Characterization of Immunological Responses to Borrelia Immunogenic Protein A (BipA), a Species-Specific Antigen for North American Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever.

ABSTRACT: Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a neglected vector-borne bacterial disease distributed worldwide. Borrelia turicatae, Borrelia parkeri, and Borrelia hermsii are three argasid-borne TBRF species previously implicated in human disease in North America. TBRF is likely underdiagnosed due to its nonspecific symptoms and poorly developed diagnostic tests. Studies suggest that the Borrelia immunogenic protein A (BipA) is specific to TBRF Borrelia but heterogenic between species. In this study, we hypothesized that antibody responses generated to BipA are specific to the North American TBRF species infecting a given animal. To test this, we characterized the expression and localization of native BipA in North American species of TBRF Borrelia. We also infected mice by nee

SUBMITTER: Curtis MW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9241729 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature