Stability of erp loci during Borrelia burgdorferi infection: recombination is not required for chronic infection of immunocompetent mice.

ABSTRACT: Borrelia burgdorferi can persistently infect mammals despite their production of antibodies directed against bacterial proteins, including the Erp lipoproteins. We sequenced erp loci of bacteria reisolated from laboratory mice after 1 year of infection and found them to be identical to those of the inoculant bacteria. We conclude that recombination of erp genes is not essential for chronic mammalian infection.

SUBMITTER: El Hage N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC96635 | biostudies-literature | 1999 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature