Lyme Disease and the Lyme Disease and the Immune System Immune System
Borrelia Borrelia burgdorferi burgdorferi - one of the most complex
known bacteria one of the most complex known bacteria

- a immunologic stealth bacteria a immunologic stealth bacteria

Immune Suppression Immune Suppression
* Complement Inhibition Complement Inhibition
* Inhibitory cytokine induction Inhibitory cytokine induction
* Monocyte Monocyte tolerization tolerization
* Antibody Sequestration in Immune Complex Antibody Sequestration in
Immune Complex
Phase and Antigenic Variation Phase and Antigenic Variation
* Gene switching (trypanosomes) Gene switching (trypanosomes)
* Mutation Mutation
* Variable antigen expression Variable antigen expression
* Auto Auto- -induction induction
Physical Seclusion Physical Seclusion
* Intracellular Sites Intracellular Sites
- Multiple Cell types including Multiple Cell types including
Synovial Synovial, Endothelial cells, Fibroblasts, Macrophages ,
Endothelial cells, Fibroblasts, Macrophages
* Persistent In Persistent In- -vivo vivo
* Extracellular Extracellular Sites Sites
- Privileged Sites Privileged Sites
- Cyst formation Cyst formation
Secreted Factors Secreted Factors
* Neurotoxin Neurotoxin
* Porin