GLYCOPROTEIN PATTERNS IN BORRELIA SPP

The presence of glycoproteins in several Borrelia species was investig ated by the digoxigenin labelling technique. The outer surface protein s A and B of seven isolates of the Lyme disease spirochete B. burgdorf eri showed to be major glycosylated proteins. Few minor polypeptides w ith variable molecular masses were also present, at variance, in B. bu rgdorferi strains. Minor glycosylated proteins with varying molecular masses have been detected in the relapsing fever borreliae B. hermsii, B. turicatae and B. parkeri. B. turicatae showed also a major glycosy lated protein with a molecular mass of approximately 40 kDa. Animal pa thogenic borreliae B. anserina and B. coriaceae presented only minor g lycosylated proteins with variable molecular masses.