Author/Editor		Lagal, Vanessa; Postic, Daniele; Ružić-Sabljić, Eva; Baranton, Guy
Title		Genetic diversity among Borrelia strains determined by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of the ospC gene and its association with invasiveness
Type		članek
Source		J Clin Microbiol
Vol. and No.		Letnik 41, št. 11
Publication year		2003
Volume		str. 5059-65
Language		eng
Abstract		Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a tick-borne spirochetal infection caused by three Borrelia species: Borrelia afzelii, B. garinii, and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto. LB evolves in two stages: a skin lesion called erythema migrans and later, different disseminated forms (articular, neurological, cardiac. . .). Previous research based on analysis of ospC sequences allowed the definition of 58 groups (divergence of < 2% within a group and > 8% between groups). Only 10 of these groups include all of the strains isolated from disseminated forms that are considered invasive. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not invasive strains belong to restricted ospC groups by testing human clinical strains isolated from disseminated forms. To screen for ospC genetic diversity, we used -single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. Previously known ospC sequences from 44 different strains were first tested, revealing that each ospC group had a characteristic SSCP pattern. Therefore, we studied 80 disseminated-form isolates whose ospC sequences were unknown. Of these, 28 (35%) belonged to previously known invasive groups. Moreover, new invasive groups were identified: six of B. afzelii, seven of B. garinii, and one of B. burgdorferi sensu stricto. This study confirmed that invasive strains are not distributed among all 69 ospC groups but belong to only 24 groups. This suggests that OspC may be involved in the invasiveness of B. burgdorferi.
Descriptors		LYME DISEASE BORRELIA BACTERIAL OUTER MEMBRANE PROTEINS POLYMORPHISM, SINGLE-STRANDED CONFORMATIONAL VARIATION (GENETICS) BORRELIA BURGDORFERI EUROPE JAPAN UNITED STATES PHYLOGENY