Table 2.
Increasing expression of an Osp protects OspC-deficient B. burgdorferi from quick elimination in murine skin.a
| Clone | No. of sites positive/Total no. of sites examined at post-inoculation hours |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 48 | 72 | |
| ΔospC/ospC′/1 | 4/4 | 4/4 | 4/4 |
| ΔospC/ospC′/2 | 4/4 | 4/4 | 4/4 |
| ΔospC/E22/1 | 1/4 | 0/4 | 0/4 |
| ΔospC/E22/2 | 1/4 | 0/4 | 0/4 |
| ΔospC/ospA′/1 | 4/4 | 4/4 | 4/4 |
| ΔospC/ospA′/2 | 4/4 | 4/4 | 4/4 |
| ΔospC/ospE′/1 | 4/4 | 4/4 | 4/4 |
| ΔospC/ospE′/2 | 4/4 | 4/4 | 4/4 |
| ΔospC/vlsE′/1 | 4/4 | 4/4 | 4/4 |
| ΔospC/vlsE′/2 | 4/4 | 4/4 | 4/4 |
| ΔospC/dbpA′/1 | 4/4 | 4/4 | 4/4 |
| ΔospC/dbpA′/2 | 4/4 | 4/4 | 4/4 |
a
Groups of six BALB/c SCID mice each received two intradermal/subcutaneous injections of the clone ΔospC/ospC′/1, ΔospC/ospC′/2, ΔospC/E22/1, ΔospC/E22/2, ΔospC/ospA′/1, ΔospC/ospA′/2, ΔospC/ospE′/1, ΔospC/ospE′/2, ΔospC/vlsE′/1, ΔospC/vlsE′/2, ΔospC/dbpA′/1, or ΔospC/dbpA′/2. Approximately 105 organisms were administered in each inoculation; two inoculation sites were at least 2 cm apart. Two animals from each group were euthanized at 24, 48, and 72 h post-inoculation; skin specimens were harvested from inoculation sites and cultured for spirochetes in BSK-H complete medium.