Willy Burgdorfer

Bio: Willy Burgdorfer is an academic researcher from National Institutes of Health. The author has contributed to research in topics: Tick & Spotted fever. The author has an hindex of 38, co-authored 93 publications receiving 9091 citations. Previous affiliations of Willy Burgdorfer include Rocky Mountain Laboratories.

Lyme disease-a tick-borne spirochetosis?

Abstract: A treponema-like spirochete was detected in and isolated from adult Ixodes dammini, the incriminated tick vector of Lyme disease. Causally related to the spirochetes may be long-lasting cutaneous lesions that appeared on New Zealand White rabbits 10 to 12 weeks after infected ticks fed on them. Samples of serum from patients with Lyme disease were shown by indirect immunofluorescence to contain antibodies to this agent. It is suggested that the newly discovered spirochete is involved in the etiology of Lyme disease.

The Spirochetal Etiology of Lyme Disease

Abstract: We recovered a newly recognized spirochete from the blood, skin lesions (erythema chronicum migrans [ECM]), or cerebrospinal fluid of 3 of 56 patients with Lyme disease and from 21 of 110 nymphal or adult lxodes dammini ticks in Connecticut. These isolates and the original one from l. dammini appeared to have the same morphologic and immunologic features. In patients, specific IgM antibody titers usually reached a peak between the third and sixth week after the onset of disease; specific IgG antibody titers rose slowly and were generally highest months later when arthritis was present. Among 40 patients who had early disease only (ECM alone), 90 per cent had an elevated IgM titer (greater than or equal to 1:128) between the ECM phase and convalescence. Among 95 patients with later manifestations (involvement of the nervous system, heart, or joints), 94 per cent had elevated titers of IgG (greater than or equal to 1:128). In contrast, none of 80 control subjects had elevated IgG titers, and only three control patients with infectious mononucleosis had elevated IgM titers. We conclude that the I. dammini spirochete is the causative agent of Lyme disease.

Spirochetes isolated from the blood of two patients with Lyme disease.

Abstract: We isolated spirochetes from the blood of 2 of 36 patients in Long Island and Westchester County, New York, who had signs and symptoms suggestive of Lyme disease. The spirochetes were morphologically similar and serologically identical to organisms recently found to infect lxodes dammini ticks, which are endemic to the area and have been epidemiologically implicated as vectors of Lyme disease. In both patients, there was a rise in specific antispirochetal antibodies in paired specimens of serum. We conclude that the l. dammini spirochete has an etiologic role in Lyme disease.

Microimmunofluorescence test for the serological study of rocky mountain spotted fever and typhus.

Abstract: A microimmunofluorescence test was used to study antibody responses to various spotted fever group and typhus group rickettsiae during Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) and epidemic typhus (ET). Patients with RMSF reacted most strongly to Rickettsia rickettsii; those with ET reacted predominantly to R. prowazekii. The degree of cross-reaction to other rickettsial strains varied from patient to patient, but a particular pattern of cross-reaction was consistently observed in serial sera from the same patient. Fresh isolates from three Montana RMSF cases were indistinguishable from each other and from strain R of R. rickettsii used as a standard antigen in all tests. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies were usually present in high titer in early-convalescent-phase sera from RMSF, as well as ET, patients. After RMSF, IgM antibodies persisted for a few months and, in one instance, for as long as 10 months. IgM responses to laboratory-acquired infections were infrequent in persons previously vaccinated with antigens related to the infecting strain. Previous antigenic conditioning from infection or vaccination may have accounted partly for the apparent lack of IgM response in a few study participants. Images

Serologic Typing of Rickettsiae of the Spotted Fever Group by Microimmunofluorescence

Abstract: The micro-immunofluorescence (micro-IF) method was used to type rickettsiae belonging to the spotted fever or typhus groups according to their surface antigens. Seventy-two strains of rickettsiae from diverse sources, with varying histories of laboratory manipulation and immunologic characterization by other methods, were cross-tested against their mouse antisera. Fifteen serologic patterns (serotypes) were observed, 12 associated with spotted fever-group (SFG) rickettsiae and three with typhus group (TG) organisms. The reaction patterns of strains within each serotype were homogeneous. Nine of the SFG serotypes and the three TG serotypes were characteristic for rickettsiae that have been classified by other biologic procedures as to species (classified serotypes). The classified SFG serotypes included Rickettsia rickettsii (R-like), R. rickettsii (Hlp-like), R. sibirica, R. parkeri, R. conorii, R. rhipicephali, R. montana, R. australis , and R. akari . The three TG serotypes included R. prowazekii, R. typhi , and R. canada . Three SFG serotypes included rickettsiae that have not been identified as to species. Each consisted of two or more strains isolated in different years from widely-spaced localities in the United States and were considered to be distinct serotypes, which for the time being are unclassified. They included two strains of rickettsiae isolated from Dermacentor occidentalis ticks in California, three strains recovered from D. parumapertus ticks in southwestern United States, and three strains obtained from Ixodes pacificus ticks in Oregon. Each of three other strains had patterns of reaction that differed from those of all other rickettsiae. However, they were single representatives and evidence derived from this study is not sufficient to consider these as comprising additional serotypes. The results obtained by micro-IF are in general agreement with other procedures for antigenic differentiation of rickettsiae belonging to the SFG and TG. Therefore, an immunologic basis for serologic classification of these rickettsiae is likely. Micro-IF should prove to be particularly useful for determining taxonomic and epidemiologic relationships among SFG rickettsiae because of its simplicity and general applicability.

