Borrelia p58

Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochete bacterium that is the primary causative agent of Lyme disease, a zoonotic, vector-borne disease transmitted mainly by ticks. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in the Northern Hemisphere. The Borrelia genus comprises 36 known species, of which 12 are known to cause Lyme disease, including Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia afzelii, and Borrelia garinii .

Borrelia species have a unique genetic structure compared to other bacteria. They possess a linear chromosome approximately 900 kilobase pairs (kbp) in length and an array of both linear and circular plasmids ranging from 5 to 220 kbp. These plasmids are atypical as they contain many paralogous sequences, a large number of pseudogenes, and, in some cases, essential genes. Some plasmids also exhibit features suggesting they are prophages .

The p58 protein of Borrelia burgdorferi is a significant antigen used in the diagnosis and study of Lyme disease. Recombinant Borrelia burgdorferi p58 is produced in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and is a non-glycosylated polypeptide chain with a calculated molecular mass of 59,815 Daltons. This recombinant protein is expressed with a 10xHis tag at the N-terminus and purified using proprietary chromatographic techniques .

Recombinant Borrelia burgdorferi p58 has several applications in laboratory research, particularly in the field of immunology. It is used to bind IgG-type human antibodies and is employed in immunodot tests with Lyme disease-positive and negative plasma samples. This protein is crucial for developing diagnostic tools and understanding the immune response in Lyme disease .

The recombinant p58 protein is supplied in a 20mM HEPES buffer with a pH of 7.6, 250mM NaCl, and 20% glycerol. It is sterile-filtered and provided as a clear solution. For optimal stability, the protein should be stored at 4°C if used within 2-4 weeks or frozen at -20°C for longer periods. It is essential to avoid multiple freeze-thaw cycles to maintain the protein’s integrity .