Evidence of direct cell-cell fusion in Borrelia by cryogenic electron tomography

Item Type:	Article
Title:	Evidence of direct cell-cell fusion in Borrelia by cryogenic electron tomography
Creators Name:	Kudryashev, M. and Cyrklaff, M. and Alex, B. and Lemgruber, L. and Baumeister, W. and Wallich, R. and Frischknecht, F.
Abstract:	Some Borrelia species are the causative agents of tick-borne Lyme disease responsible for different disabilities depending on species and hosts. Borrelia are highly motile bacterial cells, and light microscopy shows that these spirochetes can associate with each other during movement. Using cryo-electron tomography, we observed closely associated Borrelia cells. Some of these showed a single outer membrane surrounding two longitudinally arranged cytoplasmic cylinders. We also observed fusion of two cytoplasmic cylinders and differences in the surface layer density of fused spirochetes. These processes could play a role in the interaction of Borrelia species with the host's immune system.
Keywords:	Antigenic Variation, Borrelia, Cell Fusion, Cell Membrane, Electron Microscope Tomography, Horizontal Gene Transfer
Source:	Cellular Microbiology
ISSN:	1462-5814
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell
Volume:	13
Number:	5
Page Range:	731-741
Date:	May 2011
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1462-5822.2011.01571.x
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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