Variations in the ospB gene of Borrelia burgdorferi result in differences in monoclonal antibody reactivity and in production of escape variants

• DOI: 10.1128/iai.62.1.303-307.1994
• Publication Date: 2020-01-03T14:08:43Z
• Authors: J L Coleman; R C Rogers; P A Rosa; J L Benach
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Antigens, Bacterial; Base Sequence; Molecular Sequence Data; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Bacterial; 3. Good health; Epitopes; 03 medical and health sciences; Borrelia burgdorferi Group; Genes, Bacterial; Antigens, Surface; Amino Acid Sequence; Peptides; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; DNA Primers

An escape variant of Borrelia burgdorferi, selected with a monoclonal antibody to OspB, expressed a truncated form of OspB, the result of point mutations in the ospB gene leading to a premature termination codon. A single amino acid position in the C terminus of OspB was critical for monoclonal antibody recognition. The variations in the ospB gene suggest a mechanism for the evasion of the immune response by these organisms and may also have implications for current diagnostic and vaccine efforts.