Lyme disease-a tick-borne spirochetosis?

Abstract: A treponema-like spirochete was detected in and isolated from adult Ixodes dammini, the incriminated tick vector of Lyme disease. Causally related to the spirochetes may be long-lasting cutaneous lesions that appeared on New Zealand White rabbits 10 to 12 weeks after infected ticks fed on them. Samples of serum from patients with Lyme disease were shown by indirect immunofluorescence to contain antibodies to this agent. It is suggested that the newly discovered spirochete is involved in the etiology of Lyme disease.

Genomic sequence of a Lyme disease spirochaete, Borrelia burgdorferi

Abstract: The genome of the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi B31, the aetiologic agent of Lyme disease, contains a linear chromosome of 910,725 base pairs and at least 17 linear and circular plasmids with a combined size of more than 533,000 base pairs. The chromosome contains 853 genes encoding a basic set of proteins for DNA replication, transcription, translation, solute transport and energy metabolism, but, like Mycoplasma genitalium, it contains no genes for cellular biosynthetic reactions. Because B. burgdorferi and M. genitalium are distantly related eubacteria, we suggest that their limited metabolic capacities reflect convergent evolution by gene loss from more metabolically competent progenitors. Of 430 genes on 11 plasmids, most have no known biological function; 39% of plasmid genes are paralogues that form 47 gene families. The biological significance of the multiple plasmid-encoded genes is not clear, although they may be involved in antigenic variation or immune evasion.

Reorganization of genera in the families Rickettsiaceae and Anaplasmataceae in the order Rickettsiales: unification of some species of Ehrlichia with Anaplasma, Cowdria with Ehrlichia and Ehrlichia with Neorickettsia, descriptions of six new species combinations and designation of Ehrlichia equi and 'HGE agent' as subjective synonyms of Ehrlichia phagocytophila.

Abstract: The genera Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Cowdria, Neorickettsia and Wolbachia encompass a group of obligate intracellular bacteria that reside in vacuoles of eukaryotic cells and were previously placed in taxa based upon morphological, ecological, epidemiological and clinical characteristics. Recent genetic analyses of 16S rRNA genes, groESL and surface protein genes have indicated that the existing taxa designations are flawed. All 16S rRNA gene and groESL sequences deposited in GenBank prior to 2000 and selected sequences deposited thereafter were aligned and phylogenetic trees and bootstrap values were calculated using the neighbour-joining method and compared with trees generated with maximum-probability, maximum-likelihood, majority-rule consensus and parsimony methods. Supported by bootstrap probabilities of at least 54%, 16S rRNA gene comparisons consistently clustered to yield four distinct clades characterized roughly as Anaplasma (including the Ehrlichia phagocytophila group, Ehrlichia platys and Ehrlichia bovis) with a minimum of 96.1% similarity, Ehrlichia (including Cowdria ruminantium) with a minimum of 97.7% similarity, Wolbachia with a minimum of 95.6% similarity and Neorickettsia (including Ehrlichia sennetsu and Ehrlichia risticii) with a minimum of 94.9% similarity. Maximum similarity between clades ranged from 87.1 to 94.9%. Insufficient differences existed among E. phagocytophila, Ehrlichia equi and the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) agent to support separate species designations, and this group was at least 98.2% similar to any Anaplasma species. These 16S rRNA gene analyses are strongly supported by similar groESL clades, as well as biological and antigenic characteristics. It is proposed that all members of the tribes Ehrlichieae and Wolbachieae be transferred to the family Anaplasmataceae and that the tribe structure of the family Rickettsiaceae be eliminated. The genus Anaplasma should be emended to include Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) phagocytophila comb. nov. (which also encompasses the former E. equi and the HGE agent), Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) bovis comb. nov. and Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) platys comb. nov., the genus Ehrlichia should be emended to include Ehrlichia (Cowdria) ruminantium comb. nov. and the genus Neorickettsia should be emended to include Neorickettsia (Ehrlichia) risticii comb. nov. and Neorickettsia (Ehrlichia) sennetsu comb. nov.

The global importance of ticks.

Abstract: Ticks and tick-borne diseases affect animal and human health worldwide and are the cause of significant economic losses. Approximately 10% of the currently known 867 tick species act as vectors of a broad range of pathogens of domestic animals and humans and are also responsible for damage directly due to their feeding behaviour. The most important tick species and the effects they cause are listed. The impact on the global economy is considered to be high and although some estimates are given, there is a lack of reliable data. The impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases on animal production and public health and their control are discussed.

Isolation and cultivation of Lyme disease spirochetes.

Abstract: The successful isolation and cultivation of Lyme disease spirochetes traces its lineage to early attempts at cultivating relapsing fever borreliae. Observations on the growth of Lyme disease spirochetes under different in vitro conditions may yield important clues to both the metabolic characteristics of these newly discovered organisms and the pathogenesis of Lyme disease.