Year: 2012
Type: other
Abstract: Role of VlsE in host reinfection by the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferiA key mechanism for immune evasion and persistent infection by the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis, Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), is antigenic variation of the immunodominant VlsE surface protein.Although a multitude of other surface proteins exist that are immunogenic, VlsE is the only known Bb antigen that exhibits variation of its surface epitopes.A long-standing question regarding Bb immune escape has been how such a feat is accomplished through sequence variation of this single lipoprotein, despite the presence of a substantial number of additional antigens residing on the bacterial surface.In other bacterial pathogen systems, the dominant presence of surface-exposed variable proteins has been associated with the ability to reinfect a host.In the current study, we investigated whether host reinfection by Bb requires VlsE, and the likely mechanism involved.Host-adapted wild-type and VlsE mutant spirochetes were used to reinfect immunocompetent mice that had naturally cleared an infection with a VlsE-deficient clone.Our results demonstrate that VlsE is necessary for reinfection by Bb, and this ability is directly related to evasion of the host antibody response.Moreover, the data presented here raise the possibility that escape of Bb surface antigens from immune surveillance may involve epitope shielding by the VlsE protein.
Authors: Artem S. Rogovskyy, Troy Bankhead
Language: English
Subfield: Parasitology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1575012697