Research

Journal Cover (click for larger image)Lyme disease is the most common vector transmitted disease in North America and is also a significant problem in Europe and in Asia . It is caused by the spiral shaped bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi and other Borrelia species. The disease is typically transmitted from infected mice to humans by a bite from an infected tick. If not properly diagnosed and treated, Lyme disease can be severely debilitating and may result in arthritis, neurological symptoms, heart abnormalities and a variety of other problems.

The bacteria causing Lyme disease have a segmented genome made up of over 20 separate pieces of DNA. Moreover, most of these DNA segments are not circular, but are linear and contain hairpin ends or "telomeres". The unusual structure of the Borrelia genome raises the question of how it is copied and faithfully passed on from generation to generation.

 Our studies focus on "telomere resolution" a unique process required for the replication of linear Borrelia DNA with hairpin ends. We are also interested in other aspects of the replication process as well as the partitioning of replicated DNA molecules into progeny cells and the cell division process. Yet another interest in the lab is the mechanism of "antigenic variation" whereby B. burgdorferi can change surface antigens through DNA shuffling events. Finally we are interested in mechanisms of pathogenesis by Borrelia.

We use a wide variety of methodologies to study the above problems, including the following tools: genomics, proteomics, molecular biology, genetics, nucleic acid biochemistry, protein biochemistry, structural biology, light microscopy and electron microscopy.

 

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