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Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Phage-Mediated Genetic Manipulation of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi
09:01

Phage-Mediated Genetic Manipulation of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi

Published on: September 28, 2022

Intra- and interbacterial genetic exchange of Lyme disease spirochete erp genes generates sequence identity amidst

Brian Stevenson1, Jennifer C Miller

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, MS415 Chandler Medical Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536-0298, USA. bstev0@uky.edu

Journal of Molecular Evolution
|November 25, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes utilize cp32 plasmids encoding Erp proteins to evade host defenses. This study reveals significant diversity in Erp genes but conservation in plasmid maintenance, alongside evidence of large-scale plasmid exchange in nature.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, possesses multiple cp32 plasmids encoding Erp surface proteins.
  • Erp proteins facilitate immune evasion by binding complement factor H, inhibiting the alternative complement pathway.
  • Understanding the genetic diversity and dynamics of these plasmids is crucial for comprehending bacterial pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the cp32 plasmids and associated erp loci in Borrelia burgdorferi strains N40, Sh-2-82, and 297.
  • To compare these genetic elements with those of the type strain B31.
  • To investigate the extent of genetic diversity and potential for horizontal gene transfer among these plasmids.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative sequence analysis of cp32 plasmids and erp loci from different Borrelia burgdorferi strains.
  • Identification and characterization of plasmid maintenance loci.
  • Analysis of erp gene sequence diversity and identification of identical loci.

Main Results:

  • Strains N40, Sh-2-82, and 297 harbor 6, 10, and 9 distinct cp32 plasmids, respectively.
  • Conserved cp32 loci involved in plasmid maintenance suggest close phylogenetic relationships and incompatibility groups.
  • High diversity was observed in erp gene sequences within and between strains, with instances of identical loci suggesting intrabacterial rearrangements.
  • Evidence for large-scale genetic exchange, including the transfer of entire cp32 plasmids, was identified between Lyme disease spirochetes in natural settings.

Conclusions:

  • The cp32 plasmid family in Borrelia burgdorferi exhibits both conserved elements for maintenance and highly diverse erp genes for immune evasion.
  • Intrabacterial genetic rearrangements and horizontal plasmid transfer are significant mechanisms shaping the genetic landscape of these spirochetes.
  • These findings provide novel insights into the evolution and adaptability of Borrelia burgdorferi, impacting our understanding of Lyme disease pathogenesis.

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