Borrelia Afzelii BmpA
Description
Borrelia Afzelii BmpA is expressed with a -6x His tag at N-terminus and purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques.
Product Specs
Product Science Overview
Borrelia afzelii is a species of bacteria belonging to the Spirochaete family. It is one of the primary causative agents of Lyme disease, particularly in Europe. Among the various proteins expressed by Borrelia afzelii, the Basic Membrane Protein A (BmpA) is of significant interest due to its immunogenic properties.
Borrelia afzelii, along with Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia garinii, is one of the most common Borrelia species responsible for Lyme disease or neuroborreliosis. This bacterium is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks, primarily Ixodes ricinus in Europe. The infection can lead to various symptoms, including erythema migrans, arthritis, and neurological complications.
BmpA is a membrane-associated lipoprotein that is considered one of the most immunogenic proteins in the Borrelia afzelii proteome. It plays a crucial role in the bacterium’s ability to evade the host immune system and establish infection. The protein’s immunogenicity makes it a target for diagnostic and therapeutic research.
Recombinant BmpA is produced using genetic engineering techniques, typically involving the expression of the BmpA gene in a host organism such as Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein is then purified using chromatographic techniques. For instance, the recombinant Borrelia afzelii BmpA produced in E. coli is a non-glycosylated polypeptide chain with a calculated molecular mass of 36,227 Daltons . It is often expressed with a His-tag at the N-terminus to facilitate purification.
Recombinant BmpA has several applications in research and diagnostics:
- In Vitro Stimulation of T Cells: Recombinant BmpA can be used to stimulate antigen-specific T cells in vitro. This is particularly useful for studying the immune response to Borrelia afzelii and for developing diagnostic assays.
- Detection and Isolation of Antigen-Specific T Cells: The protein can be used in conjunction with various assays and kits to detect and isolate BmpA-specific T cells. For example, the PepTivator® B. afzelii BmpA is a pool of lyophilized peptides that covers the complete sequence of the BmpA protein. It is used for the in vitro stimulation of antigen-specific T cells, leading to the secretion of effector cytokines and the up-regulation of activation markers .
- Generation of T Cell Lines: Recombinant BmpA can be used to generate BmpA-specific effector/memory T cells from naive T cell populations. These T cell lines can be used for further research into the immune response to Borrelia afzelii.
