EXPRESSION AND SEQUENCE OF OUTER SURFACE PROTEIN-C AMONG NORTH-AMERICAN ISOLATES OF BORRELIA-BURGDORFERI

The expression of outer surface protein C (OspC) was determined for No rth American Borrelia burgdorferi isolates HB19, DN127c19-2, 25015 and both low and high culture passage B31. A monoclonal antibody detected the presence of OspC protein in only two isolates, while polyclonal a ntiserum identified this protein in all five isolates. The ospC gene w as cloned and sequenced for isolates HB19, DN127c19-2 and 25015, and c ompared with the published ospC sequences of other Lyme disease spiroc hetes. Both the nucleotide and amino acid sequences were found to vary as much among isolates from the same geographic area as between isola tes of different species.