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Sarah Ok Shin,
B.A., Biology, Lyme disease is caused by persistent infection with the tick-transmitted spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. One of the most common manifestations of Lyme disease is the development of inflammatory arthritis as a consequence of bacterial invasion of joint tissue. Borrelial lipoproteins can activate inflammatory pathways in vitro through recognition by TLR-2. However, mice deficient in TLR-2 or a downstream signaling protein, MyD88, still exhibit increased inflammation in response to B. burgdorferi infection. I am working to understand the inflammatory pathways involved in TLR-2 and MyD88-independent innate immune responses to B. burgdorferi. This will help us to identify new innate immune receptors for B. burgdorferi and to understand better about how B. burgdorferi persists chronic infection in the host. |
