The RpoS Gatekeeper in Borrelia Burgdorferi: An Invariant Regulatory Scheme That Promotes Spirochete Persistence in Reservoir Hosts and Niche Diversity

The study explored the RpoS regulatory pathway in Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium causing Lyme disease, highlighting its role in spirochete persistence and niche diversity. RpoS acted as a 'gatekeeper,' regulating gene expression crucial for transmission from ticks to mammals and persistence in hosts. The research showed that RpoS-mediated repression of genes like ospA was essential in mammalian hosts, aiding the bacterium's lifecycle. The study identified RpoS-regulated genes vital for persistence beyond acute infection in mice and noted diversity in RpoS regulons across strains, affecting host range and virulence. Techniques like flow cytometry and RNA sequencing were used, and findings emphasized RpoS's importance in gene regulation for survival and adaptation in different environments, impacting Lyme disease's geographic spread.