Disrupt Borrelia biofilms with NAC and proteolytic enzymes

Borrelia spirochetes form biofilms expressing the marker alginate, making them up to 1,000-fold more resistant to antibiotics. N-acetylcysteine (NAC, 600-1200 mg twice daily) disrupts the extracellular polysaccharide matrix. Proteolytic enzymes like serrapeptase, lumbrokinase, and nattokinase dissolve the fibrin scaffold that biofilms use as structural support.

Why It Works

NAC is a mucolytic agent that breaks disulfide bonds in the biofilm matrix, exposing bacteria to antibiotics and the immune system. Serrapeptase has demonstrated antibiofilm activity against Staphylococcus aureus in published studies. Lumbrokinase and nattokinase are fibrinolytic enzymes that degrade the fibrin component of biofilm architecture. Used alongside antibiotics, they may improve antibiotic penetration into biofilm-protected colonies.

Tips

• Clinical evidence is primarily from in vitro studies; human trials specific to Borrelia biofilms are limited
• Take proteolytic enzymes on an empty stomach (at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals)
• NAC also supports glutathione production, which may help with oxidative stress from chronic infection
• Best used as an adjunct to antibiotic therapy, not as a standalone treatment