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Virulent strain associated outer membrane proteins of Borrelia burgdorferi

J T Skare1, E S Shang, D M Foley

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UCLA School of Medicine 90024, USA.

The Journal of Clinical Investigation
|November 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) from Borrelia burgdorferi were purified and analyzed. Specific OMV proteins were linked to Lyme disease virulence and protective immunity in rabbits, offering new insights into pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are critical in bacterial pathogenesis and host interactions.
  • Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, possesses a complex outer membrane.
  • Understanding OMV composition is key to developing effective Lyme disease diagnostics and therapeutics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and characterize outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) from Borrelia burgdorferi strain B31.
  • To identify proteins within these OMVs and correlate their presence with bacterial virulence and host immune response.
  • To explore the potential of OMV-associated proteins as targets for Lyme disease intervention.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and purification of OMVs from Borrelia burgdorferi using established Treponema pallidum OMV isolation methods.
  • Analysis of OMV porin activities and absence of inner membrane contamination markers (beta-NADH oxidase).
  • Identification of hydrophobic proteins via Triton X-114 phase partitioning and palmitoylation analysis of lipoproteins.

Main Results:

  • Purified OMVs demonstrated specific porin activities and lacked inner membrane contamination.
  • Hydrophobic membrane proteins were identified, with most lacking acylation, suggesting outer membrane localization.
  • Distinct lipoprotein enrichment patterns were observed between OMVs and inner membrane fractions.
  • OMV protein composition varied with in vitro cultivation.
  • Specific OMV antigens correlated with virulence and protective immunity in a rabbit Lyme disease model.

Conclusions:

  • Borrelia burgdorferi OMVs contain specific proteins, some of which are associated with virulence.
  • These virulent strain-associated outer membrane-spanning proteins may play a significant role in Lyme disease pathogenesis.
  • OMV-derived antigens represent potential targets for understanding and combating Lyme disease.

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