VlsE, the nexus for antigenic variation of the Lyme disease spirochete, also mediates early bacterial attachment to the host microvasculature under shear force

Author:

Tan, X, Lin, YP, Pereira, MJ, Castellanos, M, Hahn, NG, Anderson, P, Coburn, J, Leong, J, and Chaconas, G

Publication type:

Journal Article

Publication date:

2022-05

Journal/Series title:

PLos Pathogen

Volume:

Issue:

URL:

https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1010511

Abstract:

In this research, using biochemical and genetic approaches as well as intravital imaging, we have identified VlsE as adhesin-X; it is a dermatan sulfate (DS) adhesin that efficiently promotes transient adhesion to the microvasculature under shear force via its DS binding pocket. Intravenous inoculation of mice with a low-passage infectious B. burgdorferi strain lacking both bbk32 and vlsE almost completely eliminated transient microvascular interactions. Comparative analysis of binding parameters of VlsE, BBK32 and OspC provides a possible explanation why these three DS adhesins display different functionality in terms of their ability to promote early microvascular interactions.