Bacteriophages induced by ciprofloxacin in a Borrelia burgdorferi skin isolate.
Two types of tailed bacteriophages were detected by electron microscopy in a Borrelia burgdorferi strain which had been isolated from infected human skin and exposed to the gyrase inhibitor ciprofloxacin. One of these phages displayed an isometric 30 nm head, a neck and a contractile tail 50-64 nm in length with a baseplate, according to an A-1 morphology. The other phage showing a B-1 morphology had a 30 nm isometric head as well and a long non-contractile straight tail 115-130 nm in length without neck and baseplate. Both types of phages could be found together within one plasmolysed spirochetal cell. We conclude that we are dealing with a lysogenic strain of Borrelia burgdorferi carrying at least two different prophages inducible by ciprofloxacin.
Neubert
U
U
Department of Dermatology, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, Germany.
Schaller
M
M
Januschke
E
E
Stolz
W
W
Schmieger
H
H
D000328:Adult; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000382:microbiology; D008242:Lysogeny; D011533:Proviruses; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D014775:Virus Activation
D002939:Ciprofloxacin