Pathogeny of Borrelia burgdorferi
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Lyme Disease in the United States
There were 19,931 human reported cases of Lyme disease in the United States in 2006 (Shapiro). Reports of Lyme disease are more common in areas that have high populations of ticks. Ixodes, a species of ticks, and in particular Ixodes scapularis (the deer tick), are known to be the predominant couriers of Lyme disease in the United States. Within the United States, these ticks and therefore Lyme disease are generally most found in the Northeastern region, the Northwestern regions, and the Northcentral regions of the United States. Ticks are most active in the warmer seasons of the year (Natural Medicines). Being outdoors, especially in wet and wooded areas increases risk of contact with ticks, as they prefer damp environments.
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Morphology
Borrelia burgdorferi are spirochete bacteria, which have flagella that are enclosed between its inner and outer membranes. The flagella of B. burgdorferi are less subject to environmental factors where the flagella are protected by the double membrane structure. The bacterium’s flagella run lengthwise, rather than branch out into the environment like other bacteria, which allows for B. burgdorferi to better move through harder to maneuver conditions than other bacteria (Tilly). There has been research on the morphology of B. burgdorferi and its role on the bacteria’s success such as B. burgdorferi’s ability to transform into cysts in vivo. Research shows that environmental stress can trigger the formation of cysts, making the bacteria more distant and unattainable to outside threats such as the host’s immunological cells. Over 6% of the chromosomal genome of B. burgdorferi is linked to its mobility (Tilly). The ability of B. burgdorferi to adapt its morphology and motility to the environment proves to be critical for its survival and success.
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Gene Expression/Genome
The genome of B. burgdorferi is comparably small to other free-living bacteria, similar to genome sizes of parasites and relies on the host for necessary metabolic machinery (Tilly). Because the actual genome is limited in size, gene expression is extremely important for B. burgdorferi. Because the bacteria’s environments fluctuate from tick hosts to larger animal hosts in regards to temperature and pH, B. burgdorferi is able to adapt to its physiological environment by altering gene expression (Tilly). Research has been conducted to study various genes and the impact of their presence or absence in B. burgdorferi. Two specific genes, the rpoS and rpoN genes, are controlled by signaling cascades that regulate the assembly of various lipoproteins and surface proteins, influencing communication with the environment and driving responses to changing conditions (Tilly). The genome, however, consists of many plasmids that aid the bacterium in gene expression and survival. B. burgdorferi contains ospA, ospB, and ospC plasmid genes that code for major outer-surface proteins, which waver according to the life cycle of the tick. Higher levels of gene expression for the OspC protein are present in the nymphal stage of the tick life cycle than in the larvae and adult stages (Gilmore). Ticks in the nymphal stage are the primary agents of infection, which suggests that OspC might have a role in the bacteria’s pathogeny. B. burgdorferi’s proficiency in gene expression allows for its proliferation despite changing environmental factors.
Host's Immunological Responses
Studies show that host antibodies are able to kill Borrelia burgdorferi in lab settings but not in vivo, suggesting that environmental cues present in host immune systems are essential to their ability to destroy the pathogenic B. burgdorferi (Embers). The host’s immune system and its responses to the bacteria determine the extent of the bacteria’s pathogenic potency. B. burgdorferi’s impact on various organisms such as mice, rabbits, hamsters, and monkeys have been widely studied. Different infectious consequences were seen in the different host organisms. Because of the varying laboratory results, Lyme disease is suggested to be more of a consequence of the host organism’s immunological responses to the bacteria rather than the bacteria’s strategy to be a pathogenic agent (Tilly). Characteristics of B. burgdorferi’s such as gene expression of certain surface proteins that influence recognition and attachment of the cell make the bacteria capable of surviving the various levels and means of attack by the host’s immunological cells and molecules, especially in humans.
Infection in Humans
B. burgdorferi is a slow-growing bacterium, which can result in delayed diagnosis of Lyme disease. Even if Lyme disease is diagnosed early, B. burgdorferi can have the ability to stay dormant for extended period of time and return later in life of the host organism (Natural Medicines). The bacterium attaches to the host organism through the site of a B. burgdorferi-infected tick bite and travels through the bloodstream. At the initial tick bite site, a circular skin rash usually appears within a month and can increase in size over time (Embers). This stage of infection is called the early localized stage. The following stage, the early disseminated stage, is characterized by symptoms of further infection. B. burgdorferi targets various body tissues such as the skin, motor joints, the nervous system, and the cardiac system leading to symptoms like body aches and persistent skin rashes (Natural Medicines). The late stage consists of the same symptoms but with increased intensity, where in some cases can lead to arthritis and deterioration of the nervous system (Embers).
Further Reading
[Sample link] Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Special Pathogens Branch
References
Edited by Jenny Han, a student of Suzanne Kern in BIOL168L (Microbiology) in The Keck Science Department of the Claremont Colleges Spring 2015.
