Mikroglia-Aktivierung durch Bestandteile von Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato
Microglial activation by proteins of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato
by Martha Töpfer
Date of Examination:2015-04-22
Date of issue:2015-04-15
Advisor:Dr. Sandra Ribes
Referee:Prof. Dr. Roland Nau
Referee:Prof. Dr. Dr. Helmut Eiffert
Referee:Prof. Dr. Margarete Schön
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Abstract
English
Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness. It is caused by bacteria of the Borrelia family and transmitted by infected ticks. The outer surface protein C (OspC) and the flagellar protein p41 are common proteins of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato which includes Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia afzelii und Borrelia spielmanii species. This work investigated the potential of native and recombinant OspC and p41 from different Borrelia species to stimulate microglia and induce neurotoxicity. Murine microglial cultures were stimulated with OspC and p41 and the release of NO, TNF alpha, IL-6 and KC was measured. Only native proteins induced the release of proinflammatory proteins. Recombinant proteins were further analysed and a fault structure was found to be the reason of lack of stimulation. In neuron-microglia co-cultures, the neurotoxity of the most pro-inflammatory OspC and p41 proteins was evaluated. While p41 was neurotoxic, OspC from Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia burgdorferi showed a tendency towards the induction of neurotoxity. The results showed that OspC and p41 proteins from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato activated microglia and can damage neurons in vitro.
Keywords: Borrelia afzelii; Borrelia burgdorferi; Borrelia spielmanii; p41; OspC; Microglia; Neuroborreliosis