Porins of lyme disease and relapsing fever spirochetes

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The genus Borrelia, part of the spirochete phylum, consists of obligate parasites with a biphasic life cycle involving vertebrate hosts and arthropod vectors. Borrelia species are responsible for Lyme disease and relapsing fever. Due to their small 0.91 Mb chromosome, they possess limited biosynthetic and metabolic capabilities, relying heavily on nutrients from their hosts. The transport of these nutrients across their outer membrane is facilitated by porins, which are pore-forming proteins. This study presents the identification and characterization of a relapsing fever porin, Oms38, and a homologous protein in Lyme disease agents, designated DipA. Notably, DipA forms a specific channel for dicarboxylates rather than a general diffusion pore. Additionally, the porin P66 was found in both Lyme disease and relapsing fever species, with detailed investigations into its channel diameter and structure in Borrelia burgdorferi. Overall, this research provides crucial biochemical and biophysical insights into the porins of both diseases, advancing our understanding of nutrient uptake pathways in these pathogenic spirochetes. Knowledge of surface-exposed proteins like porins is essential for developing effective vaccines and drugs against these diseases.