title: Monoclonal antibodies specific for the outer surface protein A (OspA) of Borrelia burgdorferi prevent Lyme borreliosis in severe combined immunodeficiency (scid) mice.
abstract: We have recently shown that viable Borrelia burgdorferi organisms induce a chronic infection associated with arthritis and carditis in severe combined immunodeficiency (scid) mice but not in immunocompetent mice. The disease is similar to that found in patients suffering from Lyme disease. We now show that B. burgdorferi-specific immune mouse sera as well as a monoclonal antibody to the spirochetal outer surface antigen A (31 kDa) but not monoclonal antibodies specific for the 41-kDa antigenic component of the periplasmic flagella are able to prevent (or mitigate) the development of the disease in scid mice when passively transferred at the time of the bacterial inoculation. The identification of a B. burgdorferi-associated protective antigen suggests that the corresponding spirochetal protein should be tested as a vaccine against Lyme disease.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Immunbiologie, Freiburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: U E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Schaible
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eichmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Modolell
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Museteanu
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000276:immunology*; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007596:Joints / Q000473:pathology; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins