Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are: substantially pure lipidated OspA protein, compositions containing substantially pure lipidated OspA protein, immunogenic fragments of OspA, compositions containing immunogenic fragments of OspA, polypeptides containing an immunogenic fragment or epitopic region of OspA, and methods for making and using such proteins, fragments, and polypeptides.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed is an isolated DNA molecule having a nucleotide sequence encoding substantially pure OspA, as well as vectors containing such DNA, uses of such DNA, and compositions containing such vectors.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are Lyme disease vaccines and methods for making and using them. The vaccines include a vector containing DNA encoding OspA or an immunogenic fragment thereof or such DNA encoding OspA or an immunogenic fragment thereof which has been modified by substitution, addition, insertion or deletion of one or more nucleotides, whereby the DNA when expressed results in OspA, or an immunogenic fragment thereof, or a polypeptide having the immunological activity of OspA or the fragment thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are isolated nucleic acid molecules, such as DNA encoding Borrelia burgdorferi OspA, vectors containing the nucleic acid molecules, and methods for diagnosing Borrelia burgdorferi infection employing such nucleic acid molecules. The isolated nucleic acid molecule can be an isolated DNA molecule encoding the 31 kD OspA protein of New York strain B31. The isolated nucleic acid molecule also can be an isolated DNA molecule encoding Borrelia burgdorferi OspA and a signal peptide which contains an amino acid recognition sequence. The recognition sequence can be L-z-z-C, where each z independently designates a small, neutral amino acid, such as isoleucine or alanine. The recognition sequence can also be L-I-x-C where x is a non-charged amino acid residue, such as alanine. Further, the isolated nucleic acid molecule can be an isolated DNA molecule encoding Borrelia burgdorferi OspA and which includes a 5'-flanking region containing at least one promoter sequence for expression of the OspA.

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