Inadequate binding of immune regulator factor H is associated with sensitivity of Borrelia lusitaniae to human complement

Infect Immun. 2010 Nov;78(11):4467-76. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00138-10. Epub 2010 Sep 7.

Abstract

Spirochetes belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex differ in resistance to complement-mediated killing by human serum. Here, we characterize complement sensitivity of a panel of B. lusitaniae isolates derived from ticks collected in Germany and Portugal as well as one patient-derived isolate, PoHL. All isolates are highly susceptible to complement-mediated lysis in human serum and activate complement predominantly by the alternative pathway, leading to an increased deposition of complement components C3, C6, and the terminal complement complex. Interestingly, serum-sensitive B. lusitaniae isolates were able to bind immune regulator factor H (CFH), and some strains also bound CFH-related protein 1 (CFHR1) and CFHR2. Moreover, CFH bound to the surface of B. lusitaniae was inefficient in mediating C3b conversion. Furthermore, the identification and characterization of a potential CFH-binding protein, OspE, revealed that this molecule possesses a significantly reduced binding capacity for CFH compared to that of CFH-binding OspE paralogs expressed by various serum-resistant Borrelia species. This finding suggests that a reduced binding capability of CFH is associated with an increased serum sensitivity of B. lusitaniae to human complement.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Blood Bactericidal Activity
  • Blood Proteins
  • Borrelia / classification
  • Borrelia / genetics
  • Borrelia / isolation & purification
  • Borrelia / metabolism*
  • Borrelia Infections / immunology*
  • Borrelia Infections / microbiology
  • Complement Activation / immunology*
  • Complement C3b Inactivator Proteins
  • Complement Factor H / chemistry
  • Complement Factor H / metabolism*
  • Complement Pathway, Alternative / immunology*
  • Germany
  • Humans
  • Ixodes / microbiology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Portugal
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Blood Proteins
  • CFHR1 protein, human
  • CFHR2 protein, human
  • CFHR3 protein, human
  • Complement C3b Inactivator Proteins
  • Complement Factor H

Associated data

  • GENBANK/FN822242