Borrelia afzelii

Classification

Higher order taxa:

Kingdom: Bacteria, Phylum: Spirochaetes, Class: Spriochaetes, Order: Spirochaetales, Family: Spirochaetaceae, Genus: Borrelia

Species

Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia lonestari, Borrelia recurrentis

Description and Significance

Borrelia afzelli is considered a new species of the Genus Borrelia. Diseases linked to this species of Borrelia are Lyme disease and Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA). In understanding the structure and function of this pathogen, the easier it will be to treat people with the diseases it causes.

Genome Structure

The genome sequencing of this particular strain is still underway as it is still a very new strain. However, all previous species of Borrelia have had linear chromosomes, ranging in sizes from 900-920kb pairs having circular and linear plasmids.

Cell Structure and Metabolism

The phenotype of the species afzelli include being, a motile, nonsporulating, spirally-shaped, aerobic, pathogen. Also, it is a gram negative bacterium and is generally transmitted through ticks. Being spirally-shaped, allows it to penetrate deep into its hosts avoiding recognition of an immune response.