OspCbased
OspCbased refers to research, diagnostics, and vaccine development that rely on the outer surface protein C (OspC) of Borrelia burgdorferi and related species. OspC is a lipoprotein expressed on the bacterial surface during early mammalian infection and is a key target of the host immune response. The gene encoding OspC is highly diverse, producing numerous antigenically distinct variants.
A central feature of OspCbased work is its focus on antigenic diversity. OspC exists as many allelic
Applications in diagnostics often utilize OspC as an early serological marker. OspC-based assays can aid in
In vaccine research, OspC-based strategies aim to elicit protective antibodies against early infection. Animal studies have
Overall, OspCbased approaches reflect ongoing efforts to improve early detection and prevention of Lyme disease, while