Evidence for the contribution of point mutations to vlsE variation and for apparent constraints on the net accumulation of sequence changes in vlsE during infection with Lyme disease spirochetes.

ABSTRACT: In the Lyme disease spirochetes, both the ospE and vlsE gene families have been demonstrated to undergo sequence variation during infection. To further investigate the mechanisms associated with the generation of vls variation, single-nucleotide polymorphism and subsequent DNA sequence analyses were performed on the vlsE gene and its paralog, BBJ51, a related gene with a frameshift mutation. These analyses focused on a series of postinfection clonal populations obtained from mice infected with Borrelia burgdorferi B31MIpc or its clonal derivative, B31MIc53. vlsE, but not BBJ51, was found to undergo sequence changes during infection. Consistent with that reported previously (J.-R. Zhang et al., Cell 89:275-285, 1997) many of the sequence changes appear to have arisen through gene conversion

SUBMITTER: Sung SY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC99662 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature