Finally, there’s a way to keep syphilis growing in the lab
Inspiration for the breakthrough came from the bacterium that causes Lyme disease
![Treponema pallidum](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/062618_LR_syphilis_feat.jpg?fit=860%2C460&ssl=1)
GROWTH SPURT Scientists have finally figured out how to culture curly syphilis-causing bacteria (shown, colorized) using rabbit epithelial cells and a special growth medium.
Roinujs/Wikimedia Commons; Source: David Cox/CDC