Serum complement sensitivity as a key factor in Lyme disease ecology.
The sensitivity of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato to animal sera was analyzed. Complement-mediated borreliacidal effects were observed with particular combinations of host serum and Borrelia genospecies. The species-specific pattern of viability and/or lysis is highly consistent with the pattern of reservoir competence of hosts for B. burgdorferi sensu lato, suggesting a key role of complement in the global ecology of Lyme borreliosis.
Kurtenbach
K
K
Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom. kku@mail.nerc-oxford.ac.uk
Sewell
H S
HS
Ogden
N H
NH
Randolph
S E
SE
Nuttall
P A
PA
D000818:Animals; D001433:Bacteriolysis; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004463:Ecology; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D008647:Mesocricetus; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009115:Muridae; D013045:Species Specificity
D003165:Complement System Proteins