Infection with multiple strains of the Lyme disease bacterium in female mice can affect the strain-specific maternal antibody response in their offspring

Author:

Foley-Eby, A, Adam, H, Hurry, G, Uhlemann, E, Zinck, C, Koloski, C, Bouchard, C, Coatsworth, H, Cameron, A, Hill, J, and Voordouw, M

Publication type:

Journal Article

Publication date:

2026-06

Journal/Series title:

Ticks Tick Borne Dis

Volume:

Issue:

URL:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877959X26000671?via%3Dihub

Abstract:

Our study suggests that co-infection with multiple strains can reduce the quantity and/or quality of maternal anti-OspC IgG antibodies per B. burgdorferi strain that are transferred from dams to their offspring. A future study will investigate whether co-infection in the dams reduces the protective efficacy of the maternal antibody response in the offspring against an infectious tick bite challenge.