Borrelia Afzelii p100

Borrelia afzelii is a species of bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia, which is part of the spirochete phylum. This genus is known for causing borreliosis, a zoonotic, vector-borne disease primarily transmitted by ticks. Among the 36 known species of Borrelia, 12 are recognized for causing Lyme disease, with Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia afzelii, and Borrelia garinii being the main culprits .

Members of the Borrelia genus possess a linear chromosome approximately 900 kilobase pairs (kbp) in length, along with an array of both linear and circular plasmids ranging from 5 to 220 kbp. These plasmids are unique compared to most bacterial plasmids as they contain numerous paralogous sequences, a significant number of pseudogenes, and, in some cases, essential genes. Some plasmids also exhibit features suggesting they are prophages .

The outer surface protein p100 of Borrelia afzelii is a significant antigen used in research and diagnostic applications. This protein is a glycosylated polypeptide chain with a calculated molecular mass of approximately 74,782 Daltons. It is expressed with a 10xHis tag at the N-terminus and purified using proprietary chromatographic techniques .

Recombinant Borrelia afzelii outer surface protein p100 is produced in Sf9 insect cells. The protein is supplied in a sterile filtered clear solution and formulated in 20mM HEPES buffer (pH 7.6), 250mM NaCl, and 20% glycerol. It is recommended to store the protein at 4°C if it will be used within 2-4 weeks, or frozen at -20°C for longer periods to avoid multiple freeze-thaw cycles .

The recombinant p100 protein has several immunological functions:

1. It binds to IgG- and IgM-type human antibodies.
2. It is used in immunodot tests with Lyme disease positive and negative plasma .

The recombinant outer surface protein p100 of Borrelia afzelii is primarily used for laboratory research purposes. It is not intended for use as drugs, agricultural or pesticidal products, food additives, or household chemicals .