Acylated cholesteryl galactosides are specific antigens of borrelia causing lyme disease and frequently induce antibodies in late stages of disease.
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is the causative agent of Lyme disease (LD), an infectious disease occurring in North America, Europe, and Asia in different clinical stages. B. burgdorferi sensu lato encompasses at least 12 species, with B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. garinii, and B. afzelii being of highest clinical importance. Immunologic testing for LD as well as recent vaccination strategies exclusively refer to proteinaceous antigens. However, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto exhibits glycolipid antigens, including 6-O-acylated cholesteryl beta-D-galactopyranoside (ACGal), and first the data indicated that this compound may act as an immunogen. Here we investigated whether B. garinii and B. afzelii also possess this antigen, and whether antibodies directed against these compounds are abundant among patients suffering from different stages of LD. Gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy showed that both B. garinii and B. afzelii exhibit ACGal in high quantities. In contrast, B. hermsii causing relapsing fever features 6-O-acylated cholesteryl beta-D-glucopyranoside (ACGlc). Sera derived from patients diagnosed for LD contained antibodies against ACGal, with 80% of patients suffering from late stage disease exhibiting this feature. Antibodies reacted with ACGal from all three B. burgdorferi species tested, but not with ACGlc from B. hermsii. These data show that ACGal is present in all clinically important B. burgdorferi species, and that specific antibodies against this compound are frequently found during LD. ACGal may thus be an interesting tool for improving diagnostics as well as for novel vaccination strategies.
Stübs
Gunthard
G
Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité Medical Center, 10117 Berlin.
Fingerle
Volker
V
Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim 85764.
Wilske
Bettina
B
Max von Pettenkofer-Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich 80336.
Göbel
Ulf B
UB
Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité Medical Center, 10117 Berlin.
Zähringer
Ulrich
U
Division of Immunochemistry, Research Center Borstel, Borstel 23845.
Schumann
Ralf R
RR
Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Charité Medical Center, 10117 Berlin.
Schröder
Nicolas W J
NWJ
Institute for Neuropathology, Charité Medical Center, Berlin 10117, Germany. Electronic address: nicolas.schroeder@charite.de.
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000276:immunology*; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022123:Lyme Disease Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D013045:Species Specificity
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D006017:Glycolipids; D022123:Lyme Disease Vaccines