Borrelia mayonii

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1. Classification

Higher order taxa

Domain = Bacteria; Phylum = Spirochaetes; Class = Spirochaetia; Order = Spirochaetales; Family = Spirochaetaceae; Genus = Borrelia

Species

Borrelia mayonii

2. Description and significance

Borrelia mayonii is a genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato which has been recently discovered by the Mayo Clinic. B. burgdorferi sensu lato is responsible for causing Lyme borreliosis disease, which is a prevalent tick-borne disease found in the northern hemisphere (1). Although B. mayonii is transmitted through the same vector as other Borrelia strains (2), Ixodes scapularis, commonly known as the blacklegged tick, the genospecies has novel characteristics and symptoms that fall outside the range of characteristics and symptoms normally checked by clinicians. The Mayo Clinic first noticed B. mayonii after six out of 100,545 clinical specimens sent for routine PCR came back atypical for the oppA1 gene used to detect the presence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato (1). It is notably distinct from other B. burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies that cause Lyme disease because of the substantially elevated levels of spirochetemia in acutely ill patients (1). Current research is still establishing the basic characteristics of this new genospecies.

According to the Mayo Clinic, Lyme borreliosis is the most common tick-borne disease in the northern hemisphere (1). The disease’s high prevalence warrants attention from both the general population and clinicians so infections can be recognized and treated quickly and efficiently. In order to do this, it is important to understand the pathogens which cause the disease. B. mayonii infects hosts and produces symptoms different than other B. burgdoferi sensu lato genospecies, which creates the risk of overlooking infected individuals who do not fit the stereotypical presentation of Lyme disease (1). Therefore, it is important to characterize and raise awareness of this new genospecies and the way it is transmitted and infects. Furthermore, the recent discovery of a new B. burgdoferi sensu lato genospecies raises the question: are there other new genospecies that have recently evolved?

3. Genome structure

Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence?

4. Cell structure

Interesting features of cell structure. Can be combined with “metabolic processes”

5. Metabolic processes

Describe important sources of energy, electrons, and carbon (i.e. trophy) for the organism/organisms you are focusing on, as well as important molecules it/they synthesize(s).

6. Ecology

Habitat; symbiosis; contributions to the environment.

7. Pathology

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

7. Key microorganisms

Include this section if your Wiki page focuses on a microbial process, rather than a specific taxon/group of organisms

8. Current Research

Include information about how this microbe (or related microbes) are currently being studied and for what purpose

9. References

1. B.S. Pritt, P.S. Mead, D.K Hoang Johnson, D.F. Neitzel, L.B. Respicio-Kingry, J.P. Davis, E. Schiffman, L.M. Sloan, M.E. Schriefer, A.J. Replogle, S.M. Paskewtiz, J.A. Ray, J. Bjork, C.R. Steward, A. Deedon, X. Lee, L.C. Kingry, T.K. Miller, M.A. Feist, E.S. Theel, R. Patel, C.L. Irish, J.M. Petersen. 2016. Identification of a novel pathogenic Borrelia species causing Lyme borreliosis with unusually high spirochaetaemia: a descriptive study. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 16:556-64

2. M.C. Dolan, A. Hojgaard, J.C. Hoxmeier, A.J. Replogle, L.B. Respicio-Kingry, C. Sexton, M.A Williams, B.S. Pritt, M.E. Schriefer, L. Eisen. 2016. Vector competence of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, for the recently recognized Lyme borreliosis spirochete Candidatus Borrelia mayonii. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 7:665-669.

3. Kingry LC, Batra D, Replogle A, Rowe LA, Pritt BS, Petersen JM (2016) Whole Genome Sequence and Comparative Genomics of the Novel Lyme Borreliosis Causing Pathogen, Borrelia mayonii. PLoS ONE 11(12): e0168994. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0168994

4. Fraser, CM., Casjens, S., Huang, WM., Sutton, GG., Clayton, R. et al. "Genomic sequence of a Lyme disease spirochaete, Borrelia burgdorferi." Nature. 1997 Dec 11;390(6660):580-6

5. Meriläinen, L., Herranen, A., Schwarzbach, A., & Gilbert, L. (2015). Morphological and biochemical features of Borrelia burgdorferi pleomorphic forms. Microbiology, 161(Pt 3), 516–527.

6. Hoxmeier, J. C., Fleshman, A. C., Broeckling, C. D., Prenni, J. E., Dolan, M. C., Gage, K. L., & Eisen, L. 2017. Metabolomics of the tick-Borrelia interaction during the nymphal tick blood meal. Scientific Reports, 7, 44394.

7. M.C. Dolan, N.E. Breuner, A. Hojgaard, J.C. Hoxmeier, M.A. Pilgard, A.J. Replogle, L. Eisen. 2017. Duration of Borrelia mayonii infectivity in an experimental mouse model for feeding Ixodes scapularis larvae. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 8(1):196-200.

8. S. J. Cutler, E. Ruzic-Sabljic, A. Potkonjak. 2017. Emerging borreliae – Expanding beyond Lyme borreliosis. Molecular and Cellular Probes 31: 22-27.

9. M.C. Dolan, N.E. Breuner, A. Hojgaard, K.A. Boegler, J.C. Hoxmeier, A.J. Replogle, L. Eisen. 2017. Transmission of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia mayonii in Relation to Duration of Attachment by Nymphal Ixodes scapularis. Journal of Medical Entomology 54(5): 1360-1364.

10. P. H. Boyer, S. J. De Martino, Y. Hansmann, L. Zilliox, N. Boulanger, B. Jaulhac. 2017. No evidence of Borrelia mayonii in an endemic area for Lyme borreliosis in France. Parasites and Vectors 10:282.