3D blood-brain barrier-organoids as a model for Lyme neuroborreliosis highlighting genospecies dependent organotropism

Yvonne Adams*, Anne Skovsbo Clausen, Peter Østrup Jensen, Malin Lager, Peter Wilhelmsson, Anna J. Henningson, Per Eric Lindgren, Daniel Faurholt-Jepsen, Helene Mens, Peter Kraiczy, Kasper Nørskov Kragh, Thomas Bjarnsholt, Andreas Kjaer, Anne Mette Lebech, Anja R. Jensen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB), a tick-borne infection caused by spirochetes within the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.L.) complex, is among the most prevalent bacterial central nervous system (CNS) infections in Europe and the US. Here we have screened a panel of low-passage B. burgdorferi s.l. isolates using a novel, human-derived 3D blood-brain barrier (BBB)-organoid model. We show that human-derived BBB-organoids support the entry of Borrelia spirochetes, leading to swelling of the organoids and a loss of their structural integrity. The use of the BBB-organoid model highlights the organotropism between B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies and their ability to cross the BBB contributing to CNS infection.

Original languageEnglish
Article number105838
JournaliScience
Volume26
Issue number1
ISSN2589-0042
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords

  • Cell biology
  • Medical Microbiology
  • Neuroscience

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