Differentiation of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato strains using class I lysyl-tRNA synthetase-encoding genes.
The essential protein lysyl-tRNA synthetase (LysRS) exists in two unrelated forms, a class I and a class II-type aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. Comparative genome sequence analysis revealed that Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the etiological agent of Lyme disease, contains a class I-type LysRS, whereas its tick and mammalian hosts would be expected to contain a class II-type protein. To investigate the utility of the class I LysRS as a diagnostic target for Lyme disease, the corresponding gene ( lysK) was cloned and sequenced from B. afzelii, B. garinii, and B. hermsii. These lysK sequences were then used to design a primer set that could detect and genotype B. burgdorferisensu strictu, B. afzelii, and B. garinii in one single polymerase chain reaction, while showing no cross reactivity with examples of other Borrelia or spirochetes.
Center for Biomolecular Recognition, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Genetics, Laboratory B, The Panum Institute, Blegdamsvej 3c, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark.
Nina
N
Mejlhede
Amanda
A
Monthán
Michael
M
Theisen
Michael
M
Ibba
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D017931:DNA Primers; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D008250:Lysine-tRNA Ligase / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016415:Sequence Alignment
D017931:DNA Primers; D008250:Lysine-tRNA Ligase