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Home Journal Highlights Borrelia Sequences Boost Quest for Better Lyme Diagnosis, Treatment
Borrelia Sequences Boost Quest for Better Lyme Diagnosis, Treatment Print E-mail
Sherwood Casjens of the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, et al. announce the genome sequences of Lyme disease-causing bacteria. casjensThe Borrelia species are unusual for their linear chromosomes and for carrying more plasmids than any other bacteria, and because their virulence determinants are plasmid encoded, says Casjens. The team has determined complete genome sequences of 22 Borrelia isolates from seven species, some of which cause Lyme disease and some of which don't. Now they report genome sequences of two isolates each of B. garinii and B. afzelli, the primary Lyme agents in Europe and Asia. "Our sequencing targets were chosen to display as much of the diversity of these organisms as possible; they are geographically diverse and isolated from three species of tick, two birds, and different infected human tissues," says Casjens. The new sequences "give us a real gauge for the capacity of this genus to evolve and change. Our sequence information will have great impact on identification of virulence determinants and on understanding how the genetic variability of Borrelia impacts its pathogenicity and survival." This work should boost development of new diagnostic, therapeutics, and vaccines, says Casjens.

(S. R. Casjens, E. F. Mongodin, W.-G. Qiu, J. J. Dunn, B. J. Luft, C. F. Fraser-Liggett, and S. E. Schutzer. 2011. Whole-genome sequences of two Borrelia afzelii and two Borrelia garinii Lyme disease agent isolates. J. Bacteriol. 193:6995-6996.)