January 2003
Consortium leader: Professor SVEN BERGSTRÖM,
Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden, Tel.: +46 (0)90 7856726, sven.bergstrom@molbiol.umu.se
Other project leader of the consortium:
Professor Matti Viljanen,
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 13, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland, Tel.: +358-2-3337330, email: matti.viljanen@utu.fi , homepage: http://www.utu.fi/research/tic/viljanen/
Doctoral students of the consortium
Christer Larsson, Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, christer.larsson@molbiol.umu.se
Juha Suhonen, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Turku, juha.suhonen@utu.fi
Heta Yrjänäinen, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Turku, heta.yrjanainen@utu.fi
Pauliina Hartiala, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Turku, pipaha@utu.fi
Other researchers of the consortium
Annika Nordstrand, Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, annika.nordstrand@molbiol.umu.se
Jarmo Oksi, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Turku, jarmo.oksi@utu.fi
Helena Tuominen-Gustafsson, Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Turku, helena.tuominen-gustafsson@tutku.fi
Hanna Soini, National Public Health Institute, Department of Human Microbial Ecology and Inflammation, Turku, hanna.soini@ktl.fi
Key words: Borreliosis, immune defense, immune evasion, and reactivation
Abstract
The aim of this project is to gain knowledge of the interactions of Borrelia spirochetes and the host during infection. We will use both the Lyme borreliosis and the relapsing fever borreliosis spirochetes as model organisms. We aim to investigate how the Borrelia spirochetes can circumvent the immunological defence, how they spread form the infectious focus, reach various sites in the mammalian body, and how the spirochetes can live in these tissues at a dormant state, reactivate, return the circulatory system and cause acute disease again. We also aim to characterize and define the components involved in the interactions between Borrelia and human cells, including the cells of the innate and adaptive immunity.
To test the above mentioned virulence traits we will use the modern techniques of cell and molecular biology, as well as unique animal models developed in the collaborating laboratories. By using the mouse and human microarray platforms available in Umeå and Turku, we will generate global gene expression data to monitor how Borrelia interacting with different surface receptors, presenting different surface proteins or reaching different intracellular compartments may affect global gene responses of the host. Furthermore, we will also make use of a panel of mouse strains defective in various key proteins required for appropriate recognition of and immune response to microbial pattern molecules.
The two research groups herein are foreseeing a fruitful and valuable collaboration that will strengthen the research on the virulence of Borrelia spirochetes in Sweden and Finland. Additionally, the strong scientific environment and research infrastructure at both localities will be beneficial for research training of graduate- and postgraduate researchers in the collaborating laboratories.
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