title: Host association of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato--the key role of host complement.
abstract: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), the tick-borne agent of Lyme borreliosis, is a bacterial species complex comprising 11 genospecies. Here, we discuss whether the delineation of genospecies is ecologically relevant. We provide evidence that B. burgdorferi s.l. is structured ecologically into distinct clusters that are host specific. An immunological model for niche adaptation is proposed that suggests the operation of complement-mediated selection in the midgut of the feeding tick. We conclude that vertebrate hosts rather than tick species are the key to Lyme borreliosis spirochaete diversity.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, St Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, W2 1PG., London, UK. k.kurtenbach@ic.ac.uk
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurtenbach
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Michelis
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Etti
authors.forename: Stefanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: Henna-Sisko
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Sewell
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brade
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kraiczy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003170:Complement Pathway, Alternative; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013987:Ticks / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D003165:Complement System Proteins