Complex exchanges among plasmids and clonal expansion of lineages shape the population structure and virulence of Borrelia burgdorferi.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the United States, Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) is the principal etiologic agent of Lyme disease. The complex structure of Bb genomes has posed challenges for genomic studies because homology among the bacterium's many plasmids, which account for ~40% of the genome by length, has made them difficult to sequence and assemble.

Results

We used long-read sequencing to generate near-complete assemblies of 62 isolates of human-derived Bb and collected public genomes with plasmid sequences. We characterized genetic diversity and population structure in the resulting set of 82 plasmid-complete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto genomes. The Bb core genome is encoded by a chromosome and the conserved plasmids cp26, lp54, and lp17;

SUBMITTER: Laing RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11838331 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature