RESERVOIR IMMUNITY IN LYME DISEASE VECTOR COMPETENCE

这项提议试图确定病媒的能力是否 作为莱姆病宿主的螺旋体可能被免疫修饰 脊椎动物宿主的反应，从而将水库和媒介联系起来 能力。以独一无二的能干白脚老鼠为模型， 一系列实验确定了特定的斑疹病毒抗原 例如OspA或OSPB可诱导体液或细胞介导免疫反应 用来否定亚成体肠道内螺旋体的发育 鹿在滴答作响。此外，假设抗OSP基因介导了选择 可能与螺旋体抗原性有关 应探索异质性，从而证明病原体 与载体和储集层积极协同进化。最后，其他 应检查螺旋体抗原的诱导能力。 可能降低或增强媒介能力的水库免疫反应 借助于扁虱向量肠道内的影响。归根结底，这 研究工作旨在定义一种生理决定因素 莱姆病病毒剂的储存库和媒介能力。它是 预计-这些关于病原体 与其储集层和媒介的相互作用可以提供关于 壁虱携带的微生物在自然界中的永久存在方式。

This proposal seeks to determine whether the competence of vector ticks as hosts for Lyme disease spirochetes may be modified by the immune response of vertebrate hosts, thereby linking reservoir and vector competence. Using the uniquely competent white-footed mouse as a model, a sequence of experiments determine whether particular borrelial antigens such as OspA or OspB may induce humoral or cell-mediated immune responses that serve to negate spirochetal development within the guts of subadult deer ticks. In addition the hypothesis that anti-Osp mediated selection within the guts of ticks may contribute to spirochetal antigenic heterogeneity shall be explored, thereby demonstrating that the pathogen actively coevolves with the vector and reservoir. Finally, other spirochetal antigens shall be examined for their capacity to induce reservoir immune responses which may reduce or enhance vector competence by virtue of effects within the gut of the tick vector. Ultimately, this research effort is designed to define a physiological determinant of reservoir and vector competence for the agent of Lyme disease. It is anticipated-that these observations on the manner in which a pathogen interacts with its reservoir and vector may provide basic information on the mode of perpetuation of tick-borne microorganisms in nature.