ADHERENCE OF BORRELIA-BURGDORFERI TO GRANULOCYTES OF DIFFERENT ANIMALSPECIES

Adherence of 4 Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi strains (z7/22, z7/27, z7/41, PBi) to polymor-phonuclear granulocytes from different domestic anima ls (horses, cattle, sheep, dogs) was investigated. All 4 strains adher ed to the granulocytes. Binding assays indicated that the adherence oc curred between structures on the surface of the borreliae (''binding-s ites'') and on the membranes of the granulocytes (''receptors''). The ''receptors'' consisted of 4 fractions (A, B, C, and D) with component s differing in molecular weight (MW) and binding activity for proteins on the surface of B. burgdorferi. Fraction A (MW 80 000) had the high est binding activity for B. burgdorferi.