Borreliella burgdorferi

General Information

Borreliella burgdorferi is a spirochete bacterium that is the primary causative agent of Lyme disease, a significant and emerging infectious disease in many parts of the world. This organism is particularly interesting due to its unique helical shape and corkscrew motility, which allow it to navigate through viscous environments such as connective tissues and the extracellular matrix of its hosts. One of the most fascinating aspects of B. burgdorferi is its complex life cycle, which involves both a mammalian host and an arthropod vector, typically the Ixodes tick. This dual-host requirement makes the bacterium a model organism for studying vector-borne diseases and host-pathogen interactions. Another unique feature of B. burgdorferi is its genome, which is highly segmented and includes a linear chromosome and numerous linear and circular plasmids. This genomic structure is unusual among bacteria and contributes to the organism's ability to adapt to different environments and evade the host immune system. The plasmids carry many of the genes responsible for virulence and immune evasion, making them a key focus of research. From a clinical perspective, B. burgdorferi is notable for its ability to cause a wide range of symptoms, from the characteristic erythema migrans rash to more severe manifestations such as arthritis, neurological disorders, and cardiac issues. This variability in clinical presentation makes Lyme disease a challenging condition to diagnose and treat. In summary, Borreliella burgdorferi is a bacterium of significant medical importance due to its role in Lyme disease, its unique structural and genomic characteristics, and its complex interactions with both hosts and vectors. These features make it a valuable subject for research in microbiology, infectious diseases, and immunology.

Borreliella burgdorferi is a spirochete bacterium that is best known as the causative agent of Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness that poses significant public health challenges in many regions, particularly in North America and Europe. This organism is particularly interesting due to its complex life cycle, which involves multiple hosts, including rodents and deer, and its transmission through the bite of infected Ixodes ticks. One of the unique characteristics of B. burgdorferi is its ability to evade the host's immune system. It employs various strategies, such as antigenic variation, which allows it to change its surface proteins and avoid detection by the host's immune response. This adaptability not only complicates treatment but also makes it a valuable subject of study for understanding immune evasion mechanisms in pathogens. Additionally, B. burgdorferi has a relatively small genome, which has been sequenced and studied extensively. This genomic information provides insights into the bacterium's biology, including its metabolic pathways and virulence factors. Researchers are particularly interested in the unique genes that contribute to its pathogenicity and survival in diverse environments. The study of B. burgdorferi also extends to its interactions with the tick vector and the host, making it a model organism for exploring host-pathogen-vector dynamics. Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies and treatments for Lyme disease. Furthermore, the bacterium's role in the broader context of emerging infectious diseases highlights its significance in public health research. In summary, Borreliella burgdorferi stands out not only for its role in Lyme disease but also for its intriguing biological characteristics and the challenges it presents in the fields of microbiology, immunology, and epidemiology.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Spirochaetota

Class: Spirochaetia

Order: Spirochaetales

Family: Borreliaceae

Genus: Borreliella

Species: Borreliella burgdorferi

NCBI ID

139

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCF/002/151/505/GCF_002151505.1_ASM215150v1

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCF_002151505.1_ASM215150v1_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

Source: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18

The bacterium Borreliella burgdorferi is primarily known as the causative agent of Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness that can lead to a variety of clinical manifestations if left untreated. This organism is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Ixodes ticks, and its presence in the body can trigger a complex immune response that may result in symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash known as erythema migrans. If not addressed promptly, Borreliella burgdorferi can disseminate to other parts of the body, leading to more severe complications, including arthritis, neurological disorders, and cardiac issues. The pathogenicity of Borreliella burgdorferi is partly attributed to its ability to evade the immune system. It employs various strategies, such as antigenic variation and the ability to persist in host tissues, which complicates treatment and contributes to the chronic nature of Lyme disease in some patients. Furthermore, the organism has been associated with antimicrobial resistance, particularly in cases where standard antibiotic treatments fail to eradicate the infection completely. In terms of medical applications, research is ongoing into the development of effective vaccines against Lyme disease, although no vaccine is currently available for human use. Additionally, the role of Borreliella burgdorferi in the human microbiome and its potential interactions with other microbial communities are areas of active investigation, which may lead to novel therapeutic approaches in the future. Overall, the clinical implications of Borreliella burgdorferi are significant, necessitating continued research and public health efforts to manage and prevent Lyme disease.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

Source: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18

Borreliella burgdorferi is primarily associated with temperate forests and grasslands, where it thrives in environments that support its primary vectors, the Ixodes ticks. These biomes are characterized by a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees, as well as shrubs and grasses, providing ample habitat for both the ticks and the small mammals that serve as reservoirs for the bacterium. In these ecosystems, Borreliella burgdorferi plays a significant role in the food web, as it is transmitted through tick bites to various hosts, including humans. The presence of this microorganism can lead to Lyme disease, which has notable implications for both wildlife and human health. The interaction between the ticks and their hosts is a critical aspect of the ecological niche of Borreliella burgdorferi, as it relies on these hosts for survival and propagation. Furthermore, the adaptability of Borreliella burgdorferi to different environmental conditions allows it to persist in various habitats within these biomes. It can survive in moisture-rich environments that are conducive to tick survival, such as leaf litter and undergrowth, which provide protection and humidity. Overall, the biomes associated with Borreliella burgdorferi are vital for its life cycle and ecological interactions, highlighting the importance of biodiversity and habitat preservation in maintaining the balance of these ecosystems.

Industrial Application

Source: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18

The microorganism Borreliella burgdorferi is primarily known for its role as the causative agent of Lyme disease, and its industrial applications are not as prominent as those of other microorganisms. However, it does have some notable implications in the fields of biotechnology and pharmaceutical development. In biotechnology, Borreliella burgdorferi is studied for its unique adaptations to survive in various environments, which can lead to insights into microbial resilience and pathogenicity. This research can inform the development of new strategies for disease prevention and treatment. In the realm of pharmaceutical development, understanding the mechanisms of infection and immune response related to Borreliella burgdorferi can aid in the creation of vaccines and therapeutics aimed at combating Lyme disease. This includes the exploration of antigenic components of the bacterium that could be used in vaccine formulations. While Borreliella burgdorferi does not have direct applications in areas like waste management or biofuel production, its study contributes to the broader understanding of microbial interactions in ecosystems, which can indirectly influence these fields. Overall, the focus remains on its medical significance rather than industrial applications.

Phenotypes and Predictions

The table shows the phenotypes and predictions. Cell colors indicate the class of the value. When literature-based data is available, a checkmark (✓) indicates a correct prediction, while an ✗ indicates an incorrect prediction.

Literature-based phenotypes: 9

LLM predicted phenotypes: 3

Phenotype	High-quality annotation	google/gemini-flash-1.5	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	openai/gpt-4	openchat/openchat-7b	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	google/gemini-pro	google/gemini-pro	google/gemma-7b-it	google/gemma-7b-it	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	openai/gpt-4o	openai/gpt-4o	google/gemini-pro-1.5	google/gemini-pro-1.5	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct
Motility	TRUE	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	true ✓	false ✗	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗
Gram staining	gram stain negative	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓
Aerophilicity	aerobic	facultatively anaerobic ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	aerotolerant ✗	aerotolerant ✗	anaerobic ✗	anaerobic ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Extreme environment tolerance	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Biofilm formation	N/A	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true
Animal pathogenicity	TRUE	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓
Biosafety level	biosafety level 2	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 3 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 3 ✗	biosafety level 3 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 3 ✗	biosafety level 3 ✗
Health association	N/A	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true
Host association	TRUE	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓
Plant pathogenicity	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Spore formation	N/A	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	true	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false
Hemolysis	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Cell shape	spirillum	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	bacillus ✗	spirillum ✓	N/A	spirillum ✓	coccus ✗	spirillum ✓	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	N/A	N/A	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	spirillum ✓	coccus ✗	coccus ✗

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