MBIO 4823 Final Review X

Spirochetes: Treponema pallidum & Borrelia burgdorferi

Characteristics: Gram -, Thin helical, motile with corkscrew movement, internal

flagella

• PG between 2 membranes, protoplasmic cylinder, 1 to many internal flagella

(endoflagella), covered by a multilayered, flexible membrane (outer sheath)

• When flagella rotate in same direction, protoplasmic cylinder rotates in

opposite direction (this corkscrew motion effective for burrowing into tissues)

Traponema pallidum (syphilis): old disease, progression similar to Lyme disease,

humans only host, sensitive to environmental stress

Virulence factors:

• Ability to transit epithelia, corkscrew motility allows for crossing of tissue

layers, ability to cross placenta

Progression: 3 stages

1. Primary syphilis: cannot pass through unbroken skin; infection probably

occurs via small breaks in epidermal layer caused during sexual activity

a. First symptoms: rhinitis (irritation and inflammation of the nose, then

rash), chancre formed within 2 weeks to 2 months, spontaneously
disappears in a few weeks giving patient false sense of relief

2. Secondary syphilis: 1-3 months, bacteria penetrate mucosal membranes and

enter bloodstream

a. Flu like symptoms: sore throat, headache, fever swollen lymph glands

b. Bacteria spread to mucous membranes

c. Highly contagious hypersensitivity reaction (a rash that covers the

entire body), rash and symptoms gradually resolve

3. Tertiary (late) Syphilis: 3-30 years

a. Small number of cases progress to this stage, symptoms range from

mild to fatal infections, relatively low number of bacteria

b. Immune response: chronic inflammation destroys organs and tissues,

cause autoimmune diseases

Diagnosis and Treatment:

 • Blood tests for antigens produced by host (cardiolipin from mitochondria
membranes from lysed cells) Wassermann Test

• Fluorescent antibody tests

• Treated with penicillin (one of the few species where resistance has not been
observed)

Origins

• Found in many parts of Europe in 1400’s, found in 3000 year old mummies in
America

• Formerly yaws, mutated to syphilis in colder climates? (due to better mode of

transmission)

• Symptoms evolved to be less severe so victims would continue to have sex?

Borrelia burgdoferi: the causative agent of Lyme disease

Fast Facts: not easy to cultivate, slow growth rate, no recognized toxins or virulence
factors

• No LPS but outer surface proteins elicit inflammatory responses

Lyme disease

1. Transmission: hard ticks, bite white-footed mouse (larval and nymph), white-
tailed deer (adult ticks) and then humans (accidental hosts)

2. Progression of Disease: 3 stages

a. Skin Phase: follows inoculation, lesion created into which blood polls
and bacteria are introduced into lower layers, Erythema migrans
(diagnostic rash)

b. Bloodstream phase: from damaged skin bacteria move into the rest of
the body, systemic infection causes flu-like symptoms (bacteria can be
cleared from blood at this stage)

c. Late-/Tissue- state: bacteria leave blood and enter tissues, months to

years, fatigue, chronic arthritis, neurological damage; this is frequently
misdiagnosed, and hard to treat with antibiotics

Arthropod stage: OspA (outer surface protein), temp in blood triggers production of
OspC
Mammal stage: OspE related proteins (Erps) produced during early stages of
infection

• Antigenic variable proteins (Vls), protects some bacteria

• OMP are good immunogenic substances and bacteria must enter tissue to
avoid antibody-mediated killing