LtpA, a CdnL-type CarD regulator, is important for the enzootic cycle of the Lyme disease pathogen

• DOI: 10.1038/s41426-018-0122-1
• Publication Date: 2018-07-09T08:40:43Z
• Authors: Tong Chen; Xuwu Xiang; Haijun Xu; Xuechao Zhang; Bibi Zhou; Youyun Yang; Yongliang Lou; X. Frank Yang
• Keywords: Enzootic; Wild type

Little is known about how Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease pathogen, adapts and survives in tick vector. We previously identified a bacterial CarD N-terminal-like (CdnL) protein, LtpA (BB0355), B. burgdorferi that preferably expressed at lower temperatures, which surrogate condition mimicking portion of enzootic cycle burgdorferi. CdnL-family proteins, an emerging class RNAP-interacting transcription factors, are essential for viability Mycobacterium tuberculosis Myxococcus xanthus. Previous attempts to inactivate ltpA have not been successful. In this study, we report construction mutant infectious strain B31-5A4NP1. Unlike CdnL M. xanthus, dispensable However, exhibits reduced growth rate cold-sensitive phenotype. demonstrate positively regulates 16S rRNA expression, contributes defects mutant. The remains capable infecting mice, albeit with delayed infection. Additionally, produces markedly spirochetal loads ticks was able infect mice via Overall, represents novel regulator family has important role