Molecular interactions during Borrelia burgdorferi migration from the vector to the mammalian nervous system

AIMS: In this review we systematically describe the different molecular interactions between the bacteria spirochete of Lyme disease Borrelia burgdorferi, the tick vector of the spirochete and the mammal host, that are essential in the migration of the spirochete form the tick to the tick, to mammal skin bite site, and finally to the nervous system, where the pathogen establishes LNB. BACKGROUND: Lyme disease (LD) is an infectious disease caused by the spirochetes of genus Borrelia, which are transmitted by the ticks of the genus Ixodes. LD is transmitted by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Once in contact with the host through a tick bite, the pathogen comes into contact with the host defense, and must escape this machinery to establish LD, thus using a large number of mechanisms involving the vector of the pathogen, the pathogen itself and also the host. If LD is left untreated, the pathogen disseminates throughout the tissues and organs of the body, where it establishes different types of disease manifestations. METHODS: Review Article. RESULT: In this review, we systematically describe the molecular interactions during B. burgdorferi migration from the vector to the mammalian nervous system. CONCLUSION: Different specific molecules of the vector, pathogen and host result in LNB establishment. After B. burgdorferi species penetrate host skin through a tick bite, they are confronted by the immune defenses of the host. However, they are helped by specific proteins in different interactions, and the disease is established. The interactions between the vector, pathogen and host are shown in Table 1 and Figure 1. Knowledge of these molecular interactions can aid development of therapeutics against LNB and LD. Others: We systematically describe the different molecular tick-pathogen-host interactions.