Complement Regulator-Acquiring Surface Protein: Difference between revisions
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== '''Introduction''' == | == '''Introduction''' == | ||
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease Lyme Disease] is caused by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirochaete spirochete] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borrelia_burgdorferi ''Borrelia burgdorferi''], and is transferred into vertebrate hosts by zoonotic vectors such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ixodes ''Ixodes''] ticks <ref name="Bykowski">PMID: 17562769</ref>. Lyme disease can result in multisystemic disorders, including cardiovascular and neurological problems. There are thousands of cases of Lyme disease reported each year, making it a prevalent disease in North America and Eurasia <ref name="Cordes">PMID: 15711564</ref>. In order for ''B. burgdorferi'' to survive in its host, it evades the host's immune system through the use of complement regulator-acquiring surface proteins. One such protein responsible for a successful initial infection is ''Borrelia burgdorferi | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease Lyme Disease] is caused by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirochaete spirochete] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borrelia_burgdorferi ''Borrelia burgdorferi''], and is transferred into vertebrate hosts by zoonotic vectors such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ixodes ''Ixodes''] ticks <ref name="Bykowski">PMID: 17562769</ref>. Lyme disease can result in multisystemic disorders, including cardiovascular and neurological problems. There are thousands of cases of Lyme disease reported each year, making it a prevalent disease in North America and Eurasia <ref name="Cordes">PMID: 15711564</ref>. In order for ''B. burgdorferi'' to survive in its host, it evades the host's immune system through the use of complement regulator-acquiring surface proteins. One such protein responsible for a successful initial infection is '''Borrelia burgdorferi complement regulator-acquiring surface protein 1''', or '''BbCRASP-1''' <ref name="Bykowski">PMID: 17562769</ref>. Because BbCRASP-1 binds host complement regulators to the spirochete's outer surface, ''B. burgdorferi'' remains undetected within the host <ref name="Bykowski">PMID: 17562769</ref>. BbCRASP-1 specifically binds to complement Factor H (FH) and Factor H-like proteins (FHL-1), which are responsible for the host's immune response and detection of pathogens <ref name="Kraiczy">PMID: 14607842</ref>. Recently, it was found that BbCRASP-1 binds to several other proteins in the extra cellular matrix of a human cell, making it highly flexible and adaptive. | ||
== '''Structure''' == | == '''Structure''' == | ||
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Further work needs to be done to determine the complement regulator protein and human ligand binding sites on BbCRASP-1. Knowing this information would aid in combating Lyme disease because it would give researchers a definite target for inhibitory drugs. However, with what is known about the protein, drugs that interfere with the C-terminus region of the dimer would also aid in mediating the effects of the disease because once the dimeric state of the protein is disrupted, it cannot function. These methods should also be applied to other CRASPs so FH/FHL-1 binding would be suppressed and the host's immune system can mount an effective defense against the invading spirochete. | Further work needs to be done to determine the complement regulator protein and human ligand binding sites on BbCRASP-1. Knowing this information would aid in combating Lyme disease because it would give researchers a definite target for inhibitory drugs. However, with what is known about the protein, drugs that interfere with the C-terminus region of the dimer would also aid in mediating the effects of the disease because once the dimeric state of the protein is disrupted, it cannot function. These methods should also be applied to other CRASPs so FH/FHL-1 binding would be suppressed and the host's immune system can mount an effective defense against the invading spirochete. | ||
=== '''3D structure of BbCRASP-1''' === | |||
Updated on {{REVISIONDAY2}}-{{MONTHNAME|{{REVISIONMONTH}}}}-{{REVISIONYEAR}} | |||
[[1w33]], [[1w3z]], [[5a2u]] - BbCRASP-1 extracellular domain - ''Borrelia burgdorferi''<br /> | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||