Persistent Infection, Molecular Mimicry, and the Future of Chronic Lyme

March 17, 2026

http://  Approx. 1.5 Hours

Persistent Infection, Molecular Mimicry, and the Future of Chronic Lyme

Amy Proal, PhD

Tick Boot Camp

3/14/26I

(https://tickbootcamp.com/podcast/), host Matt Sabatello is joined by Amy Proal, PhD, a leading microbiologist and one of the most influential scientific voices reshaping how chronic Lyme disease and tick-borne illness are understood.

Dr. Proal is the President and Research Director of the PolyBio Research Foundation and serves as Scientific Director of the Cohen Center for Recovery from Complex Chronic Illness at Mount Sinai, where research and clinical care intersect to advance treatment for patients with complex post-infectious disease.

This conversation dives deep into why many Lyme patients remain sick long after standard treatment, exploring the concept of persistent infection and how pathogens like Borrelia can evade immune detection by hiding in tissue rather than circulating in blood.

Dr. Proal explains why conventional blood tests often fail, why chronic illness must be studied at the tissue level, and how new diagnostic technologies may finally uncover what has been missed for decades.

Matt and Dr. Proal also explore molecular mimicry, a mechanism in which pathogens trigger autoimmune-like symptoms by producing proteins that resemble human tissue, leading the immune system to attack both the infection and the body itself. They discuss why immune suppression may temporarily reduce symptoms while allowing infection to persist, and why supporting immune function is often a critical piece of long-term healing.

The episode further examines the idea of successive infection, where cumulative infections, environmental exposures, and physical injuries such as concussions progressively dysregulate the immune system, explaining why some people become severely ill from Lyme disease while others do not.

Dr. Proal also sheds light on neurological Lyme disease, the role of the vagus nerve, and how infections outside the brain can still drive profound neurological and autonomic symptoms.

Throughout the discussion, Dr. Proal shares how her own experience with chronic illness shaped her scientific career and why patient-centered research is essential for meaningful progress.

This episode offers validation, clarity, and hope for anyone affected by chronic Lyme disease and tick-borne illness, and highlights the scientific momentum finally pushing the field toward better diagnostics, targeted treatments, and real answers.

To learn more about Amy Proal’s work, visit PolyBio Research Foundation and the Cohen Center for Recovery from Complex Chronic Illness.

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Category:

Activism, Lyme

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