Abstract: A method is provided herein for preparing soluble recombinant variations of Borrelia lipoproteins such as Borrelia burgdorferi outer surface protein A (OspA) and outer surface protein B (OspB), and B. hermsii variable major protein 7 (Vmp7). The method includes synthesizing a set of oligonucleotide primers, amplifying the template DNA utilizing the PCR, purifying the amplification products, cloning the amplification products into a suitable expression vector, transforming a suitable host utilizing the cloned expression vector, cultivating the transformed host for protein production and subsequently isolating and purifying the resulting protein. Also provided are soluble, recombinant variations of Borrelia burgdorferi outer surface protein A (OspA), outer surface protein B (OspB), and B. hermsii variable major protein 7 (Vmp7). The expression vectors harboring DNA encoding the recombinant variations, pET9-OspA, pET9-OspB and pET9-Vmp7, as well as the E.

Abstract: B fraction of Borrelia burgdorferi, methods for preparing the B fraction, and compositions containing the B fraction, are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: This invention relates to flagella-less strains of Borrelia and to novel methods for use of the microorganisms as vaccines and in diagnostic assays. Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is directed to Borrelia burgdorferi, the present invention encompasses flagella-less strains of other microorganisms belonging to the genus Borrelia. Accordingly, with the aid of the disclosure, flagella-less mutants of other Borrelia species, e.g., B. coriacei, which causes epidemic bovine abortion, B. anserina, which causes avian spirochetosis, and B. recurrentis and other Borrelia species causative of relapsing fever, such as Borrelia hermsii, Borrelia turicatae, Borrelia duttoni, Borrelia persica, and Borrelia hispanica, can be prepared and used in accordance with the present invention and are within the scope of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a DNA segment encoding a Borrelia burgdorferi antigenic polypeptide. The invention also relates to a purified 30 kDa polypeptide isolated from a virulent strain of B. burgdorferi and to epitopic segments of the polypeptide with immunogenic potential. The 30 kDa protein provides a route for the development of immunodiagnostics for Lyme disease and related disorders. The 30 kDa protein and related amino acid and DNA sequences may also be used for the immunization, for the detection of B. burgdorferi in human or animal tissues or body fluids, and also for the generation of specific antibodies for use in diagnosis, epidemiology, and prevention of Lyme disease.