We monitored the antibody responses of 55 treated patients with early Lyme disease and physician-documented erythema migrans. Six sequential serum samples were obtained from before, during, until one year after antibiotic therapy analyzed by in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) immunoblot assays. An procedure utilizing a gradient gel an image analysis system was developed. A relational database management used to analyze results provide criteria for interpretation. Recommended...

Serum specimens from 163 persons with Lyme disease, tick-borne or louse-borne relapsing fever, yaws, syphilis, leptospirosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever were analyzed to assess the specificity of indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) tests, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and microscopic agglutination (MA) procedures. Strong cross-reactivity occurred when sera individuals tested against heterologous Borrelia antigens. Antibodies burgdorferi bound Treponema pallidum in...

Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, was isolated from liver a passerine bird, Catharus fuscescens (veery), and larval Ixodes dammini (tick) feeding on Pheucticus ludovicianus (rose-breasted grosbeak) Geothlypis trichas (common yellowthroat). In indirect immunofluorescence antibody tests, isolates reacted with polyclonal monoclonal (H5332) antibodies. Studies DNA composition veery isolate strain cultured an I. larva indicated that both were B. burgdorferi not anserina...

Skin biopsy specimens from the peripheral aspect of erythema migrans lesions (site 1) and clinically normal perilesional areas 2) were compared as sources Borrelia burgdorferi. This spirochete was isolated skin 18 21 (86%) patients with untreated early Lyme disease at one or both sites. Site 1 superior to site 2 for isolation B. culture positive, 12 (57%) positive. For whose also found be burgdorferi two atypical that less than 5 cm in diameter. study demonstrates cultivation cutaneous...

Syrian hamsters were shown to be susceptible infection by the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Although these spirochetes did not cause any outward signs of illness in animals, they a generalized infection. Spirochetemia was present during first 6 days At 14 postinfection, could isolated from one or more following organs: spleen, eyes, kidneys, liver, testes, and brain. Spirochetes eyes kidneys animal 52 suggesting that organisms may persistent Virulence B. burgdorferi is...

Serum specimens from persons with or without Lyme borreliosis were analyzed by indirect fluorescent antibody staining methods for total immunoglobulins to Babesia microti, Ehrlichia chaffeensis (Arkansas strain), and equi (MRK strain). There was serologic evidence of human exposure multiple tick-borne agents in 15 (6.6%) 227 serum samples obtained Connecticut Minnesota. Of these, 10 patients who had erythema migrans antibodies Borrelia burgdorferi (range, 1:160 1:40, 960). A maximal titer...

Spirochetes were isolated from 71 subadult Ixodes dentatus removed cottontail rabbits captured in Millbrook, N.Y., and New York, N.Y. also cultured kidney tissues of six rabbits. While all isolates reacted with monoclonal antibody H9724, which identifies the spirochetes as borreliae, more than half did not bind H5332 even fewer H3TS, both produced to outer surface protein A Borrelia burgdorferi. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profiles three differed one another...

Genetic studies were performed on the following spirochetes: three Lyme disease spirochetes isolated from Ixodes ticks and human spinal fluid; species of North American borreliae; four Treponema; two Leptospira. The mol% G+C values for 27.3 to 30.5%, similar 28.0 30.5% Borrelia but different Leptospira or Treponema which ranged 35.3 53%. represent a new Borrelia, with DNA homologies 31 59% strains studied. These also showed that sources constituted single species, ranging 76 100%. A high...

Current diagnostic tests for Lyme disease (LD) are dependent upon the host serologic response and insensitive early in infection and, possibly, following antibiotic therapy. We cloned a library of Borrelia burgdorferi 297 DNA studied one clone, Ly-1, its potential pathogenic studies. Using pulsed-field electrophoresis, we demonstrated that Ly-1 is chromosomal origin estimated B. chromosome approximately 1,100 kb size. The 3.7-kb clone hybridizes with geographically diverse strains...

Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiological agent of Lyme disease, was isolated from blood, kidneys, spleens, eyes, or livers white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) (n = 19 22) and spleens eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) 2 2) captured at three foci for disease in Connecticut. These bacteria were cultured most frequently 19) kidneys 15). B. burgdorferi persisted one mouse least 60 days. One spirochetemic had infected Ixodes dammini Dermacentor variabilis larvae attached, suggesting that these...

The antimicrobial susceptibility of Borrelia burgdorferi isolated from human spinal fluid was determined in vitro and vivo. A broth dilution technique used to determine the MBCs four agents. Lyme disease spirochete most susceptible ceftriaxone (MBC, 0.04 microgram/ml) erythromycin 0.05 microgram/ml), then tetracycline 0.8 finally penicillin G 6.4 micrograms/ml). Syrian hamsters were 50% curative doses (CD50s) Ceftriaxone had highest activities, with CD50s 24.0 28.7 mg/kg [corrected],...

Hamsters passively immunized with as little 0.0125 ml of immune rabbit serum (indirect fluorescent-antibody titer, 1:8,192) were protected from challenge 1,000 50% infective doses Borrelia burgdorferi. Cross-protection studies Minnesota and Connecticut isolates B. burgdorferi indicated no major differences in their capacity to elicit mutually protective antibodies rabbits.

