Abstract
The relapsing fever spirochete, Borrelia hermsii, alternates infections between a mammal and a tick vector. Whether the spirochete changes phenotypically in the different hosts was examined by allowing the tick vector Ornithodoros hermsi to feed on mice infected with serotype 7 or serotype 8 of B. hermsii. Upon infection of ticks, the spirochetal serotype-specific variable major proteins (Vmps) 7 and 8 became undetectable and were replaced by Vmp33. This switch from a bloodstream- to tick-associated phenotype could be induced in culture by a decrease in temperature. After tick-bite transmission back to mice, the process was reversed and the spirochetes resumed expression of the same Vmp present in the previous infectious blood meal.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antigenic Variation*
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Antigens, Bacterial / analysis
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Antigens, Bacterial / genetics*
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Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
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Antigens, Surface / analysis
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Antigens, Surface / genetics
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Antigens, Surface / immunology
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Arachnid Vectors / microbiology
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Bacteremia / microbiology
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Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / analysis
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Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics*
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Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / immunology
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Borrelia / classification
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Borrelia / genetics*
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Borrelia / immunology
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Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
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Gene Expression
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Genes, Bacterial
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Relapsing Fever / microbiology*
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Relapsing Fever / transmission
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Salivary Glands / microbiology
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Serotyping
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Ticks / microbiology*
Substances
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Antigens, Bacterial
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Antigens, Surface
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Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
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OspC protein
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VMP7 protein, Borrelia hermsii