Immune escape strategies of Borrelia burgdorferi

Future Microbiol. 2017 Oct:12:1219-1237. doi: 10.2217/fmb-2017-0013. Epub 2017 Sep 15.

Abstract

The borrelial resurge demonstrates that Borrelia burgdorferi is a persistent health problem. This spirochete is responsible for a global public health concern called Lyme disease. B. burgdorferi faces diverse environmental conditions of its vector and host during its life cycle. To circumvent the host immune system is a prominent feature of B. burgdorferi. To date, numerous studies have reported on the various mechanisms used by this pathogen to evade the host defense mechanisms. This current review attempts to consolidate this information to describe the immunological and molecular methods used by B. burgdorferi for its survival.

Keywords: Borrelia burgdorferi; immune evasion; spirochete.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antigen-Antibody Complex
  • Antigenic Variation
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / genetics
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / immunology*
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / pathogenicity
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / physiology
  • Cytokines
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Gene Transfer, Horizontal
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / immunology*
  • Immune Evasion*
  • Lyme Disease / immunology*
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Spirochaetales / immunology

Substances

  • Antigen-Antibody Complex
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cytokines