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Title: Outer surface protein polymorphisms linked to host‐spirochete association in Lyme borreliae
Summary

Lyme borreliosis is caused by multiple species of the spirochete bacteriaBorrelia burgdorferisensu lato. The spirochetes are transmitted by ticks to vertebrate hosts, including small‐ and medium‐sized mammals, birds, reptiles, and humans. Strain‐to‐strain variation in host‐specific infectivity has been documented, but the molecular basis that drives this differentiation is still unclear. Spirochetes possess the ability to evade host immune responses and colonize host tissues to establish infection in vertebrate hosts. In turn, hosts have developed distinct levels of immune responses when invaded by different species/strains of Lyme borreliae. Similarly, the ability of Lyme borreliae to colonize host tissues varies among different spirochete species/strains. One potential mechanism that drives this strain‐to‐strain variation of immune evasion and colonization is the polymorphic outer surface proteins produced by Lyme borreliae. In this review, we summarize research on strain‐to‐strain variation in host competence and discuss the evidence that supports the role of spirochete‐produced protein polymorphisms in driving this variation in host specialization. Such information will provide greater insights into the adaptive mechanisms driving host and Lyme borreliae association, which will lead to the development of interventions to block pathogen spread and eventually reduce Lyme borreliosis health burden.

 
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Award ID(s):
1755286 1754995 1755370
NSF-PAR ID:
10461049
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley-Blackwell
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Molecular Microbiology
Volume:
111
Issue:
4
ISSN:
0950-382X
Page Range / eLocation ID:
p. 868-882
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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