title: Comprehensive analysis of the factor h binding capabilities of borrelia species associated with lyme disease: delineation of two distinct classes of factor h binding proteins.
abstract: Some Lyme disease spirochete isolates can bind complement regulatory protein factor H (fH), a process that may allow evasion of complement-mediated killing. Here we demonstrate significant differences in the fH binding capabilities of species of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. The percentages of B. burgdorferi, B. afzelii, and B. garinii bacteria that bound fH in either enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays or affinity ligand binding immunoblot assays were 100, 83, and 29%, respectively. The fH binding protein profiles were examined and found to exhibit variability among isolates and to form two distinct classes. Differences in fH binding ability may contribute to the differences in pathogenesis and clinical course observed upon infection with different species of the B. burgdorferi sensu lato complex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298-0678, USA.
authors.forename: John V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: McDowell
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wolfgang
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Metts
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Marconi
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D017242:Complement Factor H / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C493495:CFH protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D017242:Complement Factor H