Immunochemical characterization of and isolation of the gene for a Borrelia burgdorferi immunodominant 60-kilodalton antigen common to a wide range of bacteria.
By crossed immunoelectrophoresis and Western blotting (immunoblotting), it was shown that Borrelia burgdorferi expresses the 60-kilodalton Common Antigen (CA) that is cross-reactive with an equivalent antigen in a wide range of remotely related bacteria. B. burgdorferi CA is strongly immunogenic. A B. burgdorferi genomic library was constructed by using a plasmid cloning system. Escherichia coli recombinants were screened for expression of immunodominant B. burgdorferi antigens. One of the recombinant clones expressed the 60-kilodalton CA of B. burgdorferi. The DNA region encoding B. burgdorferi CA was localized on a 2.3-kilobase fragment of the plasmid pKH1. CA may have pathogenetic implications in Lyme borreliosis, since the CA of mycobacteria recently has been shown to play a role in the etiology of experimental autoimmune arthritis. The extensive cross-reactivity of this antigen may account for the low diagnostic specificity of the currently used serological tests in Lyme borreliosis.
Hansen
K
K
Department of Treponematoses, Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Bangsborg
J M
JM
Fjordvang
H
H
Pedersen
N S
NS
Hindersson
P
P
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D001898:Borrelia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D007123:Immunoelectrophoresis, Two-Dimensional; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008970:Molecular Weight
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes