Distinct regulatory pathways control expression of Borrelia burgdorferi infection-associated OspC and Erp surface proteins

Deciphering the mechanisms by which Borrelia. burgdorferi controls the synt hesis of proteins associated with mammalian infection will be an important step toward understanding the pathogenic properties of Lyme disease-causing bacteria. We present results of studies indicating that B. burgdorferi sen ses a wide variety of environmental stimuli, including soluble chemicals, w hich enables it to independently control synthesis of the Erp and OspC prot eins. Regulation of OspC and Erp expression appears to occur at the level o f transcription. In this regard, we observed that one or more DNA-binding p roteins interact specifically with erp promoter DNA but not with the ospC p romoter.