Analysis of Borrelia burgdorferi Proteome and Protein-Protein Interactions

The proteome of Borrelia burgdorferi undergoes dynamic alterations as the microbe cycles through and persists in diverse host or vector environments. Therefore, studies of B. burgdorferi proteome and protein-protein interactions, which play central roles in biological processes in diverse organisms, are critical in understanding biology and infectivity of spirochetes. Here, we describe the proteomic analysis of B. burgdorferi by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis followed by protein identification via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and database searching. We also describe assays for studying the interaction between borrelial proteins: a novel high-throughput luciferase assay, yeast two-hybrid assay, and a far-Western assay that are routinely used in our laboratories.