Open AccessEnhancement of OspC expression by Borrelia burgdorferi in the presence of tick hemolymph
Author(s) -
Johns Robert H,
Sonenshine Daniel E,
Hynes Wayne L
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2000.tb09415.x
Subject(s) - hemolymph , borrelia burgdorferi , ixodes scapularis , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , tick , dermacentor variabilis , virology , antibody , biochemistry , ixodidae , immunology
Borrelia burgdorferi B31 cultured at 28°C was used to assay the effects of tick hemolymph on outer surface protein C (OspC) surface expression. Using immunofluorescence, OspC surface expression was shown to increase in cultures treated with hemolymph from both Ixodes scapularis and Dermacentor variabilis , while control samples (non‐hemolymph treated) showed no increase in the levels of OspC. Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis also showed an increase in OspC from spirochetes exposed to tick hemolymph. In addition, a lower‐molecular‐mass protein band of unknown identity was also enhanced in the hemolymph‐exposed spirochetes. The significance of these effects of tick hemolymph on B. burgdorferi outer surface protein expression is unknown.