Suppressed response to Borrelia-antigen in patients co-exposed to Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophila

Jarefors, Sara (1); Karlsson, Marika (2), Bjöersdorff, Anneli (3), Eliasson, Ingvar (3), Ernerudh, Jan (1), Forsberg, Pia (2) and Ekerfelt, Christina (1).

(1) Div of Clinical Immunology, Dep of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Linköping University, Sweden;
(2) Div of Infectious Diseases, Dep of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Linköping University, Sweden;
(3) Dep of Clinical Microbiology, Kalmar County Hospital, Sweden.

BACKGROUND

The immune system reacts to a Borrelia burgdorferi infection with a type 1 response. However, a co-infection of B. burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophila, the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE), shifts the immune system in mice to a type 2 response. This could have a significant impact on the eradication of the Borrelia spirochetes.

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate the Borrelia specific immune response in humans co-exposed to both B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophila.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Seven patients with erythema migrans and antibodies against A. phagocytophila were defined as being co-exposed. The control group consisted of thirteen patients with erythema migrans and negative HGE-serology.

Blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with outer surface Borrelia-antigen and the number of cytokine secreting cells was detected by ELISPOT. The cytokines analyzed were IL-4,

IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13 and IFN-γ.

RESULTS

The co-exposed patients had lower Borrelia specific secretion of the type 1 inducing cytokine IL-12, compared with patients infected with B. burgdorferi only (p=0.001). No difference was seen for the type 2 cytokines.

CONCLUSION

An infection with A. phagocytophila may possibly suppress the type 1 immune response towards Borrelia-antigen in patients co-exposed to B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophila.

Keynote speaker - Andersson S et al.: Phylogeny and Distribution of Vector-Borne Pathogens: What to Expect from Genomics?

Keynote speaker - Barbour A et al.: Interrupting transmission of Lyme borreliosis by targeting a reservoir for vaccination: a longitudinal study of a field site in North America

Keynote speaker - Broman T et al.: Campylobacter jejuni and wild birds

Keynote speaker - Broman T et al.: Natural reservoirs and vectors of Francisella tularensis in Sweden

Keynote speaker - Fouchier R: Influenza virus zoonoses

Keynote speaker - Fouchier R: A Novel Corona Virus Causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Keynote speaker - Lundström J: Intercontinental dispersal and local adaptation of a mosquito-borne bird virus

Keynote speaker -Stervander M: Research activities and possibilities at Ottenby Bird Observatory

Bladh L et al.: Rapid detection and quantification of RNA of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus by Real-Time Reversed Transcription-PCR

Dahlgren D et al.: Survival of Campylobacter jejuni within Acanthamoeba polyphaga; a possible transmission route.

Ehrenborg C et al.: Genetic diversity over short geographic distances and no host specificity among Bartonella grahamii infecting woodland rodents of central Sweden

Ekerfelt C et al.: Involvement of cytolytic immune cells in human Lyme borreliosis - indication of intracellular persistance of the Borrelia spirochete?

Ekstrom J-O et al.: Characterization of the Ljungan virus

Haglund M: Characterization of human TBEV-strains from Sweden and a short review of the phylogenetic relationships within TBEV and Louping Ill.

Jarefors S et al.: Suppressed response to Borrelia-antigen in patients co-exposed to Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophila

Johansson M et al.: Development of molecular diagnostics for Orthopoxvirus

Mirazimi A et al.: Phatogenesis and the role of innate immunity in emerging patogen (Crimean Congo Heamorraghic fever virus)

Nejedla P et al.: A Six-year study of the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in Ixodes ricinus ticks in the town park of Brno, Czech Republic.

Olsson G et al.: Hot zones in time and space on human hantavirus infections in northern sweden

Palo T et al.: Changing climate and emerging infectious diseases

Persson T et al.: Biological mosquito control in Sweden and risk assessment for non-target wetland insects

Schäfer M et al.: Biological diversity versus risk for mosquito nuisance and disease transmission in constructed wetlands

Shinikar S et al.: Genetic analysis of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus in Iran

Skarphedinsson S et al.: Detection by PCR of Anaplasma in Danish Roe deer

Vostal K et al.: A Five-year Study of the Presence of Borrelia and Antibodies to Borrelia in Small Rodents.

Widhe M et al.: Borrelia specific IFN-γ and IL-4 secretion in CSF and blood during the course of Human Lyme Borreliosis: relation to clinical outcome

You E et al.: Host Immune Mechanisms in Recurrent Lyme Erythema Infection with Focus on the Cytokines Interleukin-4, Interferon-gamma and Interleukin-10

Zakovska A et al.: Spirochaetes and pathogenic Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in mosquitoes (larvae and adults) in the Czech Republic