Erp and Rev adhesins of the Lyme disease spirochete’s ubiquitous cp32 prophages assist the bacterium during vertebrate infection

Almost all spirochetes in the genus Borrelia (sensu lato) naturally contain multiple variants of closely related prophages. In the Lyme disease borreliae, these prophages are maintained as circular episomes that are called cp32s (circular plasmid 32kb). The cp32s of Lyme agents are particularly unique in that they encode two distinct families of lipoproteins, Erp and Rev, that are expressed on the bacteria’s outer surface during infection of vertebrate hosts. All identified functions of those outer surface proteins involve interactions between the spirochetes and host molecules: Erp proteins bind plasmin(ogen), laminin, glycosaminoglycans, and/or components of complement, and Rev proteins bind fibronectin. Thus, cp32 prophages provide their bacterial hosts with surface proteins that can enhance infection processes, thereby facilitating their own survival. Horizontal transfer via bacteriophage particles increases spread of beneficial alleles and creates diversity among Erp and Rev proteins.