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Of ticks, mice and men: understanding the dual-host lifestyle of Lyme disease spirochaetes.

ABSTRACT: In little more than 30 years, Lyme disease, which is caused by the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi, has risen from relative obscurity to become a global public health problem and a prototype of an emerging infection. During this period, there has been an extraordinary accumulation of knowledge on the phylogenetic diversity, molecular biology, genetics and host interactions of B. burgdorferi. In this Review, we integrate this large body of information into a cohesive picture of the molecular and cellular events that transpire as Lyme disease spirochaetes transit between their arthropod and vertebrate hosts during the enzootic cycle.

SUBMITTER: Radolf JD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3313462 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Of ticks, mice and men: understanding the dual-host lifestyle of Lyme disease spirochaetes.

Radolf Justin D JD Caimano Melissa J MJ Stevenson Brian B Hu Linden T LT

Nature reviews. Microbiology 20120109 2

In little more than 30 years, Lyme disease, which is caused by the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi, has risen from relative obscurity to become a global public health problem and a prototype of an emerging infection. During this period, there has been an extraordinary accumulation of knowledge on the phylogenetic diversity, molecular biology, genetics and host interactions of B. burgdorferi. In this Review, we integrate this large body of information into a cohesive picture of the molecular and ...[more]

PMID: 22230951

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