Borrelia garinii: Difference between revisions

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==Description and significance==
==Description and significance==
''Borrelia garinii'' is one of the three ''Borrelia'' species that causes Lyme disease. ''Borrelia garinii'' favors the temperature when it is at 33 degrees celsius. The spirochetes can be found in the gut of ticks and can infect host cells through tick bites. While in the gastro-intestinal section of the tick, ''Borrelia garinii'' and other spirochetes are generally not replicating because of thier attachment to the epithelial cells. Once the spirochetes make contact with high heat and mammalian blood(ex. during a tick bite), the expression of the outer surface proteins change drastically. ''Borrelia garinii'' is no longer dormant and begins to spread through the wall of the gut and through the entire tick. The spirochetes infect the mammalian cells through the salivary glands of the ticks. Sequencing the genome is essential to finding better ways to prevent and treat lyme disease.     
''Borrelia garinii'' is one of the three ''Borrelia'' species that causes Lyme disease. ''Borrelia garinii'' favors the temperature when it is at 33 degrees celsius. The spirochetes can be found in the gut of ticks and can infect host cells through tick bites. While in the gastro-intestinal section of the tick, ''Borrelia garinii'' and other spirochetes are generally not replicating because of thier attachment to the epithelial cells. Once the spirochetes make contact with high heat and mammalian blood(ex. during a tick bite), the expression of the outer surface proteins change drastically. ''Borrelia garinii'' is no longer dormant and begins to spread through the wall of the gut and through the entire tick. The spirochetes infect the mammalian cells through the salivary glands of the ticks. Sequencing the genome is essential to finding better ways to prevent and treat lyme disease. (Schaechter)      


==Genome structure==
==Genome structure==
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==References==
==References==
Ed. Saier, Milton H., and Jorge Garcia-Lara. ''The Spriochetes: Molecular and Cellular Biology''. United Kingdom: Norfolk
    2001
Schaechter, Moselia, N. Cary Engleberg, Berry I. Eisenstein, Gerald Medoff. ''Mechanisms of Microbial Disease: third ed.''. 1998


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=2261&lvl=3&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock&lin=f


Edited by , student of [mailto:ralarsen@ucsd.edu Rachel Larsen] and Kit Pogliano
Edited by , student of [mailto:ralarsen@ucsd.edu Rachel Larsen] and Kit Pogliano

Revision as of 18:41, 3 May 2007

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Borrelia garinii

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Spirochaetes; Spirochaetes (class); Spirochaetales; Spirochaetaceae; Borrelia; Borrelia burgdorferi group

Genus

Borrelia garinii

Description and significance

Borrelia garinii is one of the three Borrelia species that causes Lyme disease. Borrelia garinii favors the temperature when it is at 33 degrees celsius. The spirochetes can be found in the gut of ticks and can infect host cells through tick bites. While in the gastro-intestinal section of the tick, Borrelia garinii and other spirochetes are generally not replicating because of thier attachment to the epithelial cells. Once the spirochetes make contact with high heat and mammalian blood(ex. during a tick bite), the expression of the outer surface proteins change drastically. Borrelia garinii is no longer dormant and begins to spread through the wall of the gut and through the entire tick. The spirochetes infect the mammalian cells through the salivary glands of the ticks. Sequencing the genome is essential to finding better ways to prevent and treat lyme disease. (Schaechter)

Genome structure

Borrelia species generally contain 930+/- 20 kbp. Borrelia garinii has one linear chromosome and codes for 869 genes. It also contains linear and circular plasmids. There are approximately 5 to 200 kbp of linear plasmids and circular plasmids within the genome. This range is seen in not only Borrelia garinii, but all Borrelia species.


Cell structure and metabolism

Like all the other spirochetes causing lyme disease, Borrelia garinii has a protoplasm protected by an inner and outer membrane. It also has flagella which are located between the inner and outer membrane. The outer membrane proteins have many genes that are located on plasmids. This is very beneficial to the organism because it can make changes in those proteins; therefore, preventing foreign molecules in that could possibly be quite harmful.

Ecology

Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.

Pathology

How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

Application to Biotechnology

Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?

Current Research

Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required

References

Ed. Saier, Milton H., and Jorge Garcia-Lara. The Spriochetes: Molecular and Cellular Biology. United Kingdom: Norfolk

   2001

Schaechter, Moselia, N. Cary Engleberg, Berry I. Eisenstein, Gerald Medoff. Mechanisms of Microbial Disease: third ed.. 1998


Edited by , student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano