Lyme disease
Molecular PathogenesisThe Lon-1 Protease Is Required by Borrelia burgdorferi To Infect the Mammalian HostBorrelia burgdorferi encodes a functional homolog of canonical Lon protease termed Lon-2. In addition, B. burgdorferi encodes a second Lon homolog called Lon-1. Recent studies suggest that Lon-1 may function differently from the prototypical Lon protease. However, the function of Lon-1 in...
Microbial Immunity and VaccinesThe Factor H-Binding Site of CspZ as a Protective Target against Multistrain, Tick-Transmitted Lyme DiseaseThe spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is the causative agent of Lyme disease (LD). The spirochetes produce the CspZ protein that binds to a complement regulator, factor H (FH). Such binding downregulates activation of host complement to facilitate spirochete evasion of complement killing. However, vaccination with CspZ does not protect against LD...
Microbial Immunity and VaccinesDelineating Surface Epitopes of Lyme Disease Pathogen Targeted by Highly Protective Antibodies of New Zealand White RabbitsLyme disease (LD), the most prevalent vector-borne illness in the United States and Europe, is caused by Borreliella burgdorferi. No vaccine is available for humans. Dogmatically, B. burgdorferi can establish a persistent infection in the mammalian host (e.g., mice) due to a surface antigen, VlsE....
Cellular Microbiology: Pathogen-Host Cell Molecular InteractionsNew Zealand White Rabbits Effectively Clear Borrelia burgdorferi B31 despite the Bacterium’s Functional vlsE Antigenic Variation SystemBorrelia burgdorferi is a tick-borne bacterium responsible for approximately 300,000 annual cases of Lyme disease (LD) in the United States, with increasing incidences in other parts of the world. The debilitating nature of LD is mainly attributed to the ability of B. burgdorferi to persist in...
Bacterial InfectionsTracking of Borrelia afzelii Transmission from Infected Ixodes ricinus Nymphs to MiceQuantitative and microscopic tracking of Borrelia afzelii transmission from infected Ixodes ricinus nymphs has shown a transmission cycle different from that of Borrelia burgdorferi and...
Bacterial Infections | SpotlightBorrelia burgdorferi bbk13 Is Critical for Spirochete Population Expansion in the Skin during Early InfectionLyme disease is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted via the bite of an infected tick. B. burgdorferi enters the skin, disseminates via the bloodstream, and infects various distal tissues, leading to inflammatory sequelae, such as Lyme arthritis and Lyme carditis.
...- Bacterial InfectionsShort-Chain Fatty Acids Alter Metabolic and Virulence Attributes of Borrelia burgdorferi
Borrelia burgdorferi responds to a variety of host-derived factors and appropriately alters its gene expression for adaptation under different host-specific conditions. We previously showed that various levels of acetate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), altered the protein profile of B. burgdorferi...
- Microbial Immunity and VaccinesIdentification of Surface Epitopes Associated with Protection against Highly Immune-Evasive VlsE-Expressing Lyme Disease Spirochetes
The tick-borne pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi is responsible for approximately 300,000 Lyme disease (LD) cases per year in the United States. Recent increases in the number of LD cases, in addition to the spread of the tick vector and a lack of a vaccine, highlight an urgent need for designing and developing an efficacious LD vaccine.
- Bacterial Infections | SpotlightBorrelia Host Adaptation Protein (BadP) Is Required for the Colonization of a Mammalian Host by the Agent of Lyme Disease