Functional Exposed Amino Acids of OSPA as a candidate for lyme disease vaccin

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black legged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks. The protective role of antibodies to B. burgdorferi has been explored in animal models of Lyme disease. Findings indicated that antibodies against OspA were protective, making this antigen a likely candidate for a vaccine. Early clinical trials demonstrated that recombinant OspA was immunogenic and well tolerated, even in subjects with a history of Lyme disease. The present study was designed to in silico resolving the major obstacles in the control or in prevention of lyme diseases. We exploited bioinformatic tools to better understanding and characterizing the OspA structure and select appropriate regions as effective B cell epitops.

Keywords:

B cell epitops , Borrelia burgdorferi , outer surface proteins