FIG 3.

Epitope mapping of VlsE. Primary structure of B31-VlsE illustrating two direct repeats (DR1 and DR2; green) that demarcate one variable domain and two invariable domains. Shown are also six invariable (IR; gray) and variable (VR; pink) regions (59) (A). Heat maps were generated from predicted reactivity of anti-297 antibody to the primary structure of B31-VlsE (B) and 297-VlsE (C). Anti-297 sera were harvested from B. burgdorferi persistently infected C3H mice at days 28 and 70 postinfection (five animals per time point). The linear B31-VlsE structure is scaled to the B31-VlsE heat map.