Curiouser and curiouser: understanding the intersection of inter- and intra-specific diversity during the Borrelia burgdorferi enzootic cycle and Lyme disease.

Abstract excerpt

A consequence of the Borrelia (Borreliella) burgdorferi lifecycle is that a "standard" host-pathogen interaction involving the spirochete is challenging to define. The bacteria continuously cycle between vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, each inflicting substantially different selective pressures on the spirochete. Focusing solely on vertebrate infections, the spirochete can be found in numerous hosts in nature,...

Topics

• Animals
• Borrelia burgdorferi
• Humans
• Lyme Disease
• Genetic Variation
• Host-Pathogen Interactions