The interaction of Treponema pallidum (Nichols strain) with 19 different cultured mammalian cell types was examined. These included cells derived from testis, kidney, spleen, lung, epidermis, cervix, urethra, and nerve tissue human, rabbit, or rat origins. They represented normal malignant cells, epithelial fibroblastic morphology, lines, strains, Large numbers organisms attached to the cells; this attachment prolonged time retention active treponemal motility. Attachment examined in terms...

The antibody and complement requirements for killing of Borrelia burgdorferi 297 by normal human serum (NHS) NHS plus immunoglobulin G (IgG) were examined. B. activated both the alternative classical pathways in NHS. In chelated with 10 mM ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid 4 MgCl2 (Mg-EGTA) to block pathway activation, consumption (activation) total hemolytic complement, component 3 (C3), C9 was observed. Furthermore, challenge unchelated cells resulted...

Spherical forms of Leptospira interrogans serotype canicola Hond Utrecht IV were induced with 1 m NaCl. Electron micrographs these salt-altered cells (SAC) revealed that the outer envelope or sheath had pulled away from protoplasmic cylinder. Treatment SAC 0.02% sodium lauryl sulfate solubilized and released Further processing yielded a pellet which displayed membrane structure in electron micrographs. The cylinder showed loss intracellular organization present normal cells. Immunization...

The correlation of plasmid profiles with infectivity was investigated by using five clones Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto strain B31 (ATCC 35210). Plasmid were determined pulsed-field and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. 50% infectious dose (ID50) in hamsters determined. ID50 the clone that possessed a full complement eight linear three circular plasmids 10(3) cells. loss 27.5- 40-kb did not decrease these Rather, 27.5-kb associated more disseminated infection. A moderate from to...

Molecular analyses of the genes encoding OspC, a major immunodominant protein Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, revealed considerable degree heterogeneity. In present study, we investigated whether similar heterogeneity OspC phenotype can be shown by analysis with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Thirteen OspC-specific MAbs (L22 MAbs) were produced immunizing mice either different combinations whole-cell antigens or recombinantly expressed OspCs cloned from strains belonging to spp. Ten them...

The ability of decreasing inocula Borrelia burgdorferi to grow in otherwise identical Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK) media containing different lots bovine serum albumin (fraction V) was determined. These differed significantly detect B. burgdorferi. Some BSK required 2 x 10(5) organisms per ml for detection, while other could stimulate growth after inoculation with less than ml. In addition, from the sensitive were thinner, longer, and tightly coiled. endpoint dilutions indirect...

Lyme disease is a seasonal tick-borne malady which has worldwide distribution. Early and accurate diagnosis of essential for successful antibiotic therapy. Symptoms are too vague to make an early based on conventional criteria. We report the detection antigens Borrelia burgdorferi, causative agent disease, in urine infected mice humans. This technique may eventually provide rapid diagnostic test this illness.

During a study of migrating land birds in 1987, we examined over 9,200 individual representing 99 species from the Saint Croix River Valley, Lyme disease-endemic area east central Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. We found that 250 deer tick (Ixodes dammini) larvae nymphs infested 58 15 migrant species; 56 ticks (22.4%) were positive for disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Five ground-foraging bird favoring mesic habitats, veery (Catharus fuscescens), ovenbird (Seiurus...

The immunogenicity of a single dose whole-cell vaccine inactivated Borrelia burgdorferi HSF (human spinal fluid isolate) was evaluated. Syrian hamsters were vaccinated subcutaneously and challenged by the intraperitoneal injection 1,000 50% infectious doses B. 30 or 90 days postvaccination. Animals sacrificed 14 after challenge, kidneys spleens examined for spirochetes cultural procedures. At postvaccination, 86 to 100% protection against infection achieved in receiving 50 100 micrograms...

Two strains of Borrelia burgdorferi, B31 and 297, formed colonies when plated onto Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly medium solidified with agarose (1.3%) incubated in a candle jar at 34 degrees C. Colonies differing morphology were observed both after 2 to 3 weeks incubation. Strain either compact, round (mean diameter, 0.43 mm), restricted the surface or diffuse 1.80 mm) penetrating into solid medium. 297 1.43 showed raised center surrounded by ring spirochetes consisted numerous small spirochetal...

Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of Lyme disease, was isolated from 111 237 Peromyscus leucopus captured during all seasons year. Borreliae were cultured tissues spleen (101 mice), left kidney (76 and right (73 blood (12 one fetus. Mice infected winter, when immature Ixodes dammini inactive. The prevalence infection winter (less than or equal to 33%) more twofold lower that summer (ca. 75%), a time nymphal ticks are abundant. Overwintering, mice reservoir hosts for subadult begin...

The synthesis of complex lipids by Borrelia hermsi while growing in Kelly medium was investigated labeling cultures with D-[14C]glucose or [14C]palmitic acid. Labeled glucose incorporated into phosphatidyl choline, glycerol, monogalactosyl diglyceride, cholesterol glucoside, and acylated cholesteryl glucoside. fatty acid composition reflected that the suggesting this spirochete directly incorporates acyl chains unaltered from its external milieu. Furthermore, distribution labeled carbon...