Borrelia burgdorferi lacking all cp32 prophage plasmids retains full infectivity in mice

Author:

Hillman, C, Theriault, H, Dmitriev, A, Hansra, S, Rosa, PA, and Wachter, J

Publication type:

Journal Article

Publication date:

2025-03

Journal/Series title:

EMBO Rep.

Volume:

Online ahead of print

URL:

https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.1038/s44319-025-00378-9

Abstract:

Here, we detail the construction and infectivity of the first described B. burgdorferi strain lacking all cp32 plasmids. Despite their universal presence, our findings indicate that B. burgdorferi does not require any cp32 plasmids to complete the experimental mouse-tick-mouse infectious cycle and a total lack of cp32s does not impair spirochete infectivity.