Study of vlsE Antigenic Variation in Borrelia burgdorferi Infection in Mice
Author Information
Author(s): Coutte Loïc, Botkin Douglas J., Gao Lihui, Norris Steven J.
Primary Institution: University of Texas Medical School at Houston
Hypothesis
The increased frequency and complexity of vlsE sequence changes observed in clones recovered from immunocompetent mice is due to rapid clearance of relatively invariant clones by variable region-specific anti-VlsE antibody responses.
Conclusion
The vls antigenic variation system in Borrelia burgdorferi plays a crucial role in immune evasion and persistence during infection.
Supporting Evidence
- Clones with few or no VlsE sequence changes are rapidly cleared in mice with active immune responses.
- Clones containing a stop codon were isolated, indicating that full-length VlsE is not required for survival in vivo.
- Fifteen percent of recovered vlsE variants contained 'template-independent' sequence changes.
Takeaway
This study shows that the bacteria causing Lyme disease can change their surface proteins to avoid being attacked by the immune system, helping them survive longer in the body.
Methodology
The study analyzed 1,399 clones isolated from various tissues of mice infected with Borrelia burgdorferi over a period of 4 to 365 days.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in the selection of clones and the interpretation of sequence changes.
Limitations
The study primarily focused on specific mouse models and may not fully represent variations in other hosts.
Participant Demographics
Mice used included immunocompetent C3H/HeN and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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