The Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, as a model vector-borne pathogen:  insights on regulation of gene and protein expression

Curr Opin Microbiol. 2023 Jun 4;74:102332. doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102332. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe Lyme disease spirochete persists in nature through cycles between ticks and vertebrates. Although the spirochete interacts with numerous, distinct tissues and environmental conditions during its infectious cycle, Borrelia burgdorferi appears to possess a limited ability to sense its external environment. This apparent paradox is being resolved through detailed investigations of the molecular mechanisms through which B. burgdorferi controls production of virulence-associated factors such as the Erp outer surface proteins. The results have led to development of a model for how B. burgdorferi controls expression of its diverse proteins, wherein physiological and metabolic states that are unique to specific points in the infectious cycle trigger changes in gene and protein expression levels.PMID:37279610 | DOI:10.1016/j.mib.2023.102332
Source: Current Opinion in Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Source Type: research