HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Borrelia burgdorferi changes its surface antigenic expression in response to host immune responses.

Abstract
The Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, causes persistent mammalian infection despite the development of vigorous immune responses against the pathogen. To examine spirochetal phenotypes that dominate in the hostile immune environment, the mRNA transcripts of four prototypic surface lipoproteins, decorin-binding protein A (DbpA), outer surface protein C (OspC), BBF01, and VlsE, were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR under various immune conditions. We demonstrate that B. burgdorferi changes its surface antigenic expression in response to immune attack. dbpA expression was unchanged while the spirochetes decreased ospC expression by 446 times and increased BBF01 and vlsE expression up to 20 and 32 times, respectively, under the influence of immune pressure generated in immunocompetent mice during infection. This change in antigenic expression could be induced by passively immunizing infected severe combined immunodeficiency mice with specific Borrelia antisera or OspC antibody and appears to allow B. burgdorferi to resist immune attack.
AuthorsFang Ting Liang, Jun Yan, M Lamine Mbow, Steven L Sviat, Robert D Gilmore, Mark Mamula, Erol Fikrig
JournalInfection and immunity (Infect Immun) Vol. 72 Issue 10 Pg. 5759-67 (Oct 2004) ISSN: 0019-9567 [Print] United States
PMID15385475 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
Chemical References
  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Surface
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Immune Sera
  • OspC protein
Topics
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial (immunology)
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal (immunology)
  • Antigenic Variation (genetics, immunology)
  • Antigens, Bacterial (biosynthesis, genetics, immunology)
  • Antigens, Surface (biosynthesis, genetics, immunology)
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins (immunology)
  • Borrelia burgdorferi (genetics, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism)
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Heart (microbiology)
  • Immune Sera (immunology)
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, SCID
  • Myocardium (immunology)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: