Borrelia burgdorferi BBI39 Paralogs, Targets of Protective Immunity, Reduce Pathogen Persistence Either in Hosts or in the Vector.

ABSTRACT: Borrelia burgdorferi genome harbors several paralogous gene families (pgf) that can encode immunogenic proteins of unknown function. Protein-protein interaction assays using a transmission-blocking vaccine candidate, BBA52, as bait identified an interacting partner in spirochetes-a member of pgf 54, annotated as BBI39. We show that BBI39 is a surface-exposed membrane antigen that is immunogenic during spirochete infection, despite the gene being primarily transcribed in the vector with a transient expression in the host only at tick-bite sites. Immunization of rodents with BBI39, or a diverse paralog, BBI36, or their combination impaired pathogen acquisition by the vector, transmission from ticks to hosts, or induction of disease. High-titer BBI39 immunoglobulin G antibodies, which have bo

SUBMITTER: Singh P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5407057 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature