title: Cloning and expression of recombinant flagellar protein flaB from Borrelia burgdorferi.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lyme borreliosis is an arthropod transmitted infection caused by some species of the Borrelia genus. Current diagnosis employs serological testing and detection of Borrelia-specific antibodies. Using recombinant Borrelia burgdorferi antigens may improve assay specificity and sensitivity. One of the immunodominant Borrelia antigens that elicit a strong and early immune response is FlaB, making it appropriate for recombinant protein based serological diagnostic tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  Borrelia burgdorferi genomic DNA was isolated and used as a template for the amplification of the flaB gene. The gene was cloned in the expression vector pGEX-2T.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amplified flaB gene was cloned in the expression vector yielding a GST-FlaB fusion gene. The gene ligated in-frame was expressed as the recombinant GST-FlaB protein. After visualization by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the successful expression of the FlaB protein was confirmed by immunoblotting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression and purification of the recombinant FlaB protein is a prerequisite for obtaining large amounts of the product through a simple and labour-free procedure, which will facilitate the diagnosis of Lyme disease.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Yeast Molecular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lesseva
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Christova
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miloshev
mesh_terms: D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005408:Flagellin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005408:Flagellin; C416532:flaB flagellin