Borrelia garinii
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.
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
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References
Edited by , student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano
