Host Immune Evasion by Lyme and Relapsing Fever Borreliae: Findings to Lead Future Studies forBorrelia miyamotoi.
The emerging pathogen,Borrelia miyamotoi, is a relapsing fever spirochete vectored by the same species ofIxodesticks that carry the causative agents of Lyme disease in the US, Europe, and Asia. Symptoms caused by infection withB. miyamotoiare similar to a relapsing fever infection. However,B. miyamotoihas adapted to different vectors and reservoirs, which could result in unique physiology, including immune evasion mechanisms. LymeBorreliautilize a combination ofIxodes-produced inhibitors and native proteins [i.e., factor H-binding proteins (FHBPs)/complement regulator-acquiring surface proteins, p43, BBK32, BGA66, BGA71, CD59-like protein] to inhibit complement, while some relapsing fever spirochetes use C4b-binding protein and likelyOrnithodoros-produced inhibitors. To evade the humoral response,Borreliautilize antigenic variation of either outer surface proteins (Osps) and the Vmp-like sequences (Vls) system (Lyme borreliae) or variable membrane proteins (Vmps, relapsing fever borreliae).B. miyamotoipossesses putative FHBPs and antigenic variation of Vmps has been demonstrated. This review summarizes and compares the common mechanisms utilized by Lyme and relapsing fever spirochetes, as well as the current state of understanding immune evasion byB. miyamotoi.
Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota , Grand Forks, ND , USA.
Brandee L
BL
Stone
Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota , Grand Forks, ND , USA.
Catherine A
CA
Brissette
Borrelia miyamotoi; Lyme disease; antigenic variation; complement; factor H; immune response; relapsing fever; spirochetes