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Hide and Seek: How Lyme Disease Spirochetes Overcome Complement Attack.

Peter Kraiczy1

  • 1Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt , Frankfurt am Main , Germany.

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Summary

Lyme disease spirochetes evade the human immune system by employing complement evasion strategies. Understanding these mechanisms, particularly complement regulator-acquiring surface proteins, can lead to new diagnostics and treatments.

Keywords:
BorreliaLyme diseasecomplementcomplement regulatorimmune evasioninnate immunityspirochetes

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology and Immunology
  • Pathogen-Host Interactions
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Pathogenic microbes must overcome the innate immune system for host entry.
  • Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the causative agent of Lyme disease, employs sophisticated immune evasion strategies.
  • Complement resistance is crucial for Borrelia survival within the host.

Approach:

  • This review synthesizes current knowledge on Borrelia immune evasion mechanisms.
  • It focuses on complement resistance strategies utilized by Lyme disease spirochetes.
  • The role of surface-exposed proteins interacting with the complement system is highlighted.

Key Points:

  • Borrelia spirochetes capture host complement regulators or inhibit complement activation.
  • Surface proteins directly interfere with complement components (e.g., BBK32, CspA) or bind regulators (e.g., Factor H, C4Bp).
  • Complement regulator-acquiring surface proteins (e.g., CspA, CspZ, Erp proteins) are key to immune evasion.

Conclusions:

  • Deciphering Borrelia's immune evasion strategies is vital for understanding Lyme disease pathogenesis.
  • These insights may pave the way for novel diagnostic tools.
  • Targeting these mechanisms could lead to the development of new therapeutic interventions.