title: Borrelia burgdorferi basic membrane proteins A and B participate in the genesis of Lyme arthritis.
abstract: Lyme arthritis results from colonization of joints by Borrelia burgdorferi and the ensuing host response. Using gene array-based differential analysis of B. burgdorferi gene expression and quantitative reverse trancription-polymerase chain reaction, we identified two paralogous spirochete genes, bmpA and bmpB, that are preferentially up-regulated in mouse joints compared with other organs. Transfer of affinity-purified antibodies against either BmpA or BmpB into B. burgdorferi-infected mice selectively reduced spirochete numbers and inflammation in the joints. B. burgdorferi lacking bmpA/B were therefore generated to further explore the role of these proteins in the pathogenesis of Lyme disease. B. burgdorferi lacking bmpA/B were infectious in mice, but unable to persist in the joints, and they failed to induce severe arthritis. Complementation of the mutant spirochetes with a wild-type copy of the bmpA and bmpB genes partially restored the original phenotype. These data delineate a role for differentially produced B. burgdorferi antigens in spirochete colonization of mouse joints, and suggest new strategies for the treatment of Lyme arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Section of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
authors.forename: Utpal
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: Penghua
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fukai
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Xiuli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Swapna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samanta
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schoen
authors.forename: Gary P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Wormser
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fikrig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D007249:Inflammation; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013144:Spirochaetales / Q000378:metabolism; D013987:Ticks
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C501736:BmpB protein, Borrelia burgdorferi; C088728:P39 antigen, Borrelia burgdorferi