title: OspA heterogeneity of Borrelia valaisiana confirmed by phenotypic and genotypic analyses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although European Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato isolates have been divided into five genospecies, specific tools for the serotype characterization of only three genospecies are available. Monoclonals antibodies (mAbs) H3TS, D6 and I17.3 identify B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (ss.), B. garinii and B. afzelii respectively, but no mAbs are available to identify B. valaisiana. In the same way, specific primers exist to amplify the OspA gene of B. burgdorferi ss., B. garinii and B. afzelii. The aim of the study was to develop species-specific mAb and PCR primers for the phenotypic and genetic identification of B. valaisiana.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study describes a mAb that targets OspA of B. valaisiana and primers targeting the OspA gene of this species. As the monoclonal antibody A116k did not react with strains NE231, M7, M53 and Frank and no amplification was observed with strains NE231, M7 and M53, the existence of two subgroups among European B. valaisiana species was confirmed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association of both monoclonal antibody A116k and primers Bval 1F and Bval 1R allows to specific identification of the B. valaisiana isolates belonging to subgroup 1.
authors.affiliation: Infectious diseases unit, Institut Central des Hôpitaux Valaisans, 1950 Sion-CH, Switzerland. Karine_Ryffel@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ryffel
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Péter
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dayer
authors.forename: Anne-Gabrielle
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Bretz
authors.forename: Edmond
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Godfroid
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D001898:Borrelia / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017931:DNA Primers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000382:microbiology; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D017931:DNA Primers; D008074:Lipoproteins; C072045:OspA protein