Outer surface proteins of Borrelia: peerless immune evasion tools

Curr Protein Pept Sci. 2014 Feb;15(1):75-88. doi: 10.2174/1389203715666140221124213.

Abstract

Lyme borreliosis (LB), caused by Borrelia burgdorferi (B.b.), is the most frequently diagnosed tick-borne zoonosis in temperate zones of the Northern hemisphere. Borrelia is unique among bacteria in its ability to express a wide variety of lipoproteins on its surface, which play an essential role in pathogenesis. Surface proteins of spirochetes are important virulence determinants, immune evasion molecules and adaptation factors in the transmission and interaction with host tissues. Vast diversity in the expressed surface proteome of Borrelia in different niches and multifunctionality of proteins are the major strategies of Borrelia to avoid the destructive effect of immune system. In this review we provide deep insight into the protein:protein interactions that take place between different stages of life of Borrelia. Precise knowledge of surface proteins may help in improvement of the vaccines as well as for therapeutic agents against borreliosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology*
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / genetics
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / immunology*
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Immune Evasion*
  • Lyme Disease / immunology*
  • Lyme Disease / microbiology
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Transport
  • Signal Transduction
  • Ticks / microbiology

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins