The luxS gene is not required for Borrelia burgdorferi tick colonization, transmission to a mammalian host, or induction of disease

Infect Immun. 2004 Aug;72(8):4864-7. doi: 10.1128/IAI.72.8.4864-4867.2004.

Abstract

luxS mutants of Borrelia burgdorferi strain 297 naturally colonized their arthropod (Ixodes scapularis) vector, were maintained in ticks throughout the molting process (larvae to nymphs), were tick transmitted to uninfected mice, and elicited histopathology in mice indistinguishable from that induced by wild-type B. burgdorferi.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bites and Stings
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / growth & development*
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / pathogenicity*
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / physiology
  • Carbon-Sulfur Lyases
  • Female
  • Ixodes / microbiology*
  • Lyme Disease / microbiology
  • Lyme Disease / pathology
  • Lyme Disease / transmission*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Mutation

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Carbon-Sulfur Lyases
  • LuxS protein, Bacteria