Study Finds Anti-Lipid Antibodies Elevated in Lyme Patients, Potential for Earlier Detection Unclear

Scientists identified a group of immune molecules that could help detect Lyme disease earlier and identify patients with lingering symptoms after treatment, Newsweek reported. The study, led by Tufts University School of Medicine, analyzed blood samples from 199 people diagnosed with Lyme disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.

Researchers compared anti-lipid antibody levels against samples from healthy volunteers and patients with lupus, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, long COVID, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Three anti-lipid antibodies were elevated during infection. Anti-phosphatidic acid and anti-phosphatidylserine appeared at diagnosis, including in some patients negative on standard tests. Patients with persistent symptoms months later were more likely to show elevated anti-phosphatidylserine levels, a pattern largely absent in the comparison groups.

Standard tests detect antibodies that can take weeks to appear and remain detectable for years after infection clears. Earlier work showed that Lyme bacteria trigger antibodies against certain host lipids that rise and fall more dynamically. Peter Gwynne, senior author at the Tufts University Lyme Disease Initiative, stated that existing tests fall short in detecting infections early, proving cure, distinguishing new from historic cases, and identifying chronic disease.

He added that the anti-lipid antibodies appear earlier than traditional ones and could track treatment response. The findings were published in 2026 in the journal Infection and Immunity. The research received support from the NIH, Department of Defense, and Bay Area Lyme Foundation.