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Quorum sensing by the Lyme disease spirochete
Brian Stevenson1, Kate von Lackum, Rachel L Wattier
1Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, MS 415 Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, KY 40536-0298, USA. bstev0@uky.edu
Microbes and Infection
|August 28, 2003
Summary
Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease bacterium, uses a LuxS/autoinducer-2 system for quorum sensing. This mechanism is thought to aid in transmitting the bacteria from ticks to hosts.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
Background:
- Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi.
- Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-to-cell communication system used by bacteria.
- The LuxS/autoinducer-2 (AI-2) system is a known QS mechanism in various bacteria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the LuxS/AI-2 QS system in Borrelia burgdorferi.
- To identify bacterial proteins regulated by this QS system.
- To explore the potential involvement of QS in pathogen transmission.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of gene expression in Borrelia burgdorferi under different conditions.
- Identification of proteins modulated by the LuxS/AI-2 system.
- Hypothesis-driven research on transmission mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Borrelia burgdorferi employs a LuxS/AI-2 dependent QS system.
- This system regulates a specific subset of bacterial proteins.
- The QS system is hypothesized to be involved in tick-to-host transmission.
Conclusions:
- The LuxS/AI-2 system is a key regulatory mechanism in Borrelia burgdorferi.
- Understanding this QS system may reveal novel targets for controlling Lyme disease transmission.
- Further research is needed to confirm the role of QS in the transmission cycle.