| Autor: |
Fikrig, Erol, Pal, Utpal, Chen, Manchuan, Anderson, John F., Flavell, Richard A. |
| Zdroj: |
Infection and Immunity; March 2004, Vol. 72 Issue: 3 p1755-1759, 5p |
| Abstrakt: |
ABSTRACTBorrelia burgdorferiouter surface protein OspB is expressed by spirochetes in the Ixodes scapularisgut. ospBis transcribed from a bicistronic operon with ospA, a known spirochete adhesion gene in the tick gut. Here we examine whether OspB also has a specific function in ticks. OspB specifically binds to a protein or protein complex within the tick gut. We also assessed whether selected nonborreliacidal OspB antibodies or F(ab)2fragments interfere with B. burgdorferi-tick attachment in vivo. We examined engorged ticks that fed on B. burgdorferiN40-infected scidmice that had been treated with OspB F(ab)2fragments. Control F(ab)2fragments did not interfere with B. burgdorfericolonization of the tick gut, whereas OspB F(ab)2fragments significantly inhibited the attachment of spirochetes to the tick gut. These studies show that nonbactericidal OspB antibodies interfere with B. burgdorfericolonization of I. scapularis, highlighting a specific role for OspB in spirochete- arthropod interactions and suggesting new antibody-mediated strategies for interfering with B. burgdorferitransmission. |
| Databáze: |
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