Survival of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> Strain B31 in Human Serum Is Not Dependent on C4BP Binding to the Bacterial Surface

Lyme disease is a vector-borne illness caused by spirochetes belonging to the <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> species group. These bacteria employ several mechanisms to survive within the vertebrate host, including evasion of the complement system. In this study, we examine the protection ag...

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Main Authors: Tobias Jakobsson, Pär Comstedt, Sven Bergström, Johan Normark
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Pathogens
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/11/976
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author Tobias Jakobsson
Pär Comstedt
Sven Bergström
Johan Normark
author_facet Tobias Jakobsson
Pär Comstedt
Sven Bergström
Johan Normark
author_sort Tobias Jakobsson
collection DOAJ
description Lyme disease is a vector-borne illness caused by spirochetes belonging to the <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> species group. These bacteria employ several mechanisms to survive within the vertebrate host, including evasion of the complement system. In this study, we examine the protection against human serum killing by the binding of host complement regulators C4b-binding protein (C4BP) and factor H (FH) to the bacterial surface of <i>B. burgdorferi</i>. Via serum depletion of isolated complement regulators, we found that the absence of C4BP did not alter the survival of <i>B. burgdorferi</i> strain B31; however, the removal of FH increased the sensitivity of this strain to human serum as previously described. The <i>B. garinii</i> seabird-isolated strain Far04, on the other hand, did not bind any complement regulators of human origin and was serum-sensitive, indicating its special host species specificity.
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spelling doaj-art-c0a3116475dc496b9c395f28f2d8939b2024-11-26T18:16:51ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172024-11-01131197610.3390/pathogens13110976Survival of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> Strain B31 in Human Serum Is Not Dependent on C4BP Binding to the Bacterial SurfaceTobias Jakobsson0Pär Comstedt1Sven Bergström2Johan Normark3Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, SwedenEvaxion Biotech, Dr. Neergaards vej 5F, 2970 Hørsholm, DenmarkUCMR, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, 901 87 Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, SwedenLyme disease is a vector-borne illness caused by spirochetes belonging to the <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> species group. These bacteria employ several mechanisms to survive within the vertebrate host, including evasion of the complement system. In this study, we examine the protection against human serum killing by the binding of host complement regulators C4b-binding protein (C4BP) and factor H (FH) to the bacterial surface of <i>B. burgdorferi</i>. Via serum depletion of isolated complement regulators, we found that the absence of C4BP did not alter the survival of <i>B. burgdorferi</i> strain B31; however, the removal of FH increased the sensitivity of this strain to human serum as previously described. The <i>B. garinii</i> seabird-isolated strain Far04, on the other hand, did not bind any complement regulators of human origin and was serum-sensitive, indicating its special host species specificity.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/11/976<i>Borrelia</i>C4b-binding proteincomplementserum survival
spellingShingle Tobias Jakobsson
Pär Comstedt
Sven Bergström
Johan Normark
Survival of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> Strain B31 in Human Serum Is Not Dependent on C4BP Binding to the Bacterial Surface
Pathogens
<i>Borrelia</i>
C4b-binding protein
complement
serum survival
title Survival of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> Strain B31 in Human Serum Is Not Dependent on C4BP Binding to the Bacterial Surface
title_full Survival of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> Strain B31 in Human Serum Is Not Dependent on C4BP Binding to the Bacterial Surface
title_fullStr Survival of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> Strain B31 in Human Serum Is Not Dependent on C4BP Binding to the Bacterial Surface
title_full_unstemmed Survival of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> Strain B31 in Human Serum Is Not Dependent on C4BP Binding to the Bacterial Surface
title_short Survival of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> Strain B31 in Human Serum Is Not Dependent on C4BP Binding to the Bacterial Surface
title_sort survival of i borrelia burgdorferi i strain b31 in human serum is not dependent on c4bp binding to the bacterial surface
topic <i>Borrelia</i>
C4b-binding protein
complement
serum survival
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/11/976
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AT svenbergstrom survivalofiborreliaburgdorferiistrainb31inhumanserumisnotdependentonc4bpbindingtothebacterialsurface
AT johannormark survivalofiborreliaburgdorferiistrainb31inhumanserumisnotdependentonc4bpbindingtothebacterialsurface