2025
FlbB forms a distinctive ring essential for periplasmic flagellar assembly and motility in Borrelia burgdorferi
Botting J, Rahman M, Xu H, Yue J, Guo W, Del Mundo J, Hammel M, Motaleb M, Liu J. FlbB forms a distinctive ring essential for periplasmic flagellar assembly and motility in Borrelia burgdorferi. PLOS Pathogens 2025, 21: e1012812. PMID: 39777417, PMCID: PMC11750108, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012812.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsComplex protein networkPeriplasmic flagellaProtein networkB. burgdorferi mutantFlagellar motorFlat-wave morphologyStator complexLyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferiGroup of bacteriaCryo-electron tomographyCollar proteinFlagellar assemblyHost infectionHuman pathogensFlbBPeriplasmic ringSpirochete Borrelia burgdorferiCollar assemblyMotilityFlagellaBorrelia burgdorferiSpirochetesMolecular modelingCollarMutants
2024
Broadly conserved FlgV controls flagellar assembly and Borrelia burgdorferi dissemination in mice
Zamba-Campero M, Soliman D, Yu H, Lasseter A, Chang Y, Silberman J, Liu J, Aravind L, Jewett M, Storz G, Adams P. Broadly conserved FlgV controls flagellar assembly and Borrelia burgdorferi dissemination in mice. Nature Communications 2024, 15: 10417. PMID: 39614093, PMCID: PMC11607428, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54806-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFlagellar assemblyFlagellar componentsComplex hierarchical regulatory networkRNA-binding protein HfqFlagellar basal bodyHierarchical regulatory networkB. burgdorferiProtein HfqRegulatory networksBasal bodiesFlagellar filamentsCell divisionMotile bacteriaSpirochete motilitySpirochete Borrelia burgdorferiEnzootic cycleGenesMotilityS28AssemblySuperoperonHfqSpirochetesEpsilonproteobacteriaFlagella
2020
Interactions Between Ticks and Lyme Disease Spirochetes.
Pal U, Kitsou C, Drecktrah D, Yaş ÖB, Fikrig E. Interactions Between Ticks and Lyme Disease Spirochetes. Current Issues In Molecular Biology 2020, 42: 113-144. PMID: 33289683, PMCID: PMC8045411, DOI: 10.21775/cimb.042.113.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsComplex enzootic life cycleEnzootic life cycleMammalian reservoir hostsMolecular interactionsLife cycleDiscrete molecular interactionsVariety of animalsRelated ticksVertebrate hostsLyme disease spirocheteArthropod vectorsSensu latoPathogen persistenceWild rodentsBacterial pathogensReservoir hostsCritical roleTick-transmitted infectionsMain vectorNortheastern United StatesPast discoveriesHostTicksArthropodsSpirochetesAn Ixodes scapularis Protein Disulfide Isomerase Contributes to Borrelia burgdorferi Colonization of the Vector
Cao Y, Rosen C, Arora G, Gupta A, Booth CJ, Murfin KE, Cerny J, Lopez A, Chuang YM, Tang X, Pal U, Ring A, Narasimhan S, Fikrig E. An Ixodes scapularis Protein Disulfide Isomerase Contributes to Borrelia burgdorferi Colonization of the Vector. Infection And Immunity 2020, 88: 10.1128/iai.00426-20. PMID: 32928964, PMCID: PMC7671890, DOI: 10.1128/iai.00426-20.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTick gutTick bite siteVector-host interfaceAbility of spirochetesProtein disulfide isomerase A3Infected vertebrate hostsInflammatory responseBite siteLyme diseaseVertebrate hostsGutTick proteinsAdditional targetsMiceSpirochete life cycleSpirochete survivalArthropod vectorsSpirochetesRNA interferenceIllnessTicksAn asymmetric sheath controls flagellar supercoiling and motility in the leptospira spirochete
Gibson KH, Trajtenberg F, Wunder EA, Brady MR, San Martin F, Mechaly A, Shang Z, Liu J, Picardeau M, Ko A, Buschiazzo A, Sindelar CV. An asymmetric sheath controls flagellar supercoiling and motility in the leptospira spirochete. ELife 2020, 9: e53672. PMID: 32157997, PMCID: PMC7065911, DOI: 10.7554/elife.53672.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCryo-electron tomographyKey functional attributesNative flagellar filamentsHigh-resolution cryo-electron tomographyPeriplasmic spaceSheath proteinStructural basisFlagellar filamentsLeptospira spirochetesSpirochete bacteriaEntire cellFunctional attributesX-ray crystallographyImportant pathogenSupercoilingMotilityBacteriaFilamentsCell bodiesFlagellaSpirochetesProteinFlagellinDistinctive meansEndoflagella
2019
Architecture and Assembly of Periplasmic Flagellum
Chang Y, Liu J. Architecture and Assembly of Periplasmic Flagellum. 2019, 189-199. DOI: 10.1128/9781683670285.ch16.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPeriplasmic flagellaVirulence of bacterial pathogensMotility of spirochetesAssociated with virulenceBacteria encounterAssemble flagellaPeritrichous flagellaFlagellar numberSalmonella entericaFlagellar structureCell polesVibrio sppPeriplasmic spaceOuter membraneBacterial pathogensBacterial speciesEscherichia coliFlagellaPseudomonas aeruginosaBacteriaMotilitySpeciesSpirochetesAssemblySalmonella28 Host Defenses to Spirochetes
Navasa N, Fikrig E, Anguita J. 28 Host Defenses to Spirochetes. 2019, 403-411.e1. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-7020-6896-6.00028-4.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2018
Detection of Borrelia in Ixodes scapularis ticks by silver stain, immunohistochemical and direct immunofluorescent methods
Galan A, Kupernik P, Cowper SE. Detection of Borrelia in Ixodes scapularis ticks by silver stain, immunohistochemical and direct immunofluorescent methods. Journal Of Cutaneous Pathology 2018, 45: 473-477. PMID: 29569269, DOI: 10.1111/cup.13143.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDirect immunofluorescent methodLyme diseaseImmunofluorescent methodSilver stainScapularis ticksPercentage of positivityRate of infectionCommon tick-borne diseasesIdentification of spirochetesDetection of BorreliaIxodes scapularis ticksClinical presentationRoutine biopsyClinical managementSkin biopsiesI. scapularis ticksConnecticut Agricultural Experiment StationTick-borne diseasesTick attachmentTimely identificationBiopsyDiseaseBorreliaSpirochetesStain
2016
A novel flagellar sheath protein, FcpA, determines filament coiling, translational motility and virulence for the Leptospira spirochete
Wunder EA, Figueira CP, Benaroudj N, Hu B, Tong BA, Trajtenberg F, Liu J, Reis MG, Charon NW, Buschiazzo A, Picardeau M, Ko AI. A novel flagellar sheath protein, FcpA, determines filament coiling, translational motility and virulence for the Leptospira spirochete. Molecular Microbiology 2016, 101: 457-470. PMID: 27113476, PMCID: PMC4979076, DOI: 10.1111/mmi.13403.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTraverse tissue barriersHamster modelTarget organsSystemic infectionClinical isolatesLeptospira spirochetesTranslational motilityL. interrogansCell morphologyTissue barriersMotilityLeptospiraPeriplasmic flagellaSpirochetesVirulence phenotypesProtein AHelical cell morphologyInfectionDiseaseLeptospirosisPathogen L. interrogans
2012
The Unique Paradigm of Spirochete Motility and Chemotaxis
Charon N, Cockburn A, Li C, Liu J, Miller K, Miller M, Motaleb M, Wolgemuth C. The Unique Paradigm of Spirochete Motility and Chemotaxis. Annual Review Of Microbiology 2012, 66: 349-370. PMID: 22994496, PMCID: PMC3771095, DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-092611-150145.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPeriplasmic flagellaSpirochete motilityIn situ analysis of cellsLyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferiProtoplasmic cell cylinderGene regulationAnalysis of cellsOuter membraneUnique bacteriaCell cylinderExternal appendagesCryoelectron tomographyFlagellated bacteriaMotilitySpirochete Borrelia burgdorferiBacteriaChemotaxisModel systemLife cycleSpirochetesFlagellaCellsBacteriumGenesTranslocation
2011
Molecular Interactions that Enable Movement of the Lyme Disease Agent from the Tick Gut into the Hemolymph
Zhang L, Zhang Y, Adusumilli S, Liu L, Narasimhan S, Dai J, Zhao YO, Fikrig E. Molecular Interactions that Enable Movement of the Lyme Disease Agent from the Tick Gut into the Hemolymph. PLOS Pathogens 2011, 7: e1002079. PMID: 21695244, PMCID: PMC3111543, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002079.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLyme disease agentB. burgdorferi burdenTick gutOuter surface lipoproteinsTick gut proteinsSalivary gland infectionIxodes scapularis ticksInfection resultsMouse infectionDisease agentsGland infectionLyme diseaseBorrelia burgdorferiScapularis ticksB. burgdorferiCausative agentInfectionBurgdorferiGutGut proteinsSpirochetesTick hemolymphTicksAgentsHemolymph
2010
Lyme borreliosis vaccination: the facts, the challenge, the future
Schuijt TJ, Hovius JW, van der Poll T, van Dam AP, Fikrig E. Lyme borreliosis vaccination: the facts, the challenge, the future. Trends In Parasitology 2010, 27: 40-47. PMID: 20594913, DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2010.06.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBorrelia burgdorferi sensu lato groupPrevalent arthropod-borne diseaseAnti-tick vaccinesLyme borreliosisArthropod-borne diseaseSensu lato groupTick proteinsTick vectorIxodes ticksNovel vaccination strategiesTicksMammalian hostsVaccination strategiesLyme diseaseVaccine candidatesBorreliosisBorrelia antigensVaccineAntigenDiseaseBorreliaOuter membrane proteinsWestern worldFuture candidatesSpirochetes
2009
Passage through Ixodes scapularis Ticks Enhances the Virulence of a Weakly Pathogenic Isolate of Borrelia burgdorferi
Adusumilli S, Booth CJ, Anguita J, Fikrig E. Passage through Ixodes scapularis Ticks Enhances the Virulence of a Weakly Pathogenic Isolate of Borrelia burgdorferi. Infection And Immunity 2009, 78: 138-144. PMID: 19822652, PMCID: PMC2798202, DOI: 10.1128/iai.00470-09.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIxodes scapularis ticksCommon tick-borne illnessScapularis ticksTick-borne illnessB. burgdorferi sensu strictoC3H miceBurgdorferi sensu strictoLyme diseaseMiceHigh expression levelsBorrelia burgdorferiB. burgdorferiTick engorgementExpression levelsSpirochetesDiseaseArray analysisSyringe inoculationBurgdorferiPathogenic isolatesIsolatesI. scapularisArthritisVirulencePathogenesis
2008
The Tick Salivary Protein Salp15 Inhibits the Killing of Serum-Sensitive Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Isolates
Schuijt TJ, Hovius JW, van Burgel ND, Ramamoorthi N, Fikrig E, van Dam AP. The Tick Salivary Protein Salp15 Inhibits the Killing of Serum-Sensitive Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Isolates. Infection And Immunity 2008, 76: 2888-2894. PMID: 18426890, PMCID: PMC2446733, DOI: 10.1128/iai.00232-08.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsComplement-mediated killingBurgdorferi-specific antibodiesBorrelia burgdorferiStrong protective effectSerum-sensitive isolatesNormal human serumBorrelia burgdorferi sensu latoBurgdorferi sensu latoProtective effectMembrane attack complexTick salivaLyme diseaseBorrelia burgdorferi sensu lato isolatesComplement complexI. scapularis Salp15B. burgdorferiSalp15Attack complexBurgdorferiHuman serumKillingSpirochetesIxodes scapularisIsolatesTicks
2006
Coinfection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Borrelia garinii alters the course of murine Lyme borreliosis
Hovius JW, Li X, Ramamoorthi N, Van Dam AP, Barthold SW, Van Der Poll T, Speelman P, Fikrig E. Coinfection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Borrelia garinii alters the course of murine Lyme borreliosis. Pathogens And Disease 2006, 49: 224-234. PMID: 17328756, DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2006.00177.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMurine Lyme borreliosisB. burgdorferi sensu strictoBurgdorferi sensu strictoLyme borreliosisBorrelia burgdorferi sensu strictoEffect of coinfectionCoinfected miceBorrelia speciesSimultaneous infectionMiceCoinfectionBorreliosisB. gariniiBorrelia gariniiReservoir hostsGariniiI. ricinus populationsSpirochetesHigher numberArthritisPreferential maintenanceInfectionPrevalenceSpirochetemiaHuman Neutrophil Calprotectin Reduces the Susceptibility of Borrelia burgdorferi to Penicillin
Montgomery RR, Schreck K, Wang X, Malawista SE. Human Neutrophil Calprotectin Reduces the Susceptibility of Borrelia burgdorferi to Penicillin. Infection And Immunity 2006, 74: 2468-2472. PMID: 16552081, PMCID: PMC1418918, DOI: 10.1128/iai.74.4.2468-2472.2006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsClearance of spirochetesB. burgdorferiSites of inflammationTherapeutic dosesCalprotectinGrowth of spirochetesLeukocyte componentsNeutrophil calprotectinAntibiotic sensitivitySpirochetal agentLyme diseaseTherapeutic antibioticsBorrelia burgdorferiPenicillin GProtein calprotectinInflammationBurgdorferiSpirochetesDiseaseDoxycyclineDosesClearance
2004
TROSPA, an Ixodes scapularis Receptor for Borrelia burgdorferi
Pal U, Li X, Wang T, Montgomery RR, Ramamoorthi N, deSilva AM, Bao F, Yang X, Pypaert M, Pradhan D, Kantor FS, Telford S, Anderson JF, Fikrig E. TROSPA, an Ixodes scapularis Receptor for Borrelia burgdorferi. Cell 2004, 119: 457-468. PMID: 15537536, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2004.10.027.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acid SequenceAnimalsAntibodies, BacterialAntigens, SurfaceBacterial Outer Membrane ProteinsBacterial VaccinesBase SequenceBorrelia burgdorferiCloning, MolecularGene Expression RegulationHost-Parasite InteractionsIntestinesIxodesLipoproteinsMiceMice, Inbred C3HMolecular Sequence DataReceptors, Cell SurfaceRecombinant ProteinsConceptsLyme disease agent Borrelia burgdorferiSurvival of spirochetesTick receptorMammalian hostsRNA interferenceEfficient colonizationTROSPAOuter surface protein ABorrelia burgdorferiPathogen adherencePathogen transmissionProtein AB. burgdorferi outer surface protein AMRNA levelsIxodes scapularisB. burgdorferiColonizationSurface protein AReceptorsArthropodsBurgdorferiMammalsRepressionSpirochetesTicksTick Saliva Reduces Adherence and Area of Human Neutrophils
Montgomery RR, Lusitani D, de Boisfleury Chevance A, Malawista SE. Tick Saliva Reduces Adherence and Area of Human Neutrophils. Infection And Immunity 2004, 72: 2989-2994. PMID: 15102811, PMCID: PMC387908, DOI: 10.1128/iai.72.5.2989-2994.2004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEssential Role for OspA/B in the Life Cycle of the Lyme Disease Spirochete
Yang XF, Pal U, Alani SM, Fikrig E, Norgard MV. Essential Role for OspA/B in the Life Cycle of the Lyme Disease Spirochete. Journal Of Experimental Medicine 2004, 199: 641-648. PMID: 14981112, PMCID: PMC2213294, DOI: 10.1084/jem.20031960.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOspC facilitates Borrelia burgdorferi invasion of Ixodes scapularis salivary glands
Pal U, Yang X, Chen M, Bockenstedt LK, Anderson JF, Flavell RA, Norgard MV, Fikrig E. OspC facilitates Borrelia burgdorferi invasion of Ixodes scapularis salivary glands. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2004, 113: 220-230. PMID: 14722614, PMCID: PMC311436, DOI: 10.1172/jci19894.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsActinsAnimalsAntigens, BacterialBacterial Outer Membrane ProteinsBorrelia burgdorferiDisease Models, AnimalEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent AssayGenetic VectorsImmunoglobulin Fab FragmentsIxodesLipoproteinsLyme DiseaseMiceMice, SCIDMicroscopy, ConfocalModels, GeneticPlasmidsRecombinant ProteinsReverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionSalivary GlandsSpirochaetalesTime FactorsUp-RegulationConceptsTick salivary glandsWild-type B. burgdorferiArthropod vectorsWild-type spirochetesTransmission of spirochetesB. burgdorferiMajor surface lipoproteinMammalian hostsGene expressionSalivary glandsOspC geneSurface lipoproteinsSalivary gland colonizationInfectious cloneOuter surface protein CGland colonizationSurface protein CTick gutMutantsOspCUnfed ticksInvasionCritical stepBorrelia burgdorferiSpirochetes
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