Author/Editor		Ružić-Sabljić, E; Pipan, C; Strle, F; Cimperman, J; Botta, GA
Title		Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi by the polymerase chain reaction using different primer pairs
Type		članek
Source		Alpe Adria Microbiol J
Vol. and No.		Letnik 1, št. 3
Publication year		1992
Volume		str. 153-61
Language		eng
Abstract		Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify different DNA sequences of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis. The targets for the PCR amplication were: flagellin gene, 16S ribosomal DNA sequence and outer surface protein A (OspA) gene. Primers, synthesized for these regions, were used to detect 24 different B.burgdorferi strains isolated from human specimens. Primers based on flagellin gene and 16S rDNA sequence (broadly sequnce present in eubacteria) detected all B.burgdorferi strains. For OspA gene two different primer pairs were synthesized: Oext1, 2 and Oint,2. Primers Oext1 and Oext2 detected 15 B.burgdorferi strains. Primers Oint1 and Oint2 detected 11 B.burgdorferi strains. Using these two primers for nested PCR it was possible to detect three additional strains. Primers based on flagellin and broad specific gene sequence can be used successfully for detection of B.burgdorferi. Flagellin gene encodes protein present in all Borrelia strains. OspA gene sequence are species specific for B.burgdorferi but heterogeneity found in this gene diminish the successful detection of B.burgdorferi by PCR. IN conclusion. PCR assay could be used to improve the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis but the choice of an appropriate primers set is crucial for detection B.burgdorferi genome in different clinical cpecimens.
Descriptors		LYME DISEASE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION BORRELIA BURGDORFERI SEQUENCE ANALYSIS, DNA