Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, causes a multisystem inf
lammatory ailment, although the precise means of tissue damage are not
well understood. It is clear that the organism is present at the site
of inflammation in many organs and that many of the features of the i
llness are relieved by antibiotic therapy. A complex interaction betwe
en spirochete and immune systems of a number of mammalian hosts, in hu
man disease and animal models, has been described. It is clear that T
cells and macrophages are intimately associated with the pathogenesis
of arthritis and that immune mechanisms are involved in other aspects
of disease. Inflammation directed at persistence of Borrelial antigens
is a plausible explanation for persisting arthritis. Autoimmunity bas
ed on molecular mimicry may play a role in the pathogenesis of Lyme di
sease. Humoral immunity plays a protective role, prompting interest in
vaccine development. Significant variation in certain of the outer su
rface proteins suggests that multiple proteins, peptides, or chimeric
vaccines may be needed to provide a sufficiently broad humoral protect
ive response.