The versatile roles of antibodies in Borrelia infections.

Abstract

Antibodies are the primary weapons of the mammalian immune system that are used against the tick-borne borreliae, the causative agents of relapsing fever and Lyme disease worldwide. Some antibody responses have 'traditional' functions, whereas others are more versatile and have novel functions and modes of action. At a time when the multiple functions of antibodies are being increasingly recognized and passive immunization is being revived as therapy for infectious and other diseases, the versatile nature of the antibody response to the borreliae fits well with this antibody renaissance.

• Authors: Sean E Connolly, Jorge L Benach
• Journal: Nature reviews. Microbiology (Nat Rev Microbiol) Vol. 3 Issue 5 Pg. 411-20 (May 2005) ISSN: 1740-1526 [Print] England
• PMID: 15864264 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Review)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Bacterial
• Complement System Proteins

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Bacterial (immunology)
• Borrelia Infections (immunology)
• Complement System Proteins (immunology)
• Humans
• Lyme Disease (immunology)
• Ornithodoros
• Phagocytes (immunology)
• Relapsing Fever (immunology)
• Ticks