Differential Expression of Borrelia burgdorferi Genes during Erythema Migrans and Lyme Arthritis

Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease, selectively expresses genes in the arthropod vector and mammalian host. Specific B. burgdorferi gene expression during human infection was examined in tissue specimens, using RNA—polymerase chain reaction, from 3 patients with Lyme disease. ospA was i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 1998-10, Vol.178 (4), p.1198-1201
Main Authors: Fikrig, Erol, Feng, Wen, Aversa, John, Schoen, Robert T., Flavell, Richard A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Antibodies
Antigens, Surface - biosynthesis
Bacterial diseases
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins - biosynthesis
Bacterial Proteins - biosynthesis
Bacterial Vaccines
Bacteriology
Biological and medical sciences
Biopsies
Borrelia burgdorferi
Borrelia infections
Concise Comunications
Erythema
Erythema Chronicum Migrans - genetics
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gene Expression
Genes, Bacterial
Human bacterial diseases
Humans
Infections
Infectious diseases
Lipoproteins
Lyme disease
Lyme Disease - genetics
Male
Medical sciences
Messenger RNA
Mice
Microbiology
Middle Aged
Pathogenicity, virulence, toxins, bacteriocins, pyrogens, host-bacteria relations, miscellaneous strains
RNA, Bacterial - isolation & purification
Skin - microbiology
Specimens
Spirochaetales
Tropical bacterial diseases
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Summary:Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease, selectively expresses genes in the arthropod vector and mammalian host. Specific B. burgdorferi gene expression during human infection was examined in tissue specimens, using RNA—polymerase chain reaction, from 3 patients with Lyme disease. ospA was investigated because OspA is down-regulated by B. burgdorferi in ticks during engorgement and is a vaccine candidate in phase III clinical trials. p35 and p37 were also assessed because these genes are induced by spirochetes during murine Lyme borreliosis and play roles in protective immunity. p35 and p37 mRNA were detected in erythema migrans biopsy specimens from 2 patients and in the synovium of 1 patient with Lyme arthritis. ospA mRNA was not identified in any of these tissues. These data show that ospA is repressed while p35 and p37 are induced in human infection; these results are the first direct demonstration of differential B. burgdorferi gene expression during Lyme disease.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1086/515684