Journal Article

The lp17 regulatory elements in Borrelia burgdorferi : a novel small RNA impacts gene expression and mammalian infection

Schwartz, Ira, Kitsou, Chrysoula, Kumar, Manish, Yas, Ozlem B., Kung, Faith, Iyer, Radha, Pal, Utpal, Promnares, Kamoltip, Wang, Yan

2026

Overview

Borrelia burgdorferi , the tick-borne agent of Lyme disease, is the causative agent of one of the most prevalent vector-borne infections in many regions worldwide. Despite extensive study, the biological functions of many of its protein and small RNA (sRNA) products remain poorly defined. Here, we confirm and extend the regulatory roles of the linear plasmid ( lp )17-encoded protein BBD18 and the sRNA SR0736 ( ittA ) in spirochete infectivity. Importantly, we identify a previously unrecognized regulatory function for an adjacent sRNA, SR0735 , underscoring lp17 as a key regulatory region in B. burgdorferi . Together, our findings highlight the bbd18 locus and its surrounding sRNA elements as an independent, multilayered regulatory module that controls gene products, including those required for mammalian infection. Defining how these three regulators shape gene expression and virulence will reveal new mechanisms underlying Lyme disease pathogenesis and may inform the development of new strategies to prevent this widespread illness.

• Publisher: American Society for Microbiology,American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
• Subject: Animals / Bacterial Genetics / Bacterial Infections / Bacterial Pathogenesis / Bacterial Proteins - genetics / Bacterial Proteins - metabolism / Bacteriology / Borrelia burgdorferi / Borrelia burgdorferi - genetics / Borrelia burgdorferi - pathogenicity / Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases / Gene Expression Control / Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Gene Regulation in Bacteria / Genetic Complementation Test / Genetic Regulatory Elements / Global Regulatory Networks / Lyme Disease / Lyme Disease - microbiology / Mice / Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology / Microbial Physiology and Genetics / microbial virulence / Observation / Pathogen-Specific Genetics (E.g., Staphylococcal, Rickettsial, Meningococcal) / Plasmids - genetics / Public Health Microbiology / Regulatory Rnas (E.g., Srnas, Riboswitches) / RNA, Bacterial - genetics / RNA, Small Untranslated - genetics / small RNA / Spirochetal Infections (E.g., Syphilis, Lyme Disease) / Spirochete Pathogenesis / Tick-Borne Infections / tick-borne pathogens / Tickborne Diseases / Transcriptional and Translational Control / Virulence Gene Regulation / Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases / Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Diseases