Identification of an immunoreactive non-proteinaleous component in Borrelia burgdorferi

Investigations of immunoblots using Borrelia burgdorferi antigen demonstrated that a band, migrating faster than the bromophenol blue front in sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis, reacted strongly with sera containing anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies preferentially of the IgG class. Extraction of this antigenic component and chemical analyses showed that the substance was composed mainly of fatty acids and carbohydrates. Typical structures of classical lipooolysaccharides such as 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid, hydroxy fatty acids or lipid A could not be detected.