Antiborrelial Activity of Serum from Rats Injected with the Lyme Disease Spirochete

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Abstract
The functional properties of humoral factors generated in rats immunized against Borrelia burgdorjeri were investigated. After Lewis strain rats were injected intraperitoneally with live B. burgdorjeri or in the footpad with dead borreliae incorporated in complete Freund's adjuvant, they produced high-titered antisera. At a dilution of ⩽1:10, sera from immunized or infected rats but not control sera inhibited growth of B. burgdorjeri in vitro. Neutralization of growth of three different strains of B. burgdorjeri by posttreatment sera was dose-dependent and was detected equally well by direct microscopic counts or by measuring incorporation of tritiated adenine into newly synthesized nucleic acids. These findings provide direct evidence that infection or immunization with the Lymedisease spirocheteinduces the formation of serum factors capable of preventing the growth of B. burgdorjeri in vitro.

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