title: Identification and characterization of Borrelia antigens as potential vaccine candidates against Lyme borreliosis.
abstract: The three Borrelia species, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia garinii are the main species causing the most common tick-borne zoonosis, Lyme borreliosis. By applying a genomic approach relying on human antibodies we have identified 122 antigenic Borrelia proteins associated with Lyme borreliosis, including already known and published protective antigens. The heterogeneity of the Borrelia species causing Lyme borreliosis makes the search for conserved antigens providing broad protection challenging. Using several in vitro assays we narrowed down the selection to 15 vaccine candidates. These antigens were further analyzed for antigenicity and cross-reactivity using sera from mice infected with the three pathogenic Borrelia species. All antigens analyzed showed a high degree of cross-reactivity between the three Borrelia species, essential for providing cross-protection. We also investigated whether mice infected with B. afzelii through tick exposure are primed to mount cytokine responses. For a selection of these antigens, we observed preferentially a pro-inflammatory response in C3H/HeN mice, while in contrast also a type 2 T cell response was seen in the Borrelia-resistant mouse strain BALB/c. Thus, antigens mounting a type 2 or mixed type 2/type 1 T cell response might be preferred vaccine candidates for evaluation in animal models of Lyme borreliosis.
authors.affiliation: Intercell AG, Campus Vienna Biocenter 3, A-1030 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Albina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poljak
authors.forename: Pär
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Comstedt
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanner
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schüler
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meinke
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wizel
authors.forename: Urban
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lundberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D016207:Cytokines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins