| Description | Borrelia recurrentis is a gram-negative, spiral-shaped bacterium that falls under the temperature preference category of mesophiles, is classified as a chemoheterotroph, and is a microaerophile. This organism is one of the causative agents of relapsing fever in humans and is primarily found in the bloodstream during periods of infection.As a gram-negative microbe, Borrelia recurrentis possesses a thin peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane rich in lipopolysaccharides, which contributes to its pathogenicity and immune evasion mechanisms. The spiral shape of B. recurrentis, characteristic of its genus, aids in its motility through viscous environments, such as the bloodstream, enhancing its ability to disseminate and infect new hosts. Being a mesophile, it thrives at moderate temperatures typically found in the human body, making it well-suited for survival as a human pathogen. As a chemoheterotroph, B. recurrentis relies on organic compounds for energy and carbon, utilizing the nutrients found in the host's blood to fuel its metabolism. The classification as a microaerophile indicates that it requires low levels of oxygen for growth, highlighting its adaptation to the anaerobic or low-oxygen environments within the bloodstream where it resides. B. recurrentis is transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of infected lice or ticks, leading to severe symptoms characterized by recurring fevers. These episodes occur due to the bacterium’s ability to undergo antigenic variation, allowing it to evade the host's immune response. This clever strategy enables it to persist within the host, causing relapsing symptoms as different strains emerge. The study of Borrelia recurrentis is crucial for understanding the dynamics of vector-borne diseases and the challenges of vaccine development due to its antigenic variability. |
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