After first exposure to an antigen, about how long does it take for antibodies to reach a detectable level? 2. What could explain the significant increase in antibodies to non-Lyme disease antigens (blue line)?

3. Lyme disease patients who are treated with antibiotics quickly usually do much better than those who are treated later. Why do you think this is the case?

4. Why doesn’t the Antibodies in Lyme Disease Antigens (orange line) decrease after the first immune response, compared to non-Lyme Disease Antigens (blue line)?

5. Professor Dr. Utpal Pal studied the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium at the University of Maryland. Dr. Pal found that Lyme disease is caused by your immune system. When the body is infected with Lyme disease, it overreacts causing inflammation in the joints. Although antibiotic resistance has not been observed for B. burgdorferi, create an argument defending the control of antibiotic use to the public. Analyze the data in the graph below by answering the following questions. Be sure to use complete sentences.