Borrelia burgdorferi chemotaxis toward tick protein Salp12 contributes to acquisition

MURFIN, Kristen E. | KELINBARD, Ruby | AYDIN, Merve | SALAZAR, Samuel A. | FIKRIG, Erol

Lyme disease is a common tick-borne infection caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.). B. burgdorferi s.s. may utilize chemotaxis, the directional migration towards or away from a chemical stimulus, for transmission, acquisition, and infection. However, the specific signals recognized by the spirochete for these events have not been defined. In this study, we identify an Ixodes scapularis salivary gland protein, Salp12, that is a chemoattractant for the spirochete. We demonstrate that Salp12 is expressed in the I. scapularis salivary glands and midgut and expression ...Daha fazlası