the mission of NIAID because a greater
understanding of severe BMD will enable healthcare providers to target at-risk patients with information about
alternative treatments for their conditions and preventative strategies to avoid BMD and other tick-borne
diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9872364
- **Project number:** 1R21AI149220-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** Catherine Ayn Brissette
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $176,250
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-01-01 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9872364

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9872364, Borrelia miyamotoi meningioencephalitis (1R21AI149220-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9872364. Licensed CC0.

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