Homologous and heterologous Borrelia burgdorferi challenge of infection-derived immune rabbits using host-adapted organisms.
We have recently found that strain B31 infection-immune rabbits are completely protected against homologous challenge with large numbers (>10(6)) of host-adapted Borrelia burgdorferi (HAB) (E. S. Shang, C. I. Champion, X. Wu, J. T. Skare, D. B. Blanco, J. N. Miller, and M. A. Lovett, Infect. Immun. 68:4189-4199, 2000). In this study, we have extended these findings to determine whether B31 strain infection-immune rabbits are also protected against heterologous HAB challenge. Infection-immune rabbits challenged with large numbers (>10(6)) of homologous HAB strain B31 were completely protected from erythema migrans (EM) and skin and disseminated infection. In contrast, infection-immune rabbits challenged with heterologous HAB strains N40 and Sh-2-82 were completely susceptible to EM and skin and disseminated infection; challenge with strain 297 also resulted in EM and infection of the skin and viscera, but clearance of infection occurred 3 weeks postchallenge. These findings confirm that immunity elicited in rabbits by B31 strain infection confers complete protection against large-dose homologous HAB challenge but not against a heterologous strain.
Shang
E S
ES
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA. eshang@mednet.ucla.edu
Wu
X Y
XY
Lovett
M A
MA
Miller
J N
JN
Blanco
D R
DR
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D015153:Blotting, Western; D027081:DNA Gyrase; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000235:genetics; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D022123:Lyme Disease Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011817:Rabbits
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D008074:Lipoproteins; D022123:Lyme Disease Vaccines; C072045:OspA protein; D027081:DNA Gyrase; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II