PLoS Pathog 2022 03 14;18(3):e1010370. Epub 2022 Mar 14.
Laboratory of Bacteriology, Gene Regulation Section, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America.
Borrelia species are amino acid auxotrophs that utilize di- and tri- peptides obtained through their oligopeptide transport system to supply amino acids for replicative growth during their enzootic cycles. However, Borrelia species from both the Lyme disease (LD) and relapsing fever (RF) groups harbor an amino acid transport and catabolism system, the Arginine Deiminase System (ADI), that could potentially augment intracellular L-arginine required for growth. RF spirochetes contain a "complete", four gene ADI (arcA, B, D, and C) while LD spirochetes harbor arcA, B, and sometimes D but lack arcC (encoding carbamate kinase). Read More