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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Jul 1995, 1860-1866, Vol 33, No. 7
S Jauris-Heipke, G Liegl, V Preac-Mursic, D Rossler, E Schwab, E Soutschek, G Will and B Wilske
It has been shown by analysis with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies
that outer surface protein C (OspC) of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is
highly heterogeneous. To determine if the heterogeneity has a genetic
basis, the genes of 18 different B. burgdorferi sensu lato strains have
been amplified by PCR, cloned, and sequenced. The ospC genes could be
amplified from all strains tested, even from two strains which did not
express OspC in detectable amounts. Among the 18 strains, 16 significantly
different types of ospC sequences have been found. The sequence identities
of the deduced amino acid sequences of different ospC genotypes range
between 62 and 80% (determined without the leader peptide). The sequences
range between 62 and 80% (determined without the leader peptide). The
sequences correspond to one of the 13 OspC types distinguishable by
analysis with monoclonal antibodies (B. Wilske, S. Jauris-Heipke, R.
Lobentanzer, I. Pradel, V. Preac-Mursic, D. Roessler, E. Soutschek, and R.
C. Johnson, J. Clin. Microbiol. 33:103-109, 1995) or represent additional
types. Two completely new types were found, and OspC type 8 (which was
found in Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii) could be divided into two
groups with different sequences but the same antibody pattern. Thus,
strains belonging to different species or OspA serotypes were always
significantly different in their ospC sequences. This was also confirmed by
ospA sequence analysis. Interestingly, some strains of the same OspA
serotype or genotype were very heterogeneous with respect to OspC, while
others had nearly identical OspC proteins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Copyright © 1995 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Molecular analysis of genes encoding outer surface protein C (OspC) of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato: relationship to ospA genotype and evidence of lateral gene exchange of ospC
Max von Pettenkofer Institut fur Hygiene und Medizinische Mikrobiologie der Universitat Munchen, Germany.
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