Biology subjects

Strle, K.

Publications and source records attributed to Strle, K..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Borrelia PeptideAtlas: A proteome resource of common Borrelia burgdorferi isolates for Lyme research

Lyme disease, caused by an infection with the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common vector-borne disease in North America. B. burgdorferi strains harbor extensive genomic and proteomic variability and further comparison is key to understanding the spirochetes infectivity and biological impacts of identified sequence variants. To achieve this goal, both transcript and mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics was applied to assemble peptide datasets of laboratory strains B31, MM1, B31-ML23, infective isolates B31-5A4, B31-A3, and 297, and other public datasets, to provide a publicly available Borrelia PeptideAtlas (http://www.peptideatlas.org/builds/borrelia/). Included is information on total proteome, secretome, and membrane proteome of these B. burgdorferi strains. Proteomic data collected from 35 different experiment datasets, with a total of 855 mass spectrometry runs, identified 76,936 distinct peptides at a 0.1% peptide false-discovery-rate, which map to 1,221 canonical proteins (924 core canonical and 297 noncore canonical) and covers 86% of the total base B31 proteome. The diverse proteomic information from multiple isolates with credible data presented by the Borrelia PeptideAtlas can be useful to pinpoint potential protein targets which are common to infective isolates and may be key in the infection process.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2023

Whole genome sequencing of Borrelia burgdorferi isolates reveals linked clusters of plasmid-borne accessory genome elements associated with virulence.

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in North America and Europe. The clinical manifestations of Lyme disease vary based on the genospecies of the infecting Borrelia burgdorferi spirochete, but the microbial genetic elements underlying these associations are not known. Here, we report the whole genome sequence (WGS) and analysis of 299 patient-derived B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bbss) isolates from patients in the Eastern and Midwestern US and Central Europe. We develop a WGS-based classification of Bbss isolates, confirm and extend the findings of previous single- and multi-locus typing systems, define the plasmid profiles of human-infectious Bbss isolates, annotate the core and strain-variable surface lipoproteome, and identify loci associated with disseminated infection. A core genome consisting of [~]800 open reading frames and a core set of plasmids consisting of lp17, lp25, lp36, lp28-3, lp28-4, lp54, and cp26 are found in nearly all isolates. Strain-variable (accessory) plasmids and genes correlate strongly with phylogeny. Using genetic association study methods, we identify an accessory genome signature associated with dissemination and define the individual plasmids and genes that make up this signature. Strains within the RST1/WGS A subgroup, particularly a subset marked by the OspC type A genotype, are associated with increased rates of dissemination. OspC type A strains possess a unique constellation of strongly linked genetic changes including the presence of lp56 and lp28-1 plasmids and a cluster of genes that may contribute to their enhanced virulence compared to other genotypes. The patterns of OspC type A strains typify a broader paradigm across Bbss isolates, in which genetic structure is defined by correlated groups of strain-variable genes located predominantly on plasmids, particularly for expression of surface-exposed lipoproteins. These clusters of genes are inherited in blocks through strain-specific patterns of plasmid occupancy and are associated with the probability of invasive infection.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Phylogenomic diversity elucidates mechanistic insights into Lyme borreliae host association

Host association- the selective adaptation of pathogens to specific host species - evolves through constant interactions between host and pathogens, leaving a lot yet to be discovered on immunological mechanisms and genomic determinants. The causative agents of Lyme disease (LD) are spirochete bacteria composed of multiple species of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, including B. burgdorferi (Bb), the main LD pathogen in North America - a useful model for the study of mechanisms underlying host-pathogen association. Host adaptation requires pathogens ability to evade host immune responses, such as complement, the first-line innate immune defense mechanism. We tested the hypothesis that different host adapted phenotypes among Bb strains are linked to polymorphic loci that confer complement evasion traits in a host-specific manner. We first examined the survivability of 20 Bb strains in sera in vitro and/or bloodstream and tissues in vivo from rodent and avian LD models. Three groups of complement-dependent host association phenotypes emerged. We analyzed complement-evasion genes, identified a priori among all strains and sequenced and compared genomes for individual strains representing each phenotype. The evolutionary history of ospC loci is correlated with host-specific complement-evasion phenotypes, while comparative genomics suggests several gene families and loci are potentially involved in host association. This multidisciplinary work provides novel insights into the functional evolution of host adapted phenotypes, building a foundation for further investigation of the immunological and genomic determinants of host association. IMPORTANCEHost association is the phenotype that is commonly found in many pathogens that preferential survive in particular hosts. The Lyme disease (LD) causing agent, B. burgdorferi (Bb), is an ideal model to study host association, as Bb is mainly maintained in nature through rodent and avian hosts. A widespread yet untested concept posits that host association in Bb strains is linked to Bb functional genetic variation conferring evasion to complement, an innate defense mechanism in vertebrate sera. Here, we tested this concept by grouping 20 Bb strains into three complement-dependent host association phenotypes based on their survivability in sera and/or bloodstream and distal tissues in rodent and avian LD models. Phylogenomic analysis of these strains further correlated several gene families and loci, including ospC, with host-specific complement-evasion phenotypes. Such multifaceted studies thus pave the road to further identify the determinants of host association, providing mechanistic insights into host-pathogen interaction.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

Cellular and immunological mechanisms mediate reservoir host specialization by genotypically variable microparasites

Host specialization is an ecological and evolutionary process by which a pathogen becomes differentially adapted to a subset of hosts, restricting its host range. For parasites transmitted by generalist vectors, host specialization is not expected to evolve because of the decreased survival of those parasites in inadequate hosts. Thus, parasites may develop adaptation strategies, resulting in host specialization. The causative agents of Lyme disease are multiple species of bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species complex (Bbsl), and are suitable for examining host specialization as birds and rodents were found to carry different species of these bacteria. Debate exists on whether host specialization occurs among these strains within a particular species of Bbsl, such as B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bbss). Current evidence supports some Bbss strains are widespread in white-footed mice but others are in non-rodent vertebrates, such as birds. To recapitulate specialization in the laboratory and define the mechanisms for host specialization, we introduced different genotypes of Bbss via tick transmission to American robins and white-footed mice, the Lyme disease reservoirs in North America. Among these strains, we found distinct levels of spirochete presence in the bloodstream and tissues and maintenance by these animals in a host-dependent fashion. We showed that the late stage persistence of these strains largely corresponds to bacterial survival at early infection onsets. We also demonstrated that those early survival phenotypes correspond to spirochete adhesiveness, evasion of complement-mediated killing in sera, and/or not triggering high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and antibodies. Our findings thus link host competence to Bbss with spirochete genotypic variation of adhesiveness and inducing/escaping host immune responses, illuminating the potential mechanisms that dictate host specialization. Such information will provide a foundation for further investigation into multi-disciplinary processes driving host specialization of microparasites. AUTHOR SUMMARYHost specialization arises when microparasites adapt to a subset of available hosts, restricting the host ranges they can infect. The mechanisms and selective pressures for the evolution of host specialization remain unclear. The causative agent of Lyme disease (LD), the bacteria species complex of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, is adapted to different vertebrates. However, whether such a differential host adaption also applies to each genotype within the same species is under debate. Further, the mechanisms that drive such host specialization are unclear. We thus introduced three genotypes of one LD bacteria species (B. burgdorferi sensu stricto) individually via tick bite to American robins and white-footed mice, the most common LD reservoirs in North America. We found that these genotypes differed in the persistent maintenance by those reservoirs and occurred in a host-specific fashion. The ability of those bacteria for long-term maintenance was linked with their capability to attach to cells and a lack of induction of high levels of immune responses at early infection onsets. This work demonstrates the potential mechanisms that dictate host specialization of LD bacteria circulating in natural populations. Such information will pave the road to define the molecular, ecological, and evolutionary determinants that drive host-microparasite interactions.

microbiology↗