Cis-acting DNA elements flanking the variable major protein expression site of Borrelia hermsii are required for murine persistence.

ABSTRACT: In Borrelia hermsii, antigenic variation occurs as a result of a nonreciprocal gene conversion event that places one of ~60 silent variable major protein genes downstream of a single, transcriptionally active promoter. The upstream homology sequence (UHS) and downstream homology sequence (DHS) are two putative cis-acting DNA elements that have been predicted to serve as crossover points for homologous recombination. In this report, a targeted deletion/in cis complementation technique was used to directly evaluate the role for these elements in antigenic switching. The results demonstrate that deletion of the expression site results in an inability of the pathogen to relapse in immunocompetent mice, and that the utilized technique was successful in producing complemented mutants that are ca

SUBMITTER: James AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6011951 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature