Role of outer membrane architecture in immune evasion by Treponema pallidum and Borrelia burgdorferi.
Combined ultrastructural and molecular studies have revealed that the syphilis and Lyme-disease spirochetes, Treponema pallidum and Borrelia burgdorferi, have distinctive molecular architectures. Both organisms persist in their hosts and have strategies for immune evasion that include the use of rare, poorly immunogenic surface-exposed proteins as potential virulence determinants.
Radolf
J D
JD
Dept of Internal Medicine, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235.
D000818:Animals; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013587:Syphilis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins