A mutagenic PCR identifies isolates of Borrelia gariniiresponsible for Lyme borreliosis

Borrelia gariniiis one of the three major Borreliaeresponsible for Lyme borreliosis in Europe. We have characterized a protein of B. garinii(VS102) and a genomic fragment from the gene encoding this protein was cloned. The DNA sequence of the fragment showed high homology with a known gene of B. burgdorferisensu stricto. The protein encoded by this gene in B. burgdorferisensu stricto is a phosphocarrier protein (histidine‐containing protein). A mutation T to G polymorphism at codon 57 was found to be specific to B. garinii. A PCR‐based approach that allows the rapid detection of this mutation made it possible to specifically discriminate B. gariniifrom other B. burgdorferigenospecies with high sensitivity and specificity.