Episode 558: Persistent Infection, Molecular Mimicry, and the Future of Chronic Lyme | Amy Proal,... скачать в хорошем качестве

Episode 558: Persistent Infection, Molecular Mimicry, and the Future of Chronic Lyme | Amy Proal,...

In this powerful and science-forward episode of the Tick Boot Camp Podcast (https://tickbootcamp.com/podcast/) , host Matt Sabatello sits down with Amy Proal (https://polybio.org/team/amy-proal/) , PhD, a leading microbiologist whose work is reshaping how the medical community understands chronic Lyme disease, post-treatment Lyme disease (PTLD), ME/CFS, and Long COVID. Dr. Proal brings a rare combination of deep scientific expertise, lived experience with chronic illness, and real-world clinical integration, offering listeners clarity on why so many patients remain sick long after standard treatment ends — and what science is finally doing about it. 👩‍🔬 About Amy Proal, PhD Amy Proal, PhD, is an internationally recognized microbiologist specializing in the molecular mechanisms by which persistent pathogens alter human immunity, metabolism, and gene expression. She currently serves in two major leadership roles: • President & Research Director, PolyBio Research Foundation (https://polybio.org/#section-about) • Scientific Director, Cohen Center for Recovery from Complex Chronic Illness (CORE) (https://icahn.mssm.edu/research/cohen) at Mount Sinai Her work focuses on infection-associated chronic illness, including: • Chronic Lyme disease & tick-borne co-infections • Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLD) • ME/CFS • Long COVID Dr. Proal is widely known for helping shift the scientific narrative away from psychosomatic explanations and toward biological root causes driven by persistent infection and immune dysregulation. 🧬 PolyBio Research Foundation: Rewriting the Science of Chronic Illness Dr. Proal co-founded PolyBio Research Foundation in 2018 alongside neuroscientist Dr. Michael VanElzakker, after recognizing that most chronic illness research ignored root cause biology, particularly infection. What Makes PolyBio Different • Led by scientists, not administrators • Focused on tissue-based research, not just blood tests • Actively recruits researchers from HIV, tuberculosis, and virology fields to study Lyme and ME/CFS • Designs research programs before fundraising, ensuring scientific rigor PolyBio has played a major role in advancing research on: • Pathogen persistence in human tissue • Hidden reservoirs of infection • Why standard diagnostics often fail 🏥 Cohen Center for Recovery from Complex Chronic Illness (CORE) Dr. Proal also serves as Scientific Director of the Cohen Center for Recovery from Complex Chronic Illness (CORE) at Mount Sinai in New York City. CORE’s Mission • Treat patients with Long COVID and chronic tick-borne illness within an insurance-based system • Integrate clinical care with active research and clinical trials • Establish new standards of care for infection-associated chronic disease At CORE, Dr. Proal helps design studies that leverage real patient visits — asking critical questions such as: • Where is the pathogen hiding? • What tissues are affected? • What immune pathways are disrupted? 🧠 Persistent Infection & Why Blood Tests Fail A central theme of the episode is that chronic infection is often a tissue-based disease, not a blood-based one. Dr. Proal explains: • Pathogens like Borrelia (Lyme) and SARS-CoV-2 actively avoid the bloodstream • Blood is heavily patrolled by immune cells — tissue offers protection • Absence of evidence in blood ≠ absence of infection This helps explain why: • Lyme disease often goes undetected by standard serology • Patients remain symptomatic despite “negative tests” • Tissue biopsies and advanced imaging are essential for progress 🧬 Molecular Mimicry: How Infection Triggers Autoimmune Symptoms Dr. Proal provides a clear explanation of molecular...