Sequence of the complete osp operon encoding two major outer membrane proteins of a European Borrelia burgdorferi isolate (B29)

The nucleotide sequence of the operon encoding the major outer surface proteins, OspA and OspB, of a European isolate of Borrelia burgdorferi (strain B29) was determined and compared to the osp operon of the American strain, B31. An amino acid (aa) identity of 80.7% was found when comparing the OspA of B29 with that of B31, whereas the aa sequence of the OspB of B29 reveals only 61.3% identity with the OspB of B31. Thus, strains B31 and B29 can be regarded as representatives of different B. burgdorferi groups.