Lyme borreliosis (LB) has been classified as emerging disease based on increasing numbers of patients with LB. The pathogenity of LB spirochetes relies on their ability to alter surface-protein composition in dependence on the respective phase of the life-cycle. In all phases of the cycle, receptor-ligand interactions take place between the pathogen and its vector/host. The transmission of spirochetes from the tick gut to salivary glands is the least known process of its life-cycle. Hence, the project aims to identify the receptor molecules for the OspC protein of B. burgdorferi in the salivary glands of the tick and to assess their function in the process of salivary gland invasion by borreliae. Another aim is to clarify the mode of salivary gland invasion by borreliae - to determine the transcellular or intercellular mode of invasion of salivary glands. (en)
Cílem je identifikovat receptorové molekuly pro povrchový protein OspC ve slinných žlázách klíštěte Ixodes ricinus; charakterizovat jejich strukturní a funkční vlastnosti; posoudit jejich úlohu při průniku borelií do slinných žláz; objasnit mechanismus invaze borelií do slinných žláz klíštěte.