title: Population genetics, taxonomy, phylogeny and evolution of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.
abstract: In order to understand the population structure and dynamics of bacterial microorganisms, typing systems that accurately reflect the phylogenetic and evolutionary relationship of the agents are required. Over the past 15 years multilocus sequence typing schemes have replaced single locus approaches, giving novel insights into phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships of many bacterial species and facilitating taxonomy. Since 2004, several schemes using multiple loci have been developed to better understand the taxonomy, phylogeny and evolution of Lyme borreliosis spirochetes and in this paper we have reviewed and summarized the progress that has been made for this important group of vector-borne zoonotic bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK. gm250@bath.ac.uk
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Margos
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Vollmer
authors.forename: Nicholas H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Ogden
authors.forename: Durland
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fish
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000382:microbiology; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D017753:Ecosystem; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005828:Genetics, Population; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010802:Phylogeny; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission