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Riboflavin salvage by Borrelia burgdorferi supports carbon metabolism and is essential for survival in the tick vector
Author(s) -
Ramos Darlene,
Lasseter Amanda G.,
Richards Crystal L.,
Schwarz Benjamin,
Ghosh Susmita,
Victoria Berta,
Bosio Catharine M.,
Gherardini Frank C.,
Jewett Mollie W.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/mmi.14977
Subject(s) - biology , borrelia burgdorferi , vector (molecular biology) , borrelia , microbiology and biotechnology , lyme disease , virology , immunology , biochemistry , gene , antibody , recombinant dna
The Lyme disease agent, Borrelia burgdorferi , harbors a significantly reduced genome and relies on the scavenging of critical nutrients from its tick and mammalian hosts for survival. Riboflavin salvage has been shown to be important for B. burgdorferi infection of mice, yet the contributions of riboflavin to B. burgdorferi metabolism and survival in the tick remain unknown. Using a targeted mass spectrometry approach, we confirmed the importance of bb0318 , the putative ATPase component of an ABC‐type riboflavin transporter, for riboflavin salvage and the production of FMN and FAD. This analysis further revealed that Δ bb0318 B. burgdorferi displayed increased levels of glycerol 3‐phosphate compared to the wild‐type. The glycerol 3‐phosphate dehydrogenase activity of GlpD was found to be FAD‐dependent and the transcription and translation of glpD were significantly decreased in Δ bb0318 B. burgdorferi . Finally, gene bb0318 was found to be important for maximal spirochete burden in unfed larvae and essential for survival in feeding ticks. Together, these data demonstrate the importance of riboflavin salvage for B. burgdorferi carbon metabolism and survival in ticks.