Comparative Analysis of Common and Unique Targets in Drug Resistant Strain of Borrelia Burgdorferi

Abstract

The number of drug-resistant strains of Borrelia burgdorferi necessitated the identification of potential drug targets specific to the strain of interest. The chromosomal and plasmid genes of B. burgdorferi strain B31 were compared with erythromycin-resistant B. burgdorferi strain N40 to find common (core) and unique (strain-specific) genes in present study. In silico analysis of genomic data showed total number of unique genes higher in strain N40. The presence of higher number of unique genes in N40 signifies their role in drug resistance mechanism. Furthermore, human proteome was compared with proteome of these strains to find target protein specific to the strain of interest and not present in host. In conclusion, identification of unique genes in these strains provided on differences in drug resistance potential.