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Related Experiment Videos

Antigenic variation in Borrelia.

I Saint Girons1, A G Barbour

  • 1Unité des Leptospires, Institut Pasteur, Paris.

Research in Microbiology
|July 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Borrelia hermsii exhibits antigenic variation through changes in its Vmp surface proteins. Gene transposition to a specific expression site on linear plasmids drives this immune evasion mechanism.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Borrelia hermsii causes relapsing fever, a disease characterized by recurrent febrile episodes.
  • The ability of Borrelia hermsii to evade the host immune system is crucial for its pathogenesis.
  • Major surface proteins, termed Vmp (Variable major proteins), are implicated in the immune response to Borrelia hermsii.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying antigenic variation in Borrelia hermsii.
  • To identify the genetic basis for changes in Vmp expression.
  • To compare the antigenic variation system of Borrelia hermsii with that of other microorganisms, such as trypanosomes.

Main Methods:

  • Demonstration of antigenic variation through serological assays.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of Vmp gene expression patterns.
  • Investigation of gene localization on linear plasmids.
  • Study of gene transposition and promoter activation mechanisms.

    • Main Results:

    • Antigenic variation was confirmed in Borrelia hermsii.
    • Changes in Vmp expression correlate with observed antigenic variation.
    • Vmp genes are located on linear plasmids.
    • Gene transposition to a telomeric expression site and downstream promoter activation regulate Vmp gene expression.

    Conclusions:

    • Borrelia hermsii employs a sophisticated genetic mechanism for antigenic variation.
    • The transposition of Vmp genes to a dedicated expression site allows for sequential expression of different surface proteins.
    • This mechanism facilitates immune evasion and persistence of Borrelia hermsii during infection.
    • The antigenic variation system in Borrelia hermsii shares similarities with that of trypanosomes, suggesting convergent evolution.