title: Acquired resistance to Borrelia burgdorferi infection in the rabbit. Comparison between outer surface protein A vaccine- and infection-derived immunity.
abstract: Intradermal inoculation of the rabbit with Borrelia burgdorferi, sensu lato, results in the consistent development of erythema migrans (EM), dermal infection, and visceral dissemination of the spirochete. Within 5 mo, EM as well as dermal and visceral infection are cleared and the animals exhibit immunity to reinfection. This study compares infection-derived immunity with acquired resistance resulting from the administration of a lipidated recombinant outer surface protein A (OspA) vaccine presently undergoing human trial. 4 of 11 OspA vaccinated rabbits, challenged intradermally at each of 10 sites with 10(5) low passage B. burgdorferi, developed EM as well as dermal and disseminated infection. After identical challenge, 2 of the 11 infection-immune rabbits developed a dermal infection, but not EM or disseminated infection. Further, ELISA anti-OspA titers did not correlate with the status of immunity for either OspA vaccinated or infection-immune rabbits. Prechallenge ELISA anti-OspA titers were relatively low in the infection-immune group. This study demonstrates that a state of partial immunity to experimental Lyme disease may result that could potentially mask infection. Further, our data strongly suggest that immunogen(s) other than OspA is/are responsible for stimulating acquired resistance in the infection-immune rabbit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine, 90024, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lovett
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D008074:Lipoproteins; C072045:OspA